A Man’s Guide to Rebuilding Life After a Health Crisis

After the Diagnosis

By Dr Margaretha Montagu

Your life just changed forever. This isn’t just another setback—it’s a fundamental shift in everything you thought you knew about what truly matters.

In this groundbreaking guide, you’ll discover how to navigate the uncharted territory that follows a life-altering diagnosis. Unlike traditional self-help books that might offer vague platitudes or medical texts drowning in clinical details, AFTER THE DIAGNOSI provides a practical framework for rebuilding your life when the foundations have been shaken.

Drawing from extensive research and real-life experiences, this book introduces the revolutionary “Five Domains” approach to managing your new reality:

• Financial Domain: Create “crisis cushions” and “recovery runways” that protect your assets during unpredictable periods
• Physical and Emotional Domain: Learn to invest strategically in treatments, recovery protocols, and prevention strategies
• Relationships Domain: Discover which connections appreciate in value during the crisis and which become toxic liabilities
• Professional Domain: Decide what work adjustments are non-negotiable and allocate your most precious resources—time and energy—toward what genuinely matters
• Identity Domain: Identify the parts of your self-concept that are in flux

With unflinching honesty and unexpected humour, AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS tackles the questions that keep you up at night: How do I maintain control when my body is betraying me? What happens to my identity when I can no longer fulfil my roles? How do I find meaning when my future feels uncertain?

This isn’t about positive thinking or “fighting” your condition. It’s about strategic recalibration of your resources, relationships, and expectations. It’s about finding strength not in denial, but in adaptation.

Whatever your life-altering diagnosis, THE RECALIBRATION offers a roadmap when the destination has suddenly changed.Don’t face this journey without a guide.

Available now from Amazon to help you reclaim control, purpose, and meaning in this new chapter of your life.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The financial recalibration chapter saved my sanity—and my savings.” “After my diagnosis, I was drowning in medical bills and insurance paperwork. The strategies in Chapter 4 helped me create what the author calls a ‘recovery runway.’ Six months later, I’m not just financially stable—I’m actually more secure than before my illness because I’m making smarter decisions. The humour sprinkled throughout made me laugh when I needed it most.” — James W., 47, Marketing Director

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Raw, real, and exactly what I needed.” “I’ve read dozens of self-help books that dance around difficult truths. This one punches you in the gut, then shows you how to stand back up. The Four Capitals framework completely changed my perspective on what true wealth means. I keep coming back to the Purpose Capital section whenever I feel lost.” — Robert K., 61, Small Business Owner

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book found me at my lowest point.” “When my doctor said ‘cancer,’ my world collapsed. A colleague left this book on my desk, and I reluctantly opened it. By page three, I was in tears—finally, someone who understood the mixture of fear, anger, and bizarre moments of humour that come with serious illness. The practical advice on managing relationships during crisis is worth its weight in gold. I bought copies for everyone in my support group.” — Daniel M., 39, Software Engineer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A beacon in the darkness.” “I read this in one sitting during my first round of chemo. What struck me most was how the author balances brutal honesty with genuine optimism. This isn’t about toxic positivity—it’s about finding authentic meaning when life goes sideways. My wife says she saw a visible change in me after I finished reading.” — Thomas P., 58, High School Principal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “No BS approach to crisis management.” “As someone who’s spent 30 years in corporate leadership, I thought I knew everything about handling crises. Then I got sick and realized personal crises require completely different tools. This book cuts through the fluff and offers actionable strategies. The section on ‘crisis cushions’ for financial planning revolutionized how I manage my money.” — Edward J., 64, Retired CEO

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Where was this book when I needed it most?” “Three years after my heart attack, I’m still implementing lessons from this book. If I’d had it sooner, I would have avoided so many mistakes. The chapter on Physical Capital changed my entire approach to recovery. Instead of passive patience, I became an active participant in my healing. Every doctor’s appointment is different now because I know how to advocate for myself while respecting medical expertise.” — William B., 55, Construction Manager

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Life-altering wisdom delivered with unexpected humour.” “I actually laughed out loud during the ‘Cost-Benefit Analysis of Hospitals’ section—while sitting in a hospital waiting room! My wife looked at me like I was crazy, but that moment of levity during a terrifying time was priceless. Beyond the humour, the practical advice about navigating insurance claims alone was worth triple what I paid for this book. I’ve highlighted so many passages that my copy looks like a colouring book.” — Michael T., 43, Architect

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A masterclass in resilience.” “As someone who’s always prided himself on mental toughness, my diagnosis humbled me completely. This book met me in that vulnerability and showed me a different kind of strength. The exercises for rebuilding identity have been transformative. I’m not the same man I was before my illness, but thanks to this guidance, I might actually be better.” — Christopher H., 49, Police Officer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book saved more than my finances—it saved my marriage.” “When I got my diagnosis, I shut down completely. Wouldn’t talk to my wife, my kids, anyone. I was the provider, the rock—and suddenly I felt useless. This book arrived as a gift from my brother who’d been through something similar. The chapter on Relationship Capital hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized I was treating my family like employees rather than partners in this journey. The exercises on vulnerability and interdependence were excruciating but necessary. Six months later, my wife says we’re communicating better than we have in 20 years of marriage. My medical prognosis is still uncertain, but my relationships have never been healthier. That’s a different kind of wealth I never appreciated before.” — Gregory S., 54, Engineering Manager

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The book that helped me rebuild.” “When everything falls apart, you need more than platitudes. You need a framework for reconstruction. That’s exactly what this book provides. I keep it on my nightstand and refer to it almost daily. The Relationship Capital section helped me understand why some friendships strengthened during my illness while others disappeared. Most importantly, it taught me not to waste precious energy on resentment. Instead, I learned to invest in connections that matter. If you’re facing a health crisis or any major life disruption, do yourself a Favor and read this immediately.” — Alexander V., 57, University Professor