going to work or pursuing outside interests.
    Inspired by their fortitude, we asked some of them how they were able to transcend their problems. As we listened to their stories, we realized that however diverse they are in ethnic or cultural background, age, educational level or type of illness, they have all gone through a similar process of psychological recovery. They all consciously made a "decision to live." After an initial period of feeling devastated, they simply decided to assess their new reality and make the most of each day.
    If these people were to give one piece of advice to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, it would be, "It's up to you. You can learn to live with it, live around it, live in spite of it. You don't know what you can do until you try."
    Elsewhere in this CD authors have referred to the gamut of emotions you experience when the unthinkable—a diagnosis of cancer—occurs. You feel terrified, angry, depressed, sorry for yourself and dehumanized by medical procedures. Everything you took for granted yesterday, even the things you complained about, suddenly belong to another life that you'd give anything to recapture.
    You'd also like to recapture the image of yourself as a healthy person—independent, jovial, outgoing or competitive. Unfortunately, you've probably accepted the historical (but no longer true) image of a cancer patient as a helpless victim. And you naturally assume that's how everyone is secretly going to label you.
    You probably can't even find reassurance in the words of family members and friends. Sure, they care, but how can they really know how you feel? It isn't happening to them. It's happening to you—now!