During difficult times, books can offer practical advice, perspective, and empathy. Whether they faced their own cancer diagnosis and wanted to share the experience, were dealing with a loved one’s diagnosis, or just wanted to better understand the disease and help, many people have written books about cancer to offer support and guidance. for both cancer patients and survivors. in this article we review some well-known, useful and inspiring examples.
the best books for cancer patients to read
When it comes to books, there’s no one-size-fits-all option. a book that resonates with one person might not be another’s preference. You may be looking for nutrition advice or want to hear someone’s story. you may be looking for different things at different points in the treatment process. The following books about cancer, life, and more can comfort and support you through various stages, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
You are reading: Books for cancer patients
1. find the “can” in cancer
Written by four cancer survivors, “Finding the ‘Can’ in Cancer” is a manual designed to help guide patients, family members, and friends through the cancer experience. The book blends practical advice with the authors’ personal memories and experiences.
Tips in the book include tips for managing side effects and how to accept support from others. The book also describes many of the procedures and tests that cancer patients may face during the process. It also contains encouragement to help lift patients and their loved ones when they feel down or need a little hope.
2. when breath becomes air
“When Breath Becomes Air” was published posthumously in 2016. The book’s author, Paul Kalanithi, was nearing the end of nearly 10 years of training to be a neurosurgeon when he was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. his life changed when he went from being a doctor helping people live to being a patient himself.
memoir follows dr. Kalanithi’s life through medical school and beyond. He documents his journey as he sought to determine what makes life meaningful and virtuous, working at Stanford as a neurosurgeon, and his life as a patient facing mortality. Along the way, he rediscovers religious faith and also becomes a father.
dr. Kalanithi was only 36 years old when he was diagnosed. his memories confront death head-on and end up life-affirming and impossible to forget.
3. cancer bitch
marisa acocella marchetto is a New York cartoonist and breast cancer survivor who has produced a laugh-out-loud graphic memoir with “the cancer vixen”.
The memoir explores what happens when a self-styled “wine-drinking, fashion-forward cartoonist about to get married” finds a lump in her breast. Acocella Marchetto ends up in an 11-month battle with breast cancer, and her colorful memoir of her details every part of it, from diagnosis to treatments. The author goes beyond the cancer diagnosis and paints a picture of her life in the big city and her love story.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer just three weeks before her wedding. she worries how her fiancé will react, how she will survive and what will happen to her hair. Along the way, “Cancer Vixen” readers get a behind-the-scenes look at living in Manhattan, working for a major magazine, and having the courage to be a vixen, not a victim, of cancer. is an ideal read for anyone who needs a laugh.
4. promise me dad
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US President Joe Biden has seen his share of personal tragedy, from the loss of his wife and young daughter in a car accident in the 1970s to his son Beau’s diagnosis with cancer. Beau Biden was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2013. During the family’s annual Thanksgiving dinner a year later, Beau told her father, “Promise me, Dad, give me your word that whatever happens, you’ll to be all right.”
and biden promised his son. The memoir “Promise Me, Dad” details the next year of his life, during which he continued to serve as Vice President. he traveled the world to handle crises as they arose, all while trying to balance his commitments to his family back home. Biden’s book offers a look at how a person handles grief and loss when he also has other important concerns and commitments in his life to attend to.
5. against cancer
When people are first diagnosed with cancer, one question many have is how they can fight it. While it shouldn’t take the place of medical treatment and care from a doctor, “Anti-Cancer” offers guidance and advice on what you can do to strengthen your body after a cancer diagnosis. The book also offers tips to help people without cancer potentially minimize their risks.
The book describes how diet can affect cancer outcomes and how certain lifestyle choices affect cancer treatments. details the connection between stress levels and cancer and offers tips to help you reduce stress and improve well-being.
6. the unattached soul: the journey beyond yourself
Many cancer patients wonder why they were the ones diagnosed with cancer. a diagnosis can disturb your inner peace, leaving you questioning its validity. “the unattached soul” guides people to their inner space, helping them to change their relationships with the world around them and with themselves. the book aims to expand people’s consciousness by illuminating the emotions and thoughts that tend to get in people’s way. it is a guide to self-realization and happiness.
7. what to eat if you have cancer
What you eat can have a big impact on how well your cancer treatments work and how you feel overall. “what to eat if you have cancer” is a participant in nutrition books for cancer patients. the guide recommends foods to eat during and after treatment. The recommended foods can help reduce the side effects associated with many cancer treatments while giving your body the nutrition it needs to thrive.
In addition to recommending certain foods, “What to Eat If You Have Cancer” also includes menu plans and recipes to help you take action and change your diet. The information in the book is based on research and supported by research. In addition to describing foods to eat, it recommends foods to avoid and provides guidance on the best nutritional supplements to try during treatment. As with any nutrition plan, be sure to talk with your medical providers before taking supplements or making any major changes to your diet.
8. sadako and the thousand paper cranes
Several years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, doctors living in the area noted a sharp increase in leukemia in children living in the surrounding area. “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” tells the story of one such child. sadako lives in hiroshima and is a lively and active girl. She then, she begins to experience dizziness and is diagnosed with leukemia.
In an effort to save her life, Sadako begins folding paper cranes, as a Japanese legend says that if a person successfully folds 1,000 cranes, the gods will grant their wish. The book is a poignant reminder of the power of persistence and is based on a true story.
9. the emperor of all diseases
Described as a “biography” of cancer, “the emperor of all ills” traces the history of the disease from its first descriptions to the efforts made in the 20th and 21st centuries to control and cure it. The book is written by Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, science writer, and researcher. takes a precise approach to his examination of cancer and details the effects the disease has had on humanity over the past 5,000 years.
Although based on facts, the book is gripping and exciting. cancer plays a leading role, affecting everyone, from the ancient queen of persia, who cut her breast due to a tumor, to the first radiotherapies of the 19th century. The book looks back and forward, detailing potential treatments and new developments in cancer research.
10. the last conference
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“The Last Lesson” is based on a lesson Randy Pausch gave shortly after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Pausch was a computer scientist and professor at Carnegie Mellon University. when asked to give his “last lecture”, he chose not to focus on death and legacy. instead, the lecture and subsequent book deal with the theme of achieving childhood dreams.
The book looks at why it’s important to seize the moment, overcome challenges and obstacles, and help others make their dreams come true. At its core, the book is about the value of life and the joy of living. The book is humorous, intelligent, and inspiring and is worth reading by anyone, whether or not they are facing a cancer diagnosis.
11. the unwinding of the miracle
Death has haunted Julie Yip-Williams her entire life. “The Unwinding of the Miracle” tells the story of his life in the shadow of ever-imminent death. yip-williams was born blind in vietnam and her grandmother nearly sacrificed her. she fled the country in the late 1970s due to political turmoil. she finally she headed to the usa uu. and she underwent surgery to restore some of her vision.
after attending harvard, becoming a lawyer, getting married, and having two daughters, yip-williams was living a life she couldn’t have dreamed of. then, when she was in her 30s, she was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. writing her memoir gave him a way to process the pain and anger she felt. Although Yip-Williams is legitimately angry in the story, she is also honest and funny, painting a portrait of a complex and fully human individual.
12. imagine your life after cancer
If you have a hard time imagining life after cancer, know that many others have been where you are now. “think about your life after cancer” gives you a glimpse into their stories. The New York Times asked cancer survivors to answer the question “How is your life different after cancer?” Each answer is accompanied by a photo of the person. The book brings together the images and the answers, providing a glimpse into the hope, joy, pain, and confusion that come with life after cancer.
13. it’s always something
comedian gilda radner made people laugh on “saturday night live” and paved the way for other comediennes. “There’s Always Something” is her memoir, a poignant, funny and bittersweet look at her life. The 20th Anniversary Edition also includes a tribute from Radner’s SNL colleagues and a guide to help those currently facing a cancer diagnosis.
what books have inspired you?
Reading can open up new worlds, giving you insight into your own experience. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, books can help you navigate a confusing and frightening time and provide an important source of perspective, empathy, and emotional support.
As a cancer patient or survivor, what books have inspired you?
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references:
- emerson n, schinazi t, moonan s, leigh p. find the “can” in cancer. lulu.com; 2005. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7936191-finding-the-can-in-cancer?
- kalanithi p. when breath becomes air. new york: random house; 2016. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25899336-when-breath-becomes-air
- marchetto ma. cancer bitch. new york: knopf publishing group; 2006. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/349348.cancer_vixen
- biden jr. promise me dad iron; 2017. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35633343-promise-me-dad?
- servan-schreiber d. against cancer laffont; 2007. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1886829.anticancer_a_new_way_of_life
- singer ma. the unattached soul: the journey beyond yourself. oakland: omen new publications; 2007. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1963638.the_untethered_soul
- keane m, chace d. what to eat if you have cancer new york: mcgraw-hill; 2006. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331750.what_to_eat_if_you_have_cancer_revised_?
- coerr e. sadako and the thousand paper cranes london: puffin; 1999. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181077.sadako_and_the_thousand_paper_cranes?
- mukherjee s. The emperor of all evils: a biography of cancer. new york: clerk; 2010. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7170627-the-emperor-of-all-maladies
- pausch r. the last conference. new york: hachette books; 2008. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40611510-the-last-lecture
- yip-williams j. the unwinding of the miracle. new york: random house; 2019. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39216478-the-unwinding-of-the-miracle
- barrow k. imagine his life after cancer. atlanta: american cancer society; 2012. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17433350-picture-your-life-after-cancer?
- radner g. It’s Always Something New York: Harper Collins; 1989. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248170.it_s_always_something?