Fight4u2: A Guide for Those with Cancer or Chronic Illness

When Cheryl Merkel faced a stage IV breast cancer diagnosis, she soon realized we truly need each other to cope, survive and thrive. This not only motivated her to write Fight4u2, but this realization also inspired the title of the book. Since publishing her uplifting message of hope to others she was continually encouraged to tell her story because of the Lord’s Prayer. Nowhere in the prayer are there words such as: my, I, or me. But rather it is filled with the words: our, us, and we, which were her daily reminders of the importance of community and family. And that we are not alone in any trial we face. Fight4u2 is an empowering eye opener that reinforces the possibility that chronic illness does not necessarily progress down a one-way street. And furthermore, health-giving lifestyle alternatives may complement traditional medical treatments. The highlights of these choices compiled in the book are the ones that led her to remission from breast cancer that had spread throughout her liver, both lungs, sternum and sacrum. And six years later, she is in remission with no evidence of disease. This book was designed to be as easy to read as possible and written in the manner that Cheryl would have appreciated the material when she was first diagnosed. It is divided into fifty sections, which describe the highlights of how she enriched her quality of life during treatment. Although it is by no means all inclusive, it is filled with over 200 helpful tidbits of information that will assist you, or get you started, in creating your own integrated care plan. Whether all two hundred, or just a few of these suggestions resonate with you, there is a strong likelihood that your life may be enhanced, and even extended, as a result of implementing life enhancing changes.