Let’s Talk Cancer Books! #WorldBookDay

April 23 is designated as World Book Day. It’s also called World Book and Copyright Day. If you’re interested in learning the details as to when and why it was started, click here.

But who really cares about all that?

Every day is World Book Day or should be, right?

You might be thinking, oh there she goes again talking about her books. But you’d be wrong!

Well, I will mention mine later, but World Book Day is the perfect day to share about some of my favorite cancer-related books. I am hoping you will share about YOURS as well in the comments.

So, let’s talk cancer books!

Of course, not everyone who’s been diagnosed with cancer wants to read about cancer. I get that. I do. 

You might think since I’ve had a cancer diagnosis, have written and continue to write about about cancer, that’d be enough. MORE than enough. 

Call me weird, but I can’t seem to read enough about the subject.

In fact, I seem to be drawn to books, articles and even movies that are cancer related. Of course, I’m drawn to other topics, too, but that can be a topic for another day. And my favorite genre of all (cancer or no cancer) is memoir.

Probably no surprise there, right?

I divided my favorites into sections. So, let’s get to it.

1. Favorite science-based cancer book — The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Hands down, it’s this one. I reviewed the PBS Ken Burns documentary just in case you’re interested and haven’t seen it. Mukherjee’s second book, The Gene, was excellent as well, but a bit (okay, a lot) too detailed for me. Took me FOREVER to get through it. But I’m a slow reader these days. 

Read my review of The Gene: An Intimate History here. 

2. Favorite cancer memoir — The Mercy Papers: A Memoir of Three Weeks by Robin Romm

This was a tough call as there are a bunch I love. But this one is so raw and so honest. In case you’re wondering about those three weeks – the book is about a daughter who goes home to spend time with her mother who’s dying from metastatic breast cancer. Yeah, it’s a tough read. But so good for so many reasons. Loved it.

3. Cancer-related poetry books:

April…In Pieces: Seven Sisters Writing About Covid and Cancer by Lisa Valentine (and her sisters)

Read my review here.

Dancing with Cancer by Janet Cosner

Read my review.

Fine Black Lines by Lois Tschetter Hjelmstad 

Metastatic Madness by Carol A. Miele

What Life Dished Up by Lisa Valentine (and her sisters)

4. Favorite advocacy book — Pink Ribbon Blues by Gayle Sulik

This book opened my eyes. It’s a must read.

You might want to read my review.

5. Favorite comic-style books — The Little Pink Book of (Mostly) Cancer Cartoons by Kate Matthews and In-Between Days by Teva Harrison.

I reviewed Harrison’s book here.

6. Favorite book with general breast cancer info – Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book by Susan M. Love, MD with Karen Lindsey and Elizabeth Love.

This book remains the go-to book for learning about breast cancer. Really good resource.

You might want to read my review.

7. Cancer-related books by fellow bloggers 

Okay, this list is long.

As a blogger/author, it’s super important to me to support other bloggers/authors in the cancer genre, so sharing these titles just makes me happy. 🙂

If you’re able to, please support these writers by buying, reading and reviewing their books when and where you see fit.

If I forgot someone, apologies. Feel free to send me a reminder. I have books all over my house, and my memory sorta sucks. Plus, I haven’t read them ALL yet. But I’ll get to as many as I can.

Here’s my list of ones I’ve read. The ones with links, I reviewed.

Being Sarah by Sarah Horton

Beyond the Pink Moon: A Memoir of Legacy, Loss and Survival by Nicki Boscia Durlester

The Big Ordeal by Cynthia Hayes

Bird’s Eye View by Sue Robins

Braving Chemo: What to Expect, How to Prepare and How to Get Through It by Beverly A. Zavaleta, MD

Calling the Shots in Your Medical Care by Beth Gainer

The Cancer Culture Chronicles by Rachel Cheetam Moro

Does This Outfit Make Me Look Bald? by Jennifer Pellechio-Lukowiak

The Dog Lived (and so will I) by Teresa J. Rhyne

From Zero to Mastectomy by Jackie Fox

Help Me Live by Lori Hope

I Never Signed up for This by Darryle Pollack

I’m Still Standing by Wendy Watson

Kicking Cancer to the Curb by Carol A. Meile

Left Boob Gone Rogue by Uzma Yunas, MD

Mourning Has Broken by Jan Hasak

Navigating the C: A Nurse Charts the Course for Survivorship Care by Alene Nitzky, PhD, RN, OCN

Not Done Yet by Laurie Kingston

Persevere: A Life with Cancer by Lisa Bonchek Adams

The Pink Moon Lovelies: Empowering Stories of Survival by Nicki Boscia Durlester

Prostate Cancer Strikes: Navigating the Storm by Gogs Gagnon

Resurrection Lily:  The BRCA Gene, Hereditary Cancer & Lifesaving Whispers from the Grandmother I Never Knew: A Memoir by Amy Byer Shainman

39 Things to Make a Cancer Patient Smile by Susan Rief

Ticking Off Breast Cancer by Sara Liyanage

The Throbbing Moon and the Three Season Tango by Michele Wheeler

Wear the Damn Swimsuit: Lessons and Stories From Cancer and Life by Ashli Brehm

A Woman’s Guide to Living with Heart Disease by Carolyn Thomas (Yeah, I know this one technically isn’t cancer related, but then again it is. Read it and you will understand what I mean.)

8. Other cancer-related books I recommend:

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad

Breast Cancer Alphabet by Madhulika Sikka

Bright-Sided by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler

Finding Peace by Adelyn Zara

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Resilience by Elizabeth Edwards

So Much to Be Done by Barbara Brenner

The Undying by Anne Boyer

The Unwinding of the Miracle by Julie Yip-Williams

What We Have by Amy Boesky

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Write for Life by David Tabatsky

And now…

You knew I had to mention mine, right?

I am proud of my contributions thus far to the world’s book shelf. Click here or on the image to learn more.

Finally, here are five easy ways YOU can support authors, including me.

1. Write a review on Amazon (or elsewhere).

When I shop online, I read reviews. (Don’t you?) Reviews are helpful for improving rankings, increasing sales and yes, making authors feel good. Everybody needs encouragement. Reviews work wonders in more ways than one. (Click on the image below to read more reviews or to write one.)

2. Follow authors you like on social media and subscribe to their email lists.

Subscribe to my weekly emails here. If you’ve already subscribed, thank you!

3. Ask your local library to order books by authors you like that are not currently on the shelves.

4. Donate books to your cancer center’s library or other places that accept donated or used books.

5. If you belong to a book club, suggest titles by authors you want to support to be your club’s pick of the month.

Cancer Was Not a Gift & It Didn’t Make Me a Better Person might be perfect for your club’s October selection. (Bulk rates are available.)

6. Tell others, pass on copies and/or give the gift of books.

Word of mouth matters, be it literally or via social media. Shares, likes, posts to your page(s) or actual gifting physical copies are invaluable ways to show support.

Don’t forget to sign up for my weekly updates! Keeping it real. Support you can use.

Do you read cancer books? Why or why not?

If you do, share one or two of your favorites.

What are you reading right now or what’s on your to-read list? (cancer related or not cancer related)

Reminder: 10% of profits from my books is donated annually to METAvivor, Inc. because their focus is research specific to metastatic breast cancer. Thank you for helping with this advocacy. 🙂