Idaho resident Jane Freund has written a book about her ongoing experience with thyroid cancer. Her book is full of honesty, not just about her feelings toward her diagnosis, but about how she sees life. Her story, with many backlit anecdotes of growing up as a part of Idaho’s prominent Hansen political family, is an enjoyable read.

Jane chose the title because she discovered that when you announce you have cancer, the subject becomes the elephant in the room nobody wants to address, and they approach the topic as if they were walking on eggshells.

An important thread throughout the book is that her relationship with Jesus Christ has provided her with a core foundation that allows her to face any crisis. It is the first of three things she credits for getting her through her cancer experience. She also credits talks with others about her experience and the significant relationships that encourage and sustain her.

I learned a lot, and the two nuggets I found the most significant were the importance of setting boundaries and then asking someone to be a Boundary Captain to stand between you and others to make sure your boundaries are respected. She also gave information about the website CaringBridge.org. It is a site that allows concerned friends to keep abreast of your journey without you having to repeat the story each time someone calls.

My rating: 5 out of 5. Read it; buy one for a friend and one for your doctor’s waiting room.