Mary Bickerstaff Pens Memoir About Breast Cancer

WHITTIER, N.C.

When author Mary Bickerstaff was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, it left her speechless. In what she calls her journal-turned-"mammoir," she expresses the shock caused by her doctor's discovery, the dizzying labyrinth she navigated toward health and the joy she felt as she accepted Christ's healing hands into hers. Bickerstaff tells her story through her new book, "My Left Breast: A Journal of Healing from Cancer" (published by Trafford Publishing).

"This is a self-help, inspirational and true story of how one person - myself - dealt with breast cancer," Bickerstaff says. "Hopefully it will encourage others to lean into their faith in God and to journal as a way of walking a path out of the darkness that cancer can be."

While her story may seem bleak at times, Bickerstaff says her memoir incorporates tinges of humor and lighthearted outlooks to show readers that a cancer journey doesn't have to be all gloom and doom. Through practices such as meditation, Reiki and prayer, coupled with time spent in nature, Bickerstaff traversed the winding road of cancer diagnosis and treatment. She encourages her audience to chronicle their experiences, whether heartbreaking or joyful, so that they, too, can share those memories with others as she does in her book.

"I wouldn't have been able to write this book if I hadn't kept a journal," Bickerstaff says. "When I have a pen in my hand or a computer in front of me, the world opens up and I see more clearly the path before me. My persistent and consistent faith in God and my journaling helped me find my way out of the darkness of cancer. I want others to know that, beyond cancer, we can live in harmony with the universe and be whole, happy and content."

"My Left Breast"
By Mary Bickerstaff
Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 58 pages | ISBN 9781490755663
E-Book | 58 pages | ISBN 9781490755656
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
Mary Bickerstaff is a freelance writer. She is a graduate of the two-year writing course of the Institute of Children's Literature and is a published author. She gleans messages of hope and healing from her lengthy career in the medical profession, and weaves them into her writing. She is a spiritual director, Reiki practitioner and retired registered nurse. She has been married to a retired pastor for 50 years, with whom she has three children and four grandchildren. "My Left Breast" is her first published book. Readers can learn more about the author at her website, marybickerstaff.wordpress.com.

Trafford Publishing, an Author Solutions, LLC, author services imprint, was the first publisher in the world to offer an "on-demand publishing service," and has led the independent publishing revolution since its establishment in 1995. Trafford was also one of the earliest publishers to utilize the Internet for selling books. More than 10,000 authors from over 120 countries have utilized Trafford's experience for self publishing their books. For more information about Trafford Publishing, or to publish your book today, call 1-888-232-4444 or visit trafford.com.

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