Navigating the Prostate Cancer Maze: Facing the Tiger with Prof Suzanne Chambers
March 1, 2013
Hosted by Grace Gawler
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Prostate Cancer is now the most common male cancer in the western world with 120,000 Australian men living with a diagnosis while in the US, it is thought that 238,590 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2013. For each man who has prostate cancer, there will be people close who care about them, and love them who are also deeply affected. Enter Professor Suzanne Chambers, a health psychologist , practitioner and researcher in psychological support for cancer patients for over 20 years. Her focus has been on trials of interventions that address couple support and the psychological distress in men with prostate cancer. As a result she has recently published Facing the Tiger A Guide for Men with Prostate Cancer and the People who Love Them. Experts say Suzanne Chambers has written the game plan for coping with Prostate Cancer. This is yet another opportunity to learn about strategies that improve life and wellbeing freeing up more energy to focus on the prostate cancer itself.
Navigating the Cancer Maze
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
Navigating the Cancer Maze aims to share time-proven strategies in a “Let’s talk about it” atmosphere with the aim of making the journey through cancer more easeful through knowledge. The program is solutions focused for patients at all stages of cancer. Acknowledging and dealing with fear and trauma surrounding cancer is essential for any Health Restoration Plan as is pre-planning for any setbacks that are likely to be met along the way. Although we hear a lot about cancer in the news, for many patients cancer remains a personal, silent and deeply unexpressed grief. It is important to acknowledge the reality of a cancer diagnosis, while being authentic about process and keeping possibilities open. The best outcomes are experienced when the best of conventional medicine is paired with the best of complementary supported by an empowered patient.
Grace Gawler
For almost 4 decades Grace Gawler has been the “rock” for thousands of cancer patients who seek her guidance and strategies. Grace has also assisted those who struggle to manage adversity and uninvited changes that life challenging or life threatening illness can bring. At 21, Grace became a full-time care-giver to her boyfriend. She married him, a cancer amputee with a poor prognosis. He survived and they established a non-profit organization to support people going through the trauma of cancer and other life challenging illness. She created Australia’s first breast cancer support group and residential program which led to authoring Women of Silence: the emotional healing of breast cancer, a 1994 best seller which remains a bible for women with breast cancer. Grace has worked in Government creating a new Women’s Health Plan. She was awarded the prestigious inaugural Rotary International Jean Harris Award for Services to Women in Society. In 1997, Grace experienced not only the collapse of her marriage but was soon hospitalized. Complications from a routine surgery created a major health crisis. After 20 surgical procedures over 13 years, she faced death many times. A bionic surgical procedure in the Netherlands gave her back life and vitality. Grace has survived and thrived and is passionate about helping others to walk in the field of all possibilities and navigate the cancer maze. She has her own cancer charity and consults to Hallwang Private Oncology Clinic in Germany.
