Husband's Guide to Breast Cancer: A Complete & Concise Plan for Every Stage

While any cancer diagnosis can leave an entire family bewildered, this book speaks directly to husbands whose wives have breast cancer. Written by Todd Outcalt, a United Methodist pastor who supported his wife through her illness, Husband’s Guide to Breast Cancer offers a straightforward yet nuanced game plan to guide men in their role as caregiver.

Outcalt writes honestly about his experience, revealing everything from his own sense of loneliness to his curiosity about a post-mastectomy breast. He offers advice to men tempted to approach their wife’s breast cancer as a problem that simply needs to be fixed. “We tend to believe that all a woman needs is the proper information, the right doctor, the best hospital, the perfect treatment. Problem solved.” Instead of trying to immediately “fix” the cancer, he suggests men listen to their wives, support them emotionally and, above all, be present. The book covers a range of topics, including selecting a medical team, discussing the diagnosis with children and dealing with finances. For those pressed for time, each chapter contains quick takeaways, including a brief summary, “Five Things to Remember,” as well as a Top Ten list and a first-person account in which a husband describes his own experience. This thoughtful book would be helpful to any couple dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Husband's Guide to Breast Cancer: A Complete & Concise Plan for Every Stage is published by Blue River Press.