The Valley of Cancer: a Journey of Comfort and Hope

Reviewer's Bookwatch, March, 2005 by Dian Moore

The Valley of Cancer: a Journey of Comfort and Hope

Angelina Fast-Vlaar

Belleville Publishing

Belleville, ON. (no longer in business)

http://www.valleyofcancer.faithweb.com/valley.html

ISBN 1553060229 $10.95

Cancer. The word itself is ominous and strikes terror in our hearts. Today, it's not uncommon for people in North America to know someone who has or had cancer, have it themselves, or had a family member suffer from it.

A diagnosis of cancer means many things to different people, but often it does not immediately conjure a feeling of hope.

In "THE VALLEY OF CANCER: A JOURNEY OF COMFORT AND HOPE," author Angelina Fast-Vlaar has given to the world a gift of hope. It is her "prayer that this sharing of my journey may be a means of "calling back" to you to encourage you, whatever your valley may hold."

The small volume is arranged to document the 17 months of Fast-Vlaar's journey, beginning with the diagnosis in July 1997 to remission of the cancer in November 1998. Then entries are excerpts from her journal, beginning with what her condition that month is, then proceeding to reflection, a poem, a place of understanding. As Fast-Vlaar states in the conclusion, the entries themselves sometimes inspired hope as a thought, scripture or poem was brought to mind. In reading the different chapters, the reader also takes the journey and experiences a renewal of hope.

The format is unusual as it is not a memoir or in-depth story of a woman's life after being diagnosed with colon cancer. Instead, it is a personal dialogue between the author and God, the author and herself, the author and her family, and finally, the author and the readers.

I watched my mother travel in the dark valley of cancer over a period of two years, and I wish I had had this work to share with her during that time. To know she was not alone in the moments of darkness, and to encourage her to find the peace in her heart.

As a reviewer, I normally read a book with an analytical approach as to its overall value in content, writing skill, entertainment value, life-application, and ultimately reach a conclusion of whether I recommend it.

This review process was different. From the first page, I was enthralled, emotionally attached to the work as I wept, laughed and finally rejoiced. I have been blessed from reading this book. Though my mother did not survive her battle with cancer, I was comforted that hope springs eternal through a woman I've never met.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has cancer, fears getting cancer, has a loved one with cancer or is just curious. And along with reading the book, I encourage the reader to also journal, taking inspiration from a survivor who wishes to "call-back" to you.

Books may be purchased through the author's website at http://www.valleyofcancer.faithweb.com/

About the Author: Angelina Fast-Vlaar is a cancer survivor, teacher and writer. She has a new book, Seven Angels for Seven Days, scheduled to be released in late Spring/05. It won The Word Guild's "Best New Canadian Author" award!

Interview with Angelina Fast-Vlaar:

Q. It's been almost eight years since you received the diagnosis that you had colon cancer. I'm thrilled you are here today as a survivor and thankful that you shared your journey with us in The Valley of Cancer: A Journey of Comfort and Hope. What was the defining moment that caused you to publish this book of personal journaling, poetry, and vignettes of your time of treatment and recovery?

AFV: There were several defining moments that prompted the publishing of The Valley of Cancer. I wrote "Glory for Jane" for a friend experiencing the hair loss disaster at the same time I did. She was deeply touched and encouraged by the piece and that gave me the first indication that my experience could be of help to others. I sent "Easter" to a friend with terminal cancer. It arrived on the day he went to glory. Again, the family was deeply touched not only that I shared but that it should arrive on the day they so much needed this vision of entering heaven.

The most defining moment came into the eighth month of chemotherapy treatments when I became so ill I thought I might not make it. My reading was in Psalm 118 one day. When I read verse 17, "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done..." it was as if the words were spoken aloud directly to me--a promise that I would live and a task to tell others what the Lord had done for me in the form of a book.

Q. May I ask how your health is today?

AFV: My health today is good. The last check-up showed I'm still completely cancer free! I do not have the energy I used to have, but we learn to adjust to that.

Q. At times the book is both poignant and hopeful, such as "The Dance," where you describe dancing with your granddaughter and her delight in the new hair that's growing back. Your daughter then joins you and helps shape the hair, and you are admired as once you admired the new growth on newborn babes. Tell us how that moment defined hope for you.