Customer Reviews

It's Not About the Hair: And Other Certainties of Life and Cancer

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I just finished reading an advance copy of "It's Not About the Hair" and I'm blown away. There is so much wisdom and truth packed between the covers of this book! Debra takes us from her biopsy to surgery, chemo and beyond, with love, honesty and courage--plus she is funny, funny, funny.

This book is much more than the garden-variety cancer memoir, because Debra is an oncology chaplain at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, where her job is to listen to, care for, and counsel cancer patients every day. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her friends said "Why you?" but Debra said, "Why not me?" and walked into the experience with her eyes and her heart wide open. In the book, she lets us into her unique relationship with God, which is by turns moving, inspiring and even irreverant. Debra spots God in surprising places. As I read, I pictured God saying, "You go, girl!"

Throughout her story Debra weaves thought-provoking insights about her patients and her co-workers, her caregivers and her marriage. She taught me how to better befriend anyone with a life-threatening illness. If you have cancer, have had cancer, love someone who has cancer, or if you are a caregiver, you'll discover a real gem in "It's Not About the Hair." Buy this book.

I doubt that I could write a better review than Kathryn Byrd's; it captures very well why Debra Jarvis' book is so powerful. Debra's down-to-earth style, while very engaging, has depth and nuance. She hits the target in such a way that we can understand the complexity of her experience - the simultaneous pain and humor - and almost experience it with her. She talks about issues that most people - and books - don't even mention, such as the issues around cancer and sexuality, and does so in a way that real people can relate to.

Best of all, it's a page-turner! No, really! We want to know what happens next, and how is she going to handle it! And the minute we start to sigh with the enormity of what she is going through, she makes us laugh, and see how it's possible to find balance and humor and meaning in the most challenging situations.

This is a wonderful book. Get it! Send copies to friends!

You won't find any religious or feel-good platitudes in Debra Jarvis' It's Not About the Hair. Yet, it is an intensely inspirational book. As a chaplain at The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the author faces her own cancer diagnosis and treatment with candor, and humor. Sparked with deep insight this moving and often hilarious account of her journey is a rich read! Jarvis shares stories of her ministry to cancer patients who in turn minister to her. Sometimes silly, sometimes sad this book explores the life-changing diagnosis of cancer. (No skipping to the hysterically funny sub-heading :" Like a Virgin" in chapter 10.)

just want to read an inspiring, enlightening book, you must read this new memoir by Debra Jarvis. She takes an uncomfortable, scary subject out of the shadows and deals with cancer--both at work and in her own life--in a frank, matter of fact, honest way. She shows that cancer need not be a "hush hush" topic for people living with it, or for their loved ones. The book will make you laugh and cry and feel like Debra is your friend. And while Debra is a religious person, you'll never feel like her take on spirituality is heavy-handed or being forced on you (for example, she calls her God "Mr. Martha Miyagi"--read the book to find out why).

An extraordinary book written by an extraordinary woman. You should read it.

Loved the book, love the author even more. Be prepared to feel every emotion there is while laughing so hard your gut seizes up! This is the kind of book that you start to read then don't put down until you realize you've read all the way through to the Acknowledgments section. 5 stars!

It's Not About the Hair: And Other Certainties of Life and Cancer

Witty, wise and thoroughly engaging, Debra Jarvis tackles the weighty topics of illness, identity, spirituality and death, and yet manages to leave the reader light and uplifted. This is an authentic and (clearly) uncensored account of life with illness, and as a cancer survivor, I found something powerfully familiar on every page. Thank you, Debra, for showing the world that there is plenty of humor, and even hilarity, to be found in the cancer experience! "It's Not About the Hair" turns our collective fear of cancer and death on its head, and redefines what it means for our life stories to have a happy ending.

As an oncology nurse, I appreciated Ms. Jarvis' candid yet humorous rendering of her experiences. Her wit is evident on each page, even in the more telling personal episodes with her patients and during her own battle with cancer.

There are no major theological breakthroughs here (those seeking deeper spiritual answers may need to look elsewhere), but that was not the intent of her book. Instead, she brings the reader through a devistating chapter in her life, describing her struggles and her often unique point of view. (I will never again think of cleaning the toilet in quite the same way.) The profound impact of cancer is not diminished, and yet she never fails to find something to laugh about.

This book is a must-read for anyone who cares for patients with cancer, or those who are facing it themselves.

Debra Jarvis is an exceptional writer. This book was informational, humorous, and emotional. I have not experienced her struggle, but felt the roller coaster of emotions and events that surrounded her journey. So well written that I was sad when I finished reading it. She shared such insight into her experience and her faith. This was a real treasure and gift.

Don't let the Title or the specific cancer that Debra has fool you. This is NOT just a chick book. Debra has a chatty style that is accessible and likeable. She is a woman, she survived breast cancer, but she writes about cancer as an experience for PEOPLE not BREAST cancer for WOMEN. Her book is populated by brothers, fathers, grandparents and daughters. The range of people she touches through her work is astounding and humbling.

Other reviewers have already spoken to the humor and humaness of this book. There is also a meaningful spirituality, and even if you don't believe in God (that white-haired, omnipresent, all-powerful presence) you can appreciate her approach to that supreme being that most people begin to think about as death approaches. Cancer creates a fox hole into which Jarvis gives us a glimpse. Suddenly it is easier to understand the need many of us have to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Ya, she's a minister, but she's not freaky religeous, so don't let the fact that she is a chaplain lead you to believe she ain't like you. She is....only funnier.

Anybody who has had cancer, or has been touched even peripherally by cancer should read this book. Doctors, patients, family members, survivors.

Stylistically, I love that each chapter opens with an email message that she sent to friends and family describing her experience as it was occuring. You get to see the ups and downs and the way an individual confronts a life threatening situation. Wow.

This book is provacative and refreshing. It is not only about the journey of one soul facing a threatening illness, but of many who find themselves traveling down an unchosen,uncertain path in life. Cancer touches all of us, and ironically has touched the author who is a devoted minister and chaplain in the field of death and dying. With humor,honesty, and great insight, the author shares her experiences and encourages all of us to explore death as openly as we do life. I feel I've been given permission and challenged to contemplate and examine my own feelings about death and dying.This book is very inspiring and enlightening. Lots of chuckles!