Jane's Books
Oysters for Lunch (The Louise Perkins Foundation, 2011)
Edited by Jane Bissell
The Pink Party (Klarer Lasserre Books, Auckland, 2007)
Read an excerpt from The Pink Party (pdf). 'Manon survived inflammatory breast cancer and to celebrate her 'joyous life', she buys a neon blue convertible car. 'It's good to be topless!' she says.'
Welcome to the Amazon Club (Longacre Press, Dunedin, 2004)
To order copies of Jane's books, please visit the store. For enquiries, please use the contact form.
Writings by women living with secondary breast cancer
Edited by Jane Bissell
(The Louise Perkins Foundation, 2011)
ISBN 978-0-473-19936-4
RRP $20.00
The book can be purchased through the Sweet Louise Online Shop . All proceeds from sales of Oysters for Lunch go towards the provision of Sweet Louise services and support.
Over 2,600 New Zealand women and men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and about 15% will hear the news that the breast cancer has spread to other parts of their body. At this stage the advanced cancer, also known as metastatic or secondary, is incurable.
The opportunity to read creative work written by women living with secondary breast cancer is a valuable one, a gift not only to those who may follow a similar path but to all of us, offering intimate insights into lives that are challenged by the realities of cancer and lived fully ‘in the moment’, shared passionately with beloved family, friends and places.
This collection of stories and poems written by Members of Sweet Louise are penned from the heart. The writers share the highs, lows, joys and sorrows of life with an incurable cancer.
Within this book you will find works of inspiration, insight and value. The title story, Oysters for Lunch by Raewyn Hilliard typifies the spirit and strength of the contributors as they cope with the challenges and rise above them in ways that are at once everyday, but poignant. And there is so much more in this little book, lessons that prompt us to look at our own lives and think, ‘Am I living the best way I can, at this moment?’
“These stories and poems are an inspirational tribute to the extraordinary lives of our authors living with secondary breast cancer and we know that the women who contributed their work did so with a courage and determination to help make a difference for others.”
Sue Brewster, CEO Sweet Louise
The Louise Perkins Foundation would like to thank Roche New Zealand and The Max Foundation for their generous support of the Sweet Louise Creative Writing Project and book.
Klarer Lasserre Books 2007
To order, please visit the store.
To read a review of The Pink Party, click here.
ISBN 978 0 473 12650 6
RRP $20
The Pink Party is Jane's second book about the extraordinary journey that is a woman's experience with breast cancer. Jane writes of the joys, fears and achievements in her own life and in the lives of two other women, united by the breast cancer journey they share.
Here is what readers are saying about The Pink Party:
"The women in Jane's book are so gutsy, bold and wonderful. Yes, I was moved to tears several times, but I kept reading. I admire how Jane has captured just the right mix of sentiment, reality and the "champagne popping" joy of celebrating lives well lived." Jocelyn Watkin
"What more can I say about TPP than I really rate and recommend it? Plenty actually. I cried sometimes and laughed many times as I read it, simply unable to put it down. It’s warm, funny, poignant and resonant with a friendship and faithfulness that I found both bracing and embracing. You may not have walked the breast cancer gangplank, wondering what’s beyond the end, or watched your loved ones walk it, in order to grasp the book’s richness - but it helps! What I love about the book is the way that Colleen can now live on in more hearts, that I as reader can share in the privilege of walking with “Manon” and most of all, that I can rejoice in the modestly understated but very vibrantly present courage and celebration of life of the fabulous Jane Bissell!" Claire Ryan
The Pink Party is endorsed by Sweet Louise and the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition. A donation from book sales is made to each organisation by the author.
This book was edited by Dunedin writer Penelope Todd - to view Penelope's website, visit www.penelopetodd.co.nz
The Pink Party Notes
In 2005, I had the privilege of walking with Manon and Colleen as they faced challenges with their breast cancers. Colleen was in the final stages of her journey and the disease returned for Manon. They never lost the joy of living, even if happiness was elusive some days or in small measure on others, and they never gave up hope. Colleen helped me understand that the will to live is powerful and life can be very simple. Manon taught me about 'life in the moment' - the knees-up, hands in the air, champagne-cork-blowing spontaneity of it - and to celebrate every day.
Colleen was living with advanced breast cancer and Manon faced a possible recurrence of her original aggressive inflammatory breast cancer. I joined our three journeys together into The Pink Party .
Colleen wished to share her experience with other women living with advanced breast cancer. Unfortunately, she was unable to communicate with these women while she was alive, so the book is Colleen's way of sharing her story with the hopes that her words may help and comfort women on a similar journey. The title is taken from the wonderful Pink Party Colleen held the year before she passed away. The cover bears a photo of Colleen dressed in all her pink finery at the party which was truly a 'celebration of life'.
Welcome to the Amazon Club
Longacre Press 2004
To order, please visit the store.
Click here to read reviews of Welcome to the Amazon Club .
ISBN 1 877135 93 3
RRP $10.00
'This is the story of my first year with breast cancer - from diagnosis to my first 'all clear.' I kept a journal during this time, charting my physical and emotional responses, but also trying to understand what was happening to me. I hope my story will help women who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer, or in fact anyone with cancer, for our journeys have much in common. Most of all, I would like my book to offer the very thing that gets us through the hours and the days of a life changing experience ... Hope. There is always hope - at best hope for recovery and a full life, or at worst, hope for less pain and suffering. We each have a remarkable capacity for hope, bravery and strength. Sometimes it takes a traumatic event to make us realise it.'
Welcome to the Amazon Club is endorsed by the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation with a foreword by Belinda Scott, Breast Surgeon and Medical Chairperson of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Amazon Club Notes
I wrote Amazon Club because it was the type of book I wanted to read when I was first diagnosed. I wanted to know how I would get through breast cancer; how I would cope on a daily basis, because at that traumatic time, I didn’t know. The book has been out for a few years now but continues to offer guidance, support and hope for women newly diagnosed and that is wonderful. The book has also proven of value to those who support and care for women with breast cancer. It provides an insight into the experience that caregivers have found helpful.