Chemo Muscles: Lessons Learned from Being a Psycho-Oncologist and Cancer Patient

Dr. Renee Exelbert was working as a psychologist in a pediatric cancer center in Long Island, New York, before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. As a wife and mother of two young children, the news came as a devastating shock to her and her family. She found herself on a path that she had explored so many times before as a doctor, only this time, she was the patient.

In Chemo Muscles, Dr. Exelbert reflects upon her experience when confronting her own cancer diagnosis. With unparalleled honesty, she shares her intimate struggles with vulnerability and identity; the various interactions she had with healthcare professionals throughout her journey; and, eventually, what it was like to regain a sense of control over her own body by becoming a student of diet and exercise, ultimately becoming a certified personal trainer and bodybuilding figure competitor.

Pairing psychological theory with her own illuminating story, Dr. Exelbert offers researched coping techniques to help both individuals and their families confront cancer, as well as guidance to aid healthcare professionals treat their patients with greater dignity, understanding, and respect.