Cancer Happens: Coming of Age with Cancer (Capital Discovery) [Paperback]

Rebecca Gifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004 | Series: Capital Discovery

Most cancer books deal with patients who are children or seniors, or mature women with breast cancer. Rebecca Gifford was stricken as a young adult, fresh out of college and eager to begin an exciting new job. Initially she asked her doctor about the back spasms she had been having. Two months later, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. During the next two years, Rebecca endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, the loss of her independence, and the collapse of her budding career. In this honest and probing memoir, Rebecca tells it like it was -- from hair loss to confinement, therapy groups, lack of sex, funerals, morphine, premature menopause, professional humiliation, and much, much more. She explores the wide range of emotions many cancer patients deny like anger, defiance, and vanity and openly shares the ordeal of living through cancer. In this illuminating look at the uncensored thoughts and feelings of an average person fighting an extraordinary struggle, Rebecca tells the reader in no uncertain terms what cancer did to her and for her.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Cancer Happens' is Gifford's nitty-gritty Cancer Confidential....Readers are even privy to what's hiding up her sleeve." -- Brandon Berry, Cincinnati City Beat

"...chronicles...life from her initial diagnosis to her attempts to return to normal life after being treated for cancer." -- Swathi Sridharan, Dayton Daily News, July 28, 2003

"...it will provide comfort to those having to share her experience." -- Bookview.com

"...poignant yet humorous...'Cancer Happens' represents a rarity among cancer books...it addresses issues related to young adults." -- Elizabeth Weinstein, Columbus Dispatch

"The author, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma just out of college, relates her experiences." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 20, 2003

"Thoughtful, witty, always truthful, Gifford reminds cancer sufferers that their lives matter — even when they're engulfed in misery." -- Nick Owchar, Los Angeles Times, September 7, 2003 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Rebecca Gifford has been a regular contributor to Oncology.com and MSNBC.com. Her MSNBC essay, “Cheating Death,” is highlighted at the top of Cancerlinksusa.com’s highly recommended reading list. Her columns also appear on the web site for HBO’s Cancer Evolution and Revolution. Gifford is the co-founder of a literary reading series called Being Conscious located at the experimental theatre Collective: Unconscious. Gifford currently lives in Ohio with her husband Larry.

Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Capital Books (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931868727
• ISBN-13: 978-1931868723
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,794,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revealing, May 14, 2003

By 

"scansler2" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cancer Happens: Coming of Age with Cancer (Capital Discoveries Book) (Capital Discovery) (Hardcover)

This book was so revealing and raw...I knew battling cancer was a huge and difficult process, but I had no idea the range and depth of emotions/issues that a person has to deal with, and especially at such a weird age. The book was hilarious, entertaining, heart-breaking, and hopeful all at the same time. A great read for anyone, but especially for those who are battling cancer or love someone who is.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, Humorous and Heart Warming, May 8, 2003

By 

Book Worm (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cancer Happens: Coming of Age with Cancer (Capital Discoveries Book) (Capital Discovery) (Hardcover)

Finally someone who conquers cancer with a sharp tongue, a quick wit and without a bunch sap. Cancer Happens is the first book I've read about cancer where I was laughing one minute, then biting my nails and then sobbing like no 31 year old man should ever admit. Ms. Gifford pulls no punches. She lets you inside to see all of her pain, sorrow, bitchiness, fear, and frustration -- and it's funny. She makes you feel like you're sitting right next to her at the bar after support group meetings downing margaritas -- and you don't want her to stop talking. A great read about living life to the max no matter what gets in your way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her story of diagnosis, treatment and recovery, February 3, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cancer Happens: Coming of Age with Cancer (Capital Discovery) (Paperback)

Rebecca Gifford was only 22 years old when she was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer: this is her story of diagnosis, treatment and recovery: a story of coming of age with cancer which involved her entire family. There are relatively few accounts of young people struggling with cancer: Cancer Happens documents Gifford's challenges and her ability to be a patient advocate and choose her treatment options throughout.