Cancer caregiving begins with medical hardship and proceeds to complications from unforeseen interpersonal challenges

Professor Keith Hardeman draws on horrendous experiences as his wife’s caregiver and delivers a remarkable book that wholly connects with the hearts of readers whose lives are assaulted by cancer (mine included). He openly acknowledges the grief, terror, and exhaustion associated with caregiving. Moreover, he tactfully closes the door on mythical notions that cancer should be thought of as an inspirational journey. You will be scared is an insightful manual that succinctly addresses how to cope with 12 unanticipated communication issues caregivers need to know at the onset of their cancer storm and with a researched, yet practical approach. Professor Hardeman’s chapters include cancer ghosting, “scanxiety,” and friends’ well-intentioned but often insensitive comments, all of which caught me off guard while caregiving for my cancer-stricken parents. His expertise as a communication professor and experiential voice give his conversational writing an understandable but powerful tone that will help guide and support even the most overwhelmed of new caregivers.—Haylee Anderson, Ed.D. (2027), Educational Resource Coach, eMINTS National Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia

Professor Keith Hardeman is a caregiver who has authored two other books on the cancer experience: The Shadow of Trepidation and Don’t Say “Everything Happens for a Reason.” He’s also published numerous articles in Coping® with Cancer magazine. He is professor emeritus and a multi award-winning professor at Westminster College where he taught a variety of courses in interpersonal relationships, public speaking, and business writing.