Elaine Sugden worked in Leeds in the 1970s as a doctor of children with leukaemia before moving with her family to India for six years. From 1984 she worked in adult oncology in Oxford, and from 1995 as a consultant treating adults and children with cancer. She wrote her contributions to this book after retiring in 2013, based on her years as a practising doctor. Elaine continues to be involved in a European organization working for those treated for cancer when children. Her booklet Caring for People with Cancer, based on a series of seminars in India, was published in 1998.Philip Giddings taught at the University of Reading from 1972 until his retirement as Head of the School of Politics and International Relations in 2011. Philip was an elected member of the Church of England General Synod from 1985-2015, and of Archbishops' Council from 2001-2015, and he chaired its Mission and Public Affairs Council from 2003-2011. He has twice been widowed. His other publications are in the field of Parliamentary affairs and the Ombudsman institution.Martin Down is an Anglican priest who served in country parishes in Lincolnshire and Norfolk until 2012 when he retired to live in Oxfordshire. Martin is author of several books including The Best Is Yet To Be: Being happy in retirement and old age (2012) and The Christian Hope: A guide to life after death (2016).Gareth Tuckwell was Medical Director of Burrswood Christian Hospital, and CEO from 1986-2012, and Medical Director and Clinical Director at Hospice in the Weald from 2003-2007. He has been involved with Macmillan Cancer Support as both a regional director and trustee. Until 2020 he chaired Sanctuary Trust and the ME Trust. He remains vice-president of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care. Gareth contributed to 'A Time to Heal', a report for the House of Bishops in 2000, A Question of Healing (Eagle, 2000) and Transforming Health (MARC 2005).

• Foreword to the first edition by Lord Mackay of ClashfernStart hereWhy and how we need to talk about dyingPhilip GiddingsChapter 1Coping with life-threatening illnessElaine SugdenChapter 2Difficult decisionsElaine SugdenChapter 3Talking about dying: When? Where? How?Elaine SugdenChapter 4Coping with the unexpectedPhilip GiddingsChapter 5SuicideElaine SugdenChapter 6The death of a babyElaine SugdenChapter 7Talking to childrenElaine SugdenChapter 8Talking about life after deathMartin DownChapter 9Facing up to fearMartin DownChapter 10Praying for healingGareth TuckwellChapter 11Practical MattersMartin DownChapter 12Suggestions of ways to helpElaine Sugden and Philip GiddingsEndpieceWhere to find more helpUseful Websites BibliographyAppendix 1Advance Care PlanningAppendix 2Preparing for an expected death at homeAppendix 3What to do after a death at homeAbout the authorsIndex