For many women breast cancer is one of the most distressing of all diseases. This guide focuses on experiences of the disease from the woman's perspective. Drawing on 1000 in-depth interviews, the book makes extensive use of verbatim accounts by women of their own experiences during different stages - from the discovery of the lump, through to diagnosis, treatment, and possible recurrence and death. These extracts illustrate the meaning that a diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment has for different women. A practical, introductory chapter fully describes the medical aspects of the disease. The women's perceptions and insights are interspersed with relevant findings and theories from recent scientific literature. The authors are well-known for their contributions to cancer research and especially for their work on the psychosocial aspects of breast cancer and their effect on the quality of life.