Customer Reviews

This Time's a Charm: Lessons of a Four-Time Cancer Survivor

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First of all - don't be thinking this is one of those Chicken Soup for Cancer Patient's Soul books. This starts out as a knock down and drag it out into the streets bar fight with an evil and pernicious foe. It's a real, mad, occasionally profane and always engaging look at one man's raw journey with the Big C.

You can feel the anger as Don goes through his multiple bouts with cancer, treatment and relapse. Again and again and again. Early on you start to see where the positive and life-embracing attitude he ultimately adopts to save his life has its roots in his (often dark and self-deprecating) sense of humor.

There is practical wisdom here as well as the anger gives way to living life to its fullest. How to deal with "God's waiting room" where you know some of your fellow chemo patients might not be back for "next season." The (spot on accurate) recommendation that mental therapy should be the gold standard, prescribed along with chemo or radiation Learning who your real friends are and how not to lose hope. How to REALLY mess with interns that are assisting in some procedure or the other where you really do know more than they do (after all, you have done it before ... this is their first time).

After Don passes on yet another medical procedure and literally, takes his life into his own hands, he shortly afterwards meets the woman of his dreams. She asks him what he considers his greatest accomplishment in life. When he answers, "I'm a cancer survivor," you cannot help but cheer for him.

All in all, absolutely worth reading. The closing thoughts that he includes in Chapter 24 alone are worth reading for anyone - whether you have cancer or not.

If nothing else, it pushes me just a little bit more towards taking even better care of myself, what I do, what I eat and how I think.

Cancer - you don't want to go there.

I sure as hell want to stay away from radioactive sugar for the rest of my life.

I loved your book! Thank you sooooo much for writing and sharing your journey. You've given me a new outlook for my dear friend whose battling brain cancer. I will read the last 3 pages of your book over and over...
You provided so much of yourself through your writing, that many times through the book, I could almost feel exactly what you felt.

Thank you again for sharing your story. I am sure many people will be uplifted by your amazing journey.

Great Book! Your story is vivid and truly inspiring, I felt like I was there with you every step of the way. It's the kind of story that fits anyone, because it teaches you to believe that no matter what situation you or a loved one is in, good things can and will happen, and it's worth having a positive attitude about.

I can't help but appreciate my health more after reading the book. I believe the book can help anyone take initiative in their life, find the things they love the most, and help them not to drown in any situation life throws at them.

Overall, the positive attitude throughout the book was contagious and I just couldn't put it down until I was finished. Once again, a true inspiration and definitely recommended!

Nick Jag
Author of MySpace Marketing

Not only is this book well written, but it is an incredible insight for anyone to understand more about what a person battling cancer goes through and how they are feeling. It is also an amazing book that teaches EVERYONE to have a positive mental attitude and appreciate all that life gives us. I would recommend this book for every single person. No one is untouched by cancer. Whether you have a loved one or friend that is or has battled cancer, this book is a MUST read for you and for the person in the midst of the fight!

I have never had cancer, but I read this any way. While the cancer fight described by Mr Wilhelm was riveting, the unconventional victory was inspiring and available to anyone regardless of their health. I'm a better man since reading this book. I highly recommend it regardless of your circumstances.

Don's story is a very personal one - and, that's exactly how he renders it. I still, a couple months after having read it, chuckle when I think about him being so candid, full of humor, mostly at his own expense. And, I grow very still when I remember the haunting moments of despair he felt, and how vulnerable he'd become - revealing his deepest fears. Don's book isn't just a series of events which his time with cancer took him through - and there were many! It's more than that. In fact, it's about his - our - human side, a fighting spirit, frailty, fear, joy, humor and love. I don't think it would be exaggerating to say that there's a condor rising out of the ashes when referring to Don and his journey through cancer. His coming to a higher ground, finding thankfulness, appreciation and true love help him to triumph, not just over cancer, but in his life.

I thank Don for sharing his story. It is, in all it's forms, from the ugly to the beautiful, inspirational.

I thought the book was well written, in a very natural unaffected way. Very funny actually, and has a positive inspiring message.

This book is as real as it gets! For anyone that has Cancer, or anyone that knows someone that does, this is a must read. The author explains his experiences in detail, as well as, explaining how different procedures that a Cancer patient may go thru.

If someone close to you has Cancer or if you just enjoy inspirational stories, I would highly recommend this book!

If you have never HAD cancer and if you HAVE cancer or if you HAD cancer please don't hesitate to purchase this book! The author has open up his world for all to see and experience through his eyes. The world you will enter is exciting and at times take your breath away. You will feel his courage and zest for survival. This book will open your mind, touch your heart and awaken your soul. For me, this book was worth its weight in gold as it open my eyes to survival, courage, pain, happiness and hope!

I'm a 3 time survivor. My first cancer was 16 years ago. Hodgkins... your book brought back several memories of that time. Good and bad... made me laugh and cry. Second cancer was 4 years ago. I am now recovering from Breast Cancer and am going thru the " what is next " part of my cancer life. Your book really inspired me to stop thinking that way - move on and think positive. I need to do that in order to stay healthy for my son and husband, thank you for inspiring me and others. :)