Deborah Hutton's discovery that the niggling cough which had been troubling her for a couple of months was actually an aggressive lung cancer marked the beginning of a brand-new learning curve - a personal odyssey that taught her to let go of her super-competent I-can-handle-it-myself persona and gratefully accept the huge amount of help beamed at her by her close-knit family and "world class" network of friends and neighbours. From her own experience and out of her conversations with fellow members of the "Cancer Club" comes this anthology of supremely practical examples of ways in which friends and family, often themselves reeling from the shock of the diagnosis and feeling just as helpless and at a loss to know what to do, can make a real, substantial difference. "What can I do to help?" you ask. Well, stand by, because the answer is "Plenty".
What Can I Do to Help?
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"The great strength of this anthology is that it gives clear and supremely practical guidance to the family and friends of PWC (People With Cancer), who long to do something to help but don't know how to go about it." The Spectator "A brilliant and unprecedented insight for the four million of us who live with, or around, one of Britain's 270,000 new cancer patients each year." Jon Snow
About the Author
Deborah Huttton was a journalist for 25 years, writing for most of the country's major glossy magazines and newspapers - from Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and the Mail on Sunday's You magazine to The Observer, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. This was her sixth book. She lived in north London with her husband, photographer and director, Charlie Stebbings, and their four children, Archie, Romilly, Clemmie and Freddie.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 64 people found the following review helpful
By "androlink"
Format:Paperback
Deborah Hutton has Stage IV lung cancer, and as she points out there is no Stage V. That is not the most important thing about her. What is important is that she has used her experience to produce a book that is clear, inspiring, and answers the question that all who have ever had a friend with cancer ask themselves. From diagnosis to treatment to eventual outcome, good or bad, she offers ideas about what to say (do gossip, don't talk about your own back pain), what to do (do offer to cook meals, don't shrink away), and where to go for more information. What I found best was the way that personal experience was mixed in with practical advice, so that the advice was always related to particular needs. There are contributions from celebs from Jade Goody to Cherie Blair, but it's the directness of Hutton's own writing that grabs you most of all. A brilliant, useful and eloquent book.
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
By J A Rentoul
Format:Paperback
Deborah Hutton has written a book that is a must for any family faced with cancer, based on her own experience and those of others', including a number of celebs. This is not a mawkish or sad book: rather, it is an intensely practical guide of how relations and friends might help the person living with cancer and his or her family. It is uplifting and to the point. Worth every penny and the royalties go to the Macmillan cancer charity.
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A. Hunt
Format:Paperback
I've just finished reading What can I do to help?, and it might seem like a strange thing to say, but I really enjoyed it! It's a collection of specific things to do for cancer patients and their carers that will help them through what might be a very tough time.
What gives it it's special qualities is the structure of the book. The author, Deborah Hutton, was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to her bones. Her experience of the shock of diagnosis and everything that followed forms the central theme of the book. Interspersed with her experience you get the 75 practical ideas and snippets of from a wide range of sources who've been in similar cirumstances; including Hugh Grant and Tony Benn. The result of this collage of ideas and anecdotes is a book that is easy to read, practical, humorous and in places very moving.
All the advice that is given is sensible and accommodates the wide range of reactions to cancer from different people. Some of the tips won't apply to all cancer patients or carers, and the author reminds you that you'll have to use your own good judgement about what do and when, but if you'd like some hints, tips and perspectives this is a great place to look.
What gives it it's special qualities is the structure of the book. The author, Deborah Hutton, was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to her bones. Her experience of the shock of diagnosis and everything that followed forms the central theme of the book. Interspersed with her experience you get the 75 practical ideas and snippets of from a wide range of sources who've been in similar cirumstances; including Hugh Grant and Tony Benn. The result of this collage of ideas and anecdotes is a book that is easy to read, practical, humorous and in places very moving.
All the advice that is given is sensible and accommodates the wide range of reactions to cancer from different people. Some of the tips won't apply to all cancer patients or carers, and the author reminds you that you'll have to use your own good judgement about what do and when, but if you'd like some hints, tips and perspectives this is a great place to look.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I was first diagnosed with colon cancer, many friends and relatives were naturally concerned. We were bombarded with well intentioned e-mails, requesting an "update". We certainly learned how much easier it is to write the "one-liner e-mail", compared to the time it takes to reply.
This book shows you how to convert the good intentions of friends and relatives into support that will help patients, their families and carers. The ideas are not "clever", just completely practical and very welome. Most important, they work!!
This book shows you how to convert the good intentions of friends and relatives into support that will help patients, their families and carers. The ideas are not "clever", just completely practical and very welome. Most important, they work!!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Pipfitz
Format:Paperback
This was the first book I bought after my husband was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer last year. Like Deborah Hutton, he was relatively young (47) and we have five school age daughters. It's a great book - cheerful and practical with plenty of wit. It kept us going through the dark times and I still read it after his death.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By architect834
Format:Paperback
Deborah Hutton manages to illustrate clearly how a person diagnosed with cancer is likely to be feeling at various stages and also how people around the patient are likely to be feeling. This insight is then used to give helpful information for those who want to help, or simply understand the situation, but are feeling a bit lost and unsure of what to do or say.
If you know someone recently diagnosed with cancer and are unsure what you can do to help, read this book to find out that there is plenty you can do to help.
If you know someone recently diagnosed with cancer and are unsure what you can do to help, read this book to find out that there is plenty you can do to help.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A friend was recently diagnosed with Cancer, and whilst I had said the usual "let me know if there's anything I can do" I realised that I was'nt sure what the best way to go about helping was.
This book answered perfectly all my questions, and more, and whilst some things were obvious enough, there were little gems of wisdom scattered through out the book, that made all the difference, especially in terms of offering practical help.
Its useful for both friends, families and sufferers of cancer. I would strongly recommend it.
This book answered perfectly all my questions, and more, and whilst some things were obvious enough, there were little gems of wisdom scattered through out the book, that made all the difference, especially in terms of offering practical help.
Its useful for both friends, families and sufferers of cancer. I would strongly recommend it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you have a friend or relative who has been diagnosed with cancer, forget the flowers, chocolates, cards (well....maybe not) this is the book to get. It is full of sensible, sound advice on how you can help the patient to cope with the challenge of cancer.
Written by a cancer fighter, the author knows exactly what she is talking about. I bought a copy and loaned it to my mother in law and it helped.
Written by a cancer fighter, the author knows exactly what she is talking about. I bought a copy and loaned it to my mother in law and it helped.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helping me to help
My mum was diagnosed with cancer three days ago and, from receiving the phone call from my parents to picking up this book, I felt so hopeless and helpless; I didn't know what to... Read more
Published 3 days ago by MissGem
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect helpful book
For anyone who finds themselves in the situation where a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. A very helpful read. Highly recommended.
Published 26 days ago by Leggycat
5.0 out of 5 stars
tips for cancer patients and their carers/friends
An excellent book. It's my second purchase as I have given my other copy to a friend. Full of very sensible suggestions and tips.
Published 2 months ago by Miss Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Useful, detailed advice and tips on how to support someone you know...
This is a really useful book. My mother has just been diagnosed with cancer and trying to work out how best to support her is so hard as this is not something we have ever... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Michelle
4.0 out of 5 stars
What can I do to help
Easy and informative read for someone like me who has no experience of dealing with cancer patients. Have passed it on to the family who have also found it a great help.
Published 5 months ago by Pamela Glanville
5.0 out of 5 stars
helpful guide for difficult situations
Practical and wise words for what must be the most difficult situation to deal with when facing relatives and friends diagnosed with cancer or even other life limiting... Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Rawlinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful guide for friends
I read this book some years ago. When my niece's best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, my niece felt very helpless - she wanted to give her friend support, but wasn't sure... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jane V
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invaluable resource
I am reasonably young and so when my friend had cancer, I didn't know what to say or how to help.
This book gives a wealth of really sensible advice - both what to do/say and... Read more
This book gives a wealth of really sensible advice - both what to do/say and... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Busy mum with 2 kids
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book for helping those diagnosed with cancer
What a little gem of a book - a close friend passed it to me when she was diagnosed with cancer and it was such a great help giving many useful tips and hints on what/what not to... Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2011 by Amanda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant for the one with cancer too.
I've got cancer and I found this book absolutely stuffed with priceless advice with practical tips and advice - what a wonderful, wise book - I can't begin to express my... Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2010 by Mrs Colette Morris
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