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.

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Rated ★★★★★ on Amazon and Goodreads

Testimonials

“By sharing the inner-most thoughts and emotions she experienced throughout her breast cancer journey, Dr. Exelbert provides validation that “life-altering” doesn’t necessarily condemn a cancer patient to a life that is “less than” it once was. Her dual perspectives as both a patient and a psychologist provide a unique opportunity to merge the raw emotional impact of the diagnosis with clinical training, thereby allowing her to process and understand the experience in a way that is both reassuring and empowering.”

— Jane E. Austin, Ph.D., Professor, William Paterson University

“This is less a book about cancer and the healing effects of exercise and diet as much as it is about the power of resilience; about confronting the unimaginable and what it takes to come out the other side. By allowing the reader into her personal journey, Dr. Exelbert invites us to explore the human dimensions of illness, seamlessly weaving between best psychological practices and the simple needs that we all have as members of the human family. For those of us working in the cancer community – or in any other community for that matter – this book is a must-read. It summons us to remember our humanity – to not hide behind cold clinical jargon and artificial barriers – and reminds us of the power we each possess to not only ease our own fears and pain, but those of our fellow travelers.”

— Arnie Preminger, CEO/Founder, Sunrise Association International summer and year-round programs for children with cancer and their siblings

“In this important and inspiring book, Dr. Exelbert shares her personal and emotional journey through cancer, with the vulnerability of a patient, the expertise of a psycho-oncologist, and with a generosity of heart that makes this book an essential guide for cancer patients, their families and clinicians alike. Lessons gleaned from personal suffering and transformation, combined with valuable knowledge from psychological and medical research, nutrition, and exercise, will undoubtedly leave the reader not only better informed, but empowered with hope and courage amidst the struggle with serious illness.”

— Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D., Psycho-oncologist, New York University School of Medicine