books on cancer biography

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

The Emperor of All Maladies is a magnificent, profoundly humane "biography" of cancer—from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles in the twentieth century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence. Physician, researcher, and award-winning science writer, Siddhartha Mukherjee examines cancer with a cellular biologist's precision, a historian's perspective, and a biographer's passion. The result is an astonishingly lucid and eloquent chronicle of a disease humans have lived with—and perished from—for more than five thousand years.

The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance, but also of hubris, paternalism, and misperception. Mukherjee recounts centuries of discoveries, setbacks, victories, and deaths, told through the eyes of his predecessors and peers, training their wits against an infinitely resourceful adversary that, just three decades ago, was thought to be easily vanquished in an all-out "war against cancer." The book reads like a literary thriller with cancer as the protagonist.

From the Persian Queen Atossa, whose Greek slave cut off her malignant breast, to the nineteenth-century recipients of primitive radiation and chemotherapy to Mukherjee's own leukemia patient, Carla, The Emperor of All Maladies is about the people who have soldiered through fiercely demanding regimens in order to survive—and to increase our understanding of this iconic disease.

Riveting, urgent, and surprising, The Emperor of All Maladies provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of cancer treatments. It is an illuminating book that provides hope and clarity to those seeking to demystify cancer.

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The Emperor of All Maladies

A biography of cancer.

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Table of Contents

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• Rave and Reviews

About The Book

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About The Author

Siddhartha Mukherjee is the author of The Song of the Cell , The Gene: An Intimate History, a #1 New York Times bestseller; The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer , winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in general nonfiction; and The Laws of Medicine . He is the editor of Best Science Writing 2013 . Mukherjee is an associate professor of medicine at Columbia University and a cancer physician and researcher. A Rhodes scholar, he graduated from Stanford University, University of Oxford, and Harvard Medical School. In 2023, he was elected as a new member of the National Academy of Medicine. He has published articles in many journals, including Nature , The New England Journal of Medicine , Cell , The New York Times Magazine , and The New Yorker . He lives in New York with his wife and daughters. Visit his website at: SiddharthaMukherjee.com.

Product Details

• Publisher: Scribner (August 9, 2011)
• Length: 608 pages
• ISBN13: 9781439170915
• Lexile ® 1240L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

“Mukherjee brings an impressive balance of empathy and dispassion to this instantly essential piece of medical journalism.” — Time “A meticulously researched, panoramic history . . . What makes Mukherjee’s narrative so remarkable is that he imbues decades of painstaking laboratory investigation with the suspense of a mystery novel and urgency of a thriller. . . . He possesses a striking gift for carving some of science’s most abstruse concepts into forms as easily understood and reconfigured as a child’s wooden blocks.” — The Boston Globe “Riveting and powerful . . . Mukherjee’s extraordinary book might stimulate a wider discussion of how to wisely allocate our precious health care resources.” — San Francisco Chronicle “Remarkable . . . The reader devours this fascinating book . . . Mukherjee is a clear and determined writer. . . . An unusually humble, insightful book.” — Los Angeles Times “Extraordinary . . . So often physician writers attempt the delicacy of using their patients as a mirror to their own humanity. Mukherjee does the opposite. His book is not built to show us the good doctor struggling with tough decisions, but ourselves.” —John Freeman, NPR “Now and then a writer comes along who helps us fathom both the intricacies of a scientific specialty and its human meaning. Lewis Thomas, Sherwin Nuland, and Oliver Sacks come to mind. Add to their company Siddhartha Mukherjee.” — Elle “Rich and engrossing . . . With the perceptiveness and patience of a true scientist, [Mukherjee] begins to weave these individual threads into a coherent and engrossing narrative.” — The Economist “A brilliant, riveting history of the disease . . . Threaded throughout, and propelling the narrative forward, are the affecting tales of Mukherjee’s own patients.” — Entertainment Weekly “Ambitious . . . Mukherjee has a storyteller’s flair and a gift for translating complex medical concepts into simple language.” — The Wall Street Journal “Cancer has never been as fully explored as in Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee’s fascinating and moving history.” — The Daily Beast “With epic scope and passionate pen, The Emperor of All Maladies boldly addresses, then breaks down the monolith of disease.” — The Onion A.V. Club “Informative, elegant, comprehensive, and lucid.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Mukherjee’s elegant prose animates the science.” —Bloomberg News “Brilliant and riveting.” —Associated Press “[A] brilliant book.” —Larry King “A magnificent book.” —Sanjay Gupta, M.D., CNN “An ambitious scientific, political, and cultural history.” —Slate.com “Intensely readable.” — New York Post “Impressive.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer “Mukherjee . . . writes with supreme authority.” — The Seattle Times “Mukherjee makes us understand that along with our terrible losses, great gains have been made.” — Newsday “Eminently readable . . . A surprisingly accessible and encouraging narrative.” — Booklist (starred review) “A beautifully written account of the ingenuity, hubris, courage, and utter confusion humankind has brought to its attempts to grapple with cancer.” — Maclean’s “Future biographers and historians of the disease will labor from deep with the long shadow cast by Siddhartha Mukherjee’s remarkable The Emperor of All Maladies . . . . A vivid and profoundly engaging read.” — BookPage “Sweeping . . . Mukherjee’s formidable intelligence and compassion produce a stunning account.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies left me shaken, fascinated, and not depressed, because he gives a face to our old enemy, cancer.” —Emma Donoghue, author of Room “Sid Mukherjee’s book is a pleasure to read, if that is the right word. . . . His book is the clearest account I have read on this subject. With The Emperor of All Maladies, he joins that small fraternity of practicing doctors who cannot just talk about their profession but write about it.” —Tony Judt, author of The Memory Chalet “Rarely have the science and poetry of illness been so elegantly braided together as they are in this erudite, engrossing, kind book.” —Andrew Solomon, National Book Award–winning author of The Noonday Demon “At once learned and skeptical, unsentimental and humane, The Emperor of All Maladies is that rarest of things—a noble book.” —David Rieff, author of Swimming in a Sea of Death “A magisterial, wise, and deeply human piece of writing.” —Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopold’s Ghost and Bury the Chains “ The Emperor of All Maladies beautifully describes the nature of cancer from a patient’s perspective and how basic research has opened the door to understanding this disease.” —Bert Vogelstein, director, Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins University “A labor of love . . . as comprehensive as possible.” —George Canellos, M.D., William Rosenberg Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School “An elegant . . . tour de force. The Emperor of All Maladies reads like a novel . . . but it deals with real people and real successes, as well as with the many false notions and false leads. Not only will the book bring cancer research and cancer biology to the lay public, it will help attract young researchers to a field that is at once exciting and heart wrenching . . . and important.” —Donald Berry, Ph.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas

Awards and Honors

• Pulitzer Prize
• Carnegie Medal Honor Book
• ALA Notable Book

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UCSD School of Medicine (2013/2014)

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The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer Paperback – 29 Sept. 2011

Winner of the Guardian First Book Award 2011

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Non-fiction 2011

Shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize 2011

Shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize

In The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee, doctor, researcher and award-winning science writer, examines cancer with a cellular biologist’s precision, a historian’s perspective, and a biographer’s passion. The result is an astonishingly lucid and eloquent chronicle of a disease humans have lived with – and perished from – for more than five thousand years.

The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience and perseverance, but also of hubris, arrogance and misperception, all leveraged against a disease that, just three decades ago, was thought to be easily vanquished in an all-out ‘war against cancer’. Mukherjee recounts centuries of discoveries, setbacks, victories and deaths, told through the eyes of predecessors and peers, training their wits against an infinitely resourceful adversary.

From the Persian Queen Atossa, whose Greek slave cut off her malignant breast, to the nineteeth-century recipient of primitive radiation and chemotherapy and Mukherjee’s own leukemia patient, Carla, The Emperor of All Maladies is about the people who have soldiered through toxic, bruising, and draining regimes to survive and to increase the store of human knowledge.

Riveting and magesterial, The Emperor of All Maladies provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of cancer treatments and a brilliant new perspective on the way doctors, scientists, philosophers and lay people have observed and understood the human body for millennia.

• Print length 616 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Fourth Estate Ltd
• Publication date 29 Sept. 2011
• Dimensions 14.1 x 3.91 x 21.06 cm
• ISBN-10 9780007250929
• ISBN-13 978-0007250929
• See all details

From the Publisher

Product description

‘Mukherjee calls this great and beautiful book a biography, rather than a history, because he wants his reader to understand his subject not just as a disease, a scientific problem or a social condition, but as a character – an antagonist with a story to tell. His intensely vivid and precise descriptions of biological processes accumulate into a character, fully developed and eerily familiar. The notion of "popular science" doesn't come close to describing this achievement. It is literature.’ Observer

‘This is a riveting book…profound, eloquent and searching’ John Carey, Sunday Times

‘”The Emperor of All Maladies” is the book that many will have been waiting for. This elegantly written overview allows us to look a once whispered-about illness squarely in the eye.’ Independent

‘So beautifully written; this is literature, not popular science. “The Emperor of Maladies” empowers us, makes it clear that we really do know this enemy, and so brings us another step closer to victory.’ Evening Standard

‘Mukherjee never condescends, yet he manages to write lucidly and tellingly about complex experimental, technological and theoretical matters’ Will Self, New Statesman

About the Author

Siddhartha Mukherjee M.D., Ph.D., is a cancer physician and researcher. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a cancer physician at the CU/NYU Presbyterian Hospital. He has published articles in Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Neuron, the Journal of Clinical Investigation, The New York Times, and The New Republic. He lives in New York with his wife and daughter.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0007250924
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fourth Estate Ltd; First Edition (29 Sept. 2011)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 616 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780007250929
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007250929
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.1 x 3.91 x 21.06 cm
• 31 in History of Science (Books)
• 50 in Popular Maths
• 136 in Popular Medicine

About the author

Siddhartha mukherjee.

Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a staff cancer physician at the CU/NYU Presbytarian Hospital. A former Rhodes scholar, he graduated from Stanford University, University of Oxford (where he received a PhD studying cancer-causing viruses) and from Harvard Medical School. His laboratory focuses on discovering new cancer drugs using innovative biological methods. Mukherjee trained in cancer medicine at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School and was on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He has published articles and commentary in such journals as Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Neuron and the Journal of Clinical Investigation and in publications such as the New York Times and the New Republic. His work was nominated for Best American Science Writing, 2000 (edited by James Gleick). He lives in Boston and New York with his wife, Sarah Sze, an artist, and with his daughter, Leela.

His author website is www.siddharthamukherjee.me

Customer reviews

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Customers say

Customers find the book amazing, powerful, and easy to read. They also appreciate the well-written, beautiful mechanisms and no foolish emoting. Readers describe the content as highly informative, comprehensive, and superb. They mention the history content as amazing and uplifting.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book amazing, beautifully written, and engaging. They also say it's a powerful work.

"...a shocking conclusion: "Cure? None".This is a very good book that has already raised the bar of nonfiction." Read more

"...had to be given the complexity of the tale, but I found it almost compulsive reading and difficult to put down...." Read more

"Very well writen and interesting book . Can only recommend this book...." Read more

"...I found it a riveting read ...." Read more

Customers find the writing style well written, accessible, and clear. They also say the story is well drawn and insightful. Readers also appreciate the many references at the end and the finely woven and rich tapestry of a story. They say the book offers no false hope, foolish emoting, or boasting about the author.

"...The prose is at all times pitch-perfect and never falters, even in a 400-plus science book...." Read more

"...The author is clear-sighted and objective in his treatment of the people who played key medical, scientific, political, and advocacy roles in the..." Read more

" Very well writen and interesting book. Can only recommend this book...." Read more

"...I found it a riveting read. The author's writing is lively and he explains complex ideas with great clarity using terms understandable by a..." Read more

Customers find the book highly informative, engaging with the narrative style. They say it's detailed, accurate, and has raised the bar of nonfiction. Readers also describe it as a skillfully written biography of cancer and the battle against it. They find it approachable and sympathetic, balancing elements of science, history, biography, and autobiography.

"...None".This is a very good book that has already raised the bar of nonfiction ." Read more

"...Indeed, what makes it so impressive is its combination of scientific clarity with a most unusual degree of understanding of the human and social..." Read more

"...Can only recommend this book.It very nicely explains the development of cancer care (in a clinical sense) and cancer research over the..." Read more

"...It is an epic tale of scientific discovery , medical progress, and the enduring hope for a future where cancer is no longer a formidable foe...." Read more

Customers find the history content amazing, well written, and excellent. They also say the story is told well, taking them on a tour around all aspects of cancer. Readers also mention that the book is a wonderful story of unsung heroes.

"...The author's historical approach works wonderfully well , chronicling the development of both understanding of cancer..." Read more

"...disease, but don't be put off from reading this book: it's an amazing story and should give hope that it's finally being brought under control." Read more

"...Mukherjee's narrative is both historical and personal , blending scientific rigor with poignant human stories...." Read more

"...For me, the book is a wonderful story of unsung heroes , those scientists working tirelessly in lonely, windowless basements trying to find the next..." Read more

Customers find the book uplifting, rich in detail, and emotional. They also describe the author as exceptionally warm-hearted and kind. Readers also mention the book is not depressing and personal enough to engage those who don't.

"...The voice of the author, and its language, are always clear, personal and sober...." Read more

"...The writing is intelligent, lucid, and sympathetic , marked by an uncommon ability to convey complex phenomena in a meaningful and comprehensible..." Read more

"...adds depth to our understanding of the disease and instills a sense of hope and determination in the fight against cancer...." Read more

"...It is very readable, avoiding unnecessary medical jargon. It offers no false hope , no foolish emoting, no boasting about the author's successes as a..." Read more

Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Emperor of All Maladies

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and now a documentary from Ken Burns on PBS, The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a magnificent, profoundly humane “biography” of cancer—from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles in the twentieth century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence.

Physician, researcher, and award-winning science writer, Siddhartha Mukherjee examines cancer with a cellular biologist’s precision, a historian’s perspective, and a biographer’s passion. The result is an astonishingly lucid and eloquent chronicle of a disease humans have lived with—and perished from—for more than five thousand years.

The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance, but also of hubris, paternalism, and misperception. Mukherjee recounts centuries of discoveries, setbacks, victories, and deaths, told through the eyes of his predecessors and peers, training their wits against an infinitely resourceful adversary that, just three decades ago, was thought to be easily vanquished in an all-out “war against cancer.” The book reads like a literary thriller with cancer as the protagonist.

From the Persian Queen Atossa, whose Greek slave may have cut off her diseased breast, to the nineteenth-century recipients of primitive radiation and chemotherapy to Mukherjee’s own leukemia patient, Carla, The Emperor of All Maladies is about the people who have soldiered through fiercely demanding regimens in order to survive—and to increase our understanding of this iconic disease.

Riveting, urgent, and surprising, The Emperor of All Maladies provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of cancer treatments. It is an illuminating book that provides hope and clarity to those seeking to demystify cancer.

20 Must-Reads About Cancer

From memoirs to novels to nonfiction, here are some of my suggestions for the best cancer books to learn more about this condition.

Jaime Herndon

Jaime Herndon finished her MFA in nonfiction writing at Columbia, after leaving a life of psychosocial oncology and maternal-child health work. She is a writer, editor, and book reviewer who drinks way too much coffee. She is a new-ish mom, so the coffee comes in extra handy. Twitter:  @IvyTarHeelJaime

View All posts by Jaime Herndon

When I was younger, I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist. Although I didn’t end up going to med school, I found ways to study oncology through health psychology and public health, and now through medical and science writing. I remain fascinated by oncology and cancer books in all forms: textbooks, memoirs, novels, graphic novels, narrative nonfiction, and more. Here are some of my must-read cancer books, in no particular order.

The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care by Anne Boyer

This book…is a powerhouse. I’ve read a lot of cancer memoirs, and I even hesitate to call this a “cancer memoir” because it is so much more than that: it is an indictment of how we see and treat cancer, especially breast cancer. It is a sharp observation of our healthcare system and how it fails when needed most. Boyer, a single mother, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a highly aggressive form of the disease. Her writing takes on the pharmaceutical industry, art and illness, capitalism and cancer, and more. I find it hard to describe this book the way I’d like, because it is so layered and so damn smart. I would put it down often as I read, because I had to think through what Boyer wrote.

The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last by Azra Raza

This book is a must-read. It explores the costs of cancer research and treatment—both financial and human, and how despite millions and millions of dollars spent in research and clinical trials, the majority of cancer drugs in the last few decades only minimally extend life, and in a significant percentage, are actually harmful to people. Her compassion for her patients is evident in her writing, and her anecdotes about her work are exquisite and carefully, thoughtfully drawn. She is passionate about her work and the need to reframe cancer research, clinical trials, and patient care, as well as the overhaul that is much needed in oncology.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

This book is one of my all-time favorites. Mukherjee is a master at writing about complicated things in a way that brings them to life in an interesting way. He can make a single cell the most fascinating thing in the world, and he combines memoir, reportage, and research seamlessly. A Pulitzer Prize winner, this book explores the history of cancer and its treatments, as well as the future of cancer treatment.

Tough: Women Who Survived Cancer edited by Marquina Iliev-Piselli

This is a collection of stories of women with a variety of different cancers. The tone is decidedly positive—yes, there’s honesty in the essays, but it does skew toward the “cancer changed my life and is a gift” kind of story. Some essays are better than others, but overall, this is an interesting book that gives voice to women with a variety of cancers, which is always needed.

Cancer Vixen: A True Story by Marisa Acocella Marchetto

I read this years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. A New Yorker cartoonist, Marchetto depicts her journey of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment through this graphic novel. Engrossing, well-drawn, and even humorous (she calls her mother her “(s)mother”), I highly recommend this book. Marchetto doesn’t shy away from anything, and this is a refreshing take on the breast cancer memoir.

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs

Riggs, a poet/essayist and a descendant of Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote this quietly beautiful book about her breast cancer, which was published posthumously. At first, it was easily treatable, and a year later, it metastasized. Her observations about living while dying, raising her children while facing her mortality, and how she wants to live in the time she has left are wry and brutally honest. She never becomes sentimental or saccharine, and overall, this is not a depressing read. Riggs actually got in touch with Paul Kalanithi’s widow Lucy, and formed a friendship with her, which eventually led to Riggs’s widow and Lucy falling in love.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The HeLa cell was the first immortal human cell obtained in a lab. Taken without her knowledge or consent from a poor tobacco farmer named Henrietta Lacks who was being treated for cervical cancer, the cell has become one of the mainstays of scientific research—and yet her family was in poverty. Skloot tells the story of Lacks, as well as race, medicine, and ethics. Read this before seeing the HBO movie. Skloot is a fantastic science writer.

Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer by Susan Gubar

Ovarian cancer is a devastating cancer. It’s often not diagnosed until it’s widespread, because the symptoms are so nonspecific and there’s no good standardized screening tool. We don’t get many stories of women living with or those who have survived ovarian cancer—but this is one of them. Gubar tells her story honestly, describing the radical debulking surgery that was used to help treat her ovarian cancer, and searches for meaning in the only ways she knows how. She examines the way ovarian cancer is treated and how it affects people and their families, and shies away from nothing while telling her story of survivorship.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

If you haven’t read this memoir yet, do it soon. Kalanithi was finishing up his neurosurgery training when he was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, and this book is an exploration of what it means to be on both sides of the diagnosis. What happens when a doctor suddenly faces imminent mortality? How do you reframe what is really important in life when you never expected it to end so soon?

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

This is not just a book about cancer, but about end-of-life issues and care and the decisions we make in treatment and not treating people and their diseases. He interweaves personal and professional stories with research and science, and brings up the point that when it comes time for death and end-of-life decision making, medical care is often counter-intuitive to what it should be. Treatment and prolonging life above all else, avoiding conversations about the realities of illness and death, and over-treating to the point of impairing quality of life and in some cases, hastening death. As usual, Gawande is spot-on with his brilliant insights and compassionate takes on difficult issues. Highly recommended, along with all of his other books.

Radical: The Science, Culture, and History of Breast Cancer in America  by Kate Pickert

This memoir recently came out in October 2019 and it is fabulous. Pickert, a health journalist, was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at the age of 35. She details her treatment and the options she had, examines the way we approach screening, prevention, and treatment in America, including the “awareness” and pinkwashing of breast cancer, and the societal aspects of the disease. What I really loved about this book was her exploration of metastatic breast cancer and how it is often ignored by society, activists, awareness, and the breast cancer community.

The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After by Julie Yip-Williams

This is a hard book to read, but worth it. Yip-Williams was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at the age of 37, with two small children. She started a blog, and this book grew out of that blog. She tells it all: the treatment decisions, what the treatments are like, the emotional rollercoaster of her cancer and her knowledge of her imminent death. She writes about being an immigrant from Vietnam and how her grandmother wanted to euthanize her because of her blindness, and how eventually, when she got to the U.S., surgery gave her some sight back. She writes about wanting her husband and girls to enjoy life without her, her fears for them, her anger, and her love. She knows she is dying and never pretends otherwise, but this book isn’t about death; it’s about life.

The Philadelphia Chromosome: A Genetic Mystery, a Lethal Cancer, and the Improbable Invention of a Life-Saving Treatment by Jessica Wapner

The Philadelphia chromosome was discovered in 1959, and in 1990 it was found to be the cause of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Wapner details decades of scientific research and practical applications of scientific findings, blending reportage, research, and narrative to make this a compelling read, even if you’re not a scientist.

The Cancer Chronicles: Unlocking Medicine’s Deepest Mystery by George Johnson

For science writer Johnson, cancer was just another story subject—until the woman he loved was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Johnson decided to learn everything he could about cancer and oncology, and this book is the result. Written in clear prose, this book explores metastasis, mutations, cells, chromosomes, statistics, laboratory studies, clinical treatment, carcinogens, the history of cancer, the future of cancer treatment, and everything you could possibly think of. He examines cancer from multiple viewpoints and disciplines, and the result is one of the most interesting books I’ve read on cancer.

Swimming in a Sea of Death: A Son’s Memoir by David Rieff

This was written by Susan Sontag’s son, and while not explicitly about cancer itself, he explores the last nine months of his mother’s life, from her diagnosis through her death from cancer. If you’re a fan of Sontag’s writing, this book is a tender character exploration of Sontag from a unique point of view—but at the same time, Rieff manages to avoid sentimentality. He creates a picture of a smart, strong woman trying to beat the odds of her disease and living (and dying) on her own terms.

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Corrigan was in that “middle place” that many Baby Boomers find themselves in: caring for their children and managing their household, while also starting to take care of their parents in some ways. She was a thriving adult but still saw herself as her father’s daughter. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and shortly after her diagnosis, her father was also diagnosed with prostate cancer—late-stage cancer. This memoir is a beautiful, funny (yes, funny) story about family relationships and taking care of the ones you love.

The End of the Beginning: Cancer, Immunity, and the Future of a Cure by Michael Kinch

Kinch has experience as both a university cancer researcher and a head researcher at a biotech company, and his focus has been the immune system and its role in oncology. This book explores the interplay between the immune system and cancer and its treatment in clear prose that even a non-scientist can understand. The level of detail Kinch goes into is fascinating, and I’m eager to see what comes next with immunotherapy treatments in oncology.

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

At the age of 35, Bowler, a professor at Duke Divinity School, is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Her specialty is the study of the prosperity gospel, which sees every good thing as a blessing from G-d, and any bad thing that happens as divine disappointment or disapproval. Her diagnosis, then, throws her into a kind of crisis—she has assumed she can control her life, and has lived with a kind of rugged individualism that assumes that anything can be overcome or achieved if you just work hard enough, are positive enough, or are deserving enough. This book examines what happens when that just isn’t always true.

The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness by Jerome Groopman

I cannot say enough about this book. The first time I read it, I carried it around with me in my bag for weeks. Don’t let the title mislead you: this is not about false hope. Groopman is not positing that hope is a cure-all; rather, he looks at how hope factors in to illness in a variety of ways, even if it doesn’t look like you think it does.

The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde

Lorde, a poet, kept a record of her breast cancer journey, and this book is one of my favorites. A mix of memoir, journal entries, and criticism, this is a necessary record of a feminist and LGBTQ experience through breast cancer. The language is gorgeous (with Lorde, this is a given), and this should be required reading for everyone going through cancer, no matter what the kind.

Want more cancer books or books about related topics? Check out our post on the best books about medicine .

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100 Best Cancer Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best cancer books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot | 5.00

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo — to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family — past and present — is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Carl Zimmer Yes. This is a fascinating book on so many different levels. It is really compelling as the story of the author trying to uncover the history of the woman from whom all these cells came. (Source)

A.J. Jacobs Great writer. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green | 4.97

Elon Musk Must admit to liking [this book]. Sad, romantic and beautifully named. (Source)

James Comey @johngreen You should not be. It is a great book. Was recently in Amsterdam and walked some of the scenes with your huge fan, my youngest daughter. Loved hearing from you and meeting you at Kenyon. (Source)

The Emperor of All Maladies

A Biography of Cancer

Siddhartha Mukherjee, Fred Sanders, et al | 4.92

Bill Gates I loved [this] brilliant book about cancer. (Source)

Timothy J. Jorgensen A tremendous amount of cancer biology comes through in that book through the eyes of the victims and the people up close and personal. (Source)

When Breath Becomes Air

Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese | 4.83

Bill Gates I don’t know how Kalanithi found the physical strength to write this book while he was so debilitated by the disease and then potent chemotherapy. But I’m so glad he did. He spent his whole brief life searching for meaning in one way or another -- through books, writing, medicine, surgery, and science. I’m grateful that, by reading this book, I got to witness a small part of that journey. I just... (Source)

Ryan Holiday Despite its popularity, When Breath Becomes Air is actually underrated. It’s make-you-cry good. (Source)

Bethany S. Mandel More Shabbat reading recommendations: This book was breathtaking and such a powerful advertisement for the joy of parenthood. https://t.co/V8BH97eiL9 (Source)

The Last Lecture

Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow, et al | 4.60

Gabriel Coarna I read "The Last Lecture" because I had seen Randy Pausch give this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo (Source)

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness, Jim Kay | 4.56

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult | 4.51

Walter Isaacson | 4.46

Elon Musk Quite interesting. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Gary Vaynerchuk I've read 3 business books in my life. If you call [this book] a business book. (Source)

Anticancer. A New Way of Life

David Servan Schreiber | 4.40

Christopher Hitchens | 4.36

Phil Libin Just got Hitchens' latest book "Mortality" from Amazon. Opened the box and it finally sank in: I'm never gonna get this signed. (Source)

Susan Jacoby Oh for God’s sake! For everybody who was a prominent atheist – Voltaire, Paine, Ingersoll – these rumours always circulate, that they converted on their deathbed. The reason I recommend Mortality to everyone is that one of the things that’s always asked about atheists – and I think it’s a fair question – is how you can survive the terrible things that life hands out, if you don’t believe in a... (Source)

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The Art of Racing in the Rain

Garth Stein | 4.35

Rachel Joy Baribeau @SweetAsAMink The book was AMAZING!!! (Source)

Craig Pearce Prior to getting into books about business and startups, I read mostly fictional books, and mostly about dogs (think Marley and Me or The Art of Racing In The Rain). (Source)

Fabrice Grinda I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. (Source)

Radical Remission

Surviving Cancer Against All Odds

Kelly A. Turner PhD | 4.34

A Walk to Remember

Nicholas Spark | 4.31

The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition

The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health

T. Colin Campbell, Thomas M. Campbell II | 4.29

Aimée Lyn Inhc Best book I’ve ever read. https://t.co/pc68Yvw7U8 (Source)

How Not to Die

Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM, Gene Stone | 4.29

Michael Greger Sneak preview of some of the tips in my upcoming new book How Not to Diet: https://t.co/SRqYv20tqR (Source)

Mariana Camarena This is the way I start my 2020, excited, motivated and thankful with Dr. Michael Greger for this book, a must for all my collegues around the world. Follow now 👉 @nutrition_facts 🙌 #NutricionActiva https://t.co/btEa9t0lWX (Source)

Vegan Olive @MiggyMoglet I've just finished reading Dr Gregers book 'How Not To Die' @nutrition_facts ..what an fantastic read about #vegan nutrition (Source)

Being Mortal

Medicine and What Matters in the End

Atul Gawande | 4.29

Malcolm Gladwell American medicine, Being Mortal reminds us, has prepared itself for life but not for death. This is Atul Gawande's most powerful--and moving--book. (Source)

Barack Obama President Obama is spending his Hawaiian vacation playing golf, getting together with high school friends and reading a handful of dark novels set in foreign lands, according to a book list released by the White House Wednesday. The presidential reading list includes [...] two works of non-fiction for the trip: [...] "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End" by Dr. Atul Gawande. (Source)

Indra Nooyi Just finished "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande. A beautifully written book. Captivating. (Source)

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Jesse Andrews | 4.28

After Ever After

Jordan Sonnenblick | 4.27

Before I Die

Jenny Downham | 4.25

David Small | 4.24

Everything Happens for a Reason

And Other Lies I've Loved

Kate Bowler | 4.24

Bill Gates When Bowler, a professor at Duke Divinity School, is diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, she sets out to understand why it happened. Is it a test of her character? The result is a heartbreaking, surprisingly funny memoir about faith and coming to grips with your own mortality. (Source)

The Honest Truth

Dan Gemeinhart | 4.23

The End of Your Life Book Club

Will Schwalbe | 4.23

This Star Won't Go Out

The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

Esther Earl, Lori Earl, Wayne Earl, John Green | 4.22

The Bright Hour

A Memoir of Living and Dying

Nina Riggs | 4.20

The Last Song

Nicholas Sparks | 4.18

Ways to Live Forever

Sally Nicholls | 4.18

Slammed (Slammed, #1)

Colleen Hoove | 4.17

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)

Rachel Joyce | 4.17

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3)

Sarah J Maas | 4.17

Second Chance Summer

Morgan Matson | 4.16

How to Starve Cancer

Jane McLelland | 4.16

Counting Thyme

Melanie Conklin | 4.15

Zac and Mia

A. J. Bett | 4.15

Ms. Bixby's Last Day

John David Anderson | 4.15

Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

Katherine Hannigan | 4.14

Autobiography of a Face

Lucy Grealy, Ann Patchett | 4.14

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1)

Jenny Han | 4.13

Same Kind of Different as Me

A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together

Ron Hall, Denver Moore, Lynn Vincent | 4.13

It's Not about the Bike

My Journey Back to Life

Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins | 4.12

Dying to Be Me

My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing

Anita Moorjani | 4.12

The Lemonade Club

Patricia Polacco | 4.11

The Middle Place

Kelly Corrigan | 4.11

F*ck Cancer

A totally inappropriate self-affirming adult coloring book

Jen Meyers | 4.11

Chris Beat Cancer

A Comprehensive Plan for Healing Naturally

Chris Wark | 4.11

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Eleanor Coerr and Ronald Himle | 4.10

Bright Side (Bright Side, #1)

Melanie Shankle, Jen Hatmaker - foreword, et al | 4.10

Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1)

Kristin Hannah | 4.10

The Names They Gave Us

Emery Lord | 4.09

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman | 4.09

Abid Zaidi Day 6 : #30Days of posting cover of books I love (1 book a day for 30 days). No expectations, no reviews, just the covers. Inspired by @rekha_bhardwaj #MyFavouriteBooks https://t.co/rl0foOp6hK (Source)

Side Effects May Vary

Julie Murphy, Cassandra Campbell, et al | 4.09

The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery

Rebecca Katz | 4.08

When Friendship Followed Me Home

Paul Griffin | 4.08

Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book

Susan M. Love MD, Karen Lindsey, et al. | 4.07

Hope Was Here

Joan Bauer | 4.07

The Biology of Cancer

Robert A. Weinberg | 4.07

It's Always Something

Gilda Radner | 4.07

In the Body of the World

Eve Ensler | 4.06

Cynthia Kadohata | 4.06

Chris Crutcher | 4.06

Cancer Ward

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn | 4.06

Garrett (Cold Fury Hockey, #2)

Sawyer Bennet | 4.06

The Truth about Cancer

What You Need to Know about Cancer's History, Treatment, and Prevention

Ty M. Bollinger | 4.06

The Probability of Miracles

Wendy Wunder | 4.05

The Unwinding of the Miracle

A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After

Julie Yip-Williams | 4.05

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Gabrielle Zevin | 4.05

What's Left of Me (What's Left of Me, #1)

Stephanie Scot | 4.05

Mom's Cancer

Brian Fies | 4.05

Under the Mesquite

Guadalupe Garcia Mccall | 4.05

Talk Before Sleep

Elizabeth Berg | 4.04

The Radium Girls

The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

Kate Moore | 4.04

Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)

Stephanie Perkins | 4.04

Tall, Tatted and Tempting (The Reed Brothers, #1)

Tammy Falkne | 4.04

Maybe One Day

Melissa Kantor | 4.04

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid | 4.04

Jacqui Pretty When it comes to fiction, there are so many to choose from! Some books I've loved in the past year include The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (Source)

Sahil Lavingia @alexbdebrie best book i've read recently is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. (Source)

The Philadelphia Chromosome

A Mutant Gene and the Quest to Cure Cancer at the Genetic Level

Jessica Wapner | 4.03

One of Publishers Weekly ’s Top Ten Spring 2013 Science Books Philadelphia, 1959: A scientist scrutinizing a single human cell under a microscope detects a missing piece of DNA. That scientist, David Hungerford, had no way of knowing that he had stumbled upon the starting point of modern cancer research—the Philadelphia chromosome. This book charts not only that landmark discovery, but also—for the first time, all in one place—the full sequence of scientific and medical discoveries that brought about the first-ever successful treatment of a lethal cancer...

One of Publishers Weekly ’s Top Ten Spring 2013 Science Books Philadelphia, 1959: A scientist scrutinizing a single human cell under a microscope detects a missing piece of DNA. That scientist, David Hungerford, had no way of knowing that he had stumbled upon the starting point of modern cancer research—the Philadelphia chromosome. This book charts not only that landmark discovery, but also—for the first time, all in one place—the full sequence of scientific and medical discoveries that brought about the first-ever successful treatment of a lethal cancer at the genetic level. The significance of this mutant chromosome would take more than three decades to unravel; in 1990, it was recognized as the sole cause of a deadly blood cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML. This dramatic discovery launched a race involving doctors and researchers around the world, who recognized that in principle it might be possible to target CML at its genetic source. Science journalist Jessica Wapner brings extensive original reporting to this book, including interviews with more than thirty-five people with a direct role in this story. Wapner reconstructs more than forty years of crucial breakthroughs, clearly explains the science behind them, and pays tribute to the dozens of researchers, doctors, and patients whose curiosity and determination restored the promise of a future to the more than 70,000 people worldwide who are diagnosed with CML each year. Chief among them is researcher and oncologist Dr. Brian Druker, whose dedication to his patients fueled his quest to do everything within his power to save them. The Philadelphia Chromosome helps us to fully understand and appreciate just how pathbreaking, hard-won, and consequential are the achievements it recounts—and to understand the principles behind much of today’s most important cancer research, as doctors and scientists race to uncover and treat the genetic roots of a wide range of cancers.

Just One Wish

Janette Rallison | 4.03

Halfway Normal

Barbara De | 4.03

Love Always, Kate (Love Always, #1)

D. Nichole Kin | 4.03

The Hardest Peace

Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life's Hard

Kara Tippetts | 4.03

Promise Me, Dad

A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose

Joe Biden | 4.03

Steve Cohen Joe Biden gave the most exceptional talk in #Memphis tonight centered around his book, “Promise Me,Dad.”Talked of America becoming itself again as a caring and great nation and world leader. Being known not by the example of our power but the power of our example. Thank you Joe! https://t.co/jzypRSVzkB (Source)

Steve Schale @DavidLauter @pkcapitol I know I’m a Biden fan, but his book about Beau is a legit good read. A true story of father’s love for his boy. (Source)

The Gerson Therapy

The Proven Nutritional Program to Fight Cancer and Other Illnesses

Charlotte Gerson and Morton Walker D.P.M. | 4.03

Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips

Kris Carr, Sheryl Crow | 4.02

It's Not Summer Without You (Summer, #2)

Marley Valentine | 4.02

A Thousand Boy Kisses

Tillie Cole and Kia Thoma | 4.02

Women Who Survived Cancer

Marquina Iliev-Piselli | 4.02

Waiting for Normal

Leslie Connor | 4.02

Unstoppable

Tim Green | 4.01

The Death of Cancer

After Fifty Years on the Front Lines of Medicine, a Pioneering Oncologist Reveals Why the War on Cancer Is Winnable--and How We Can Get There

Vincent T. DeVita Jr. M.D., Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn | 4.01

A Doctor's Guide to Healthy Eating

Catherine Shanahan | 4.01

What Remains

A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love

Carole Radziwill | 4.01

Survival Lessons

Alice Hoffman | 4.01

I Kill Giants

Joe Kelly, J. M. Ken Niimura | 4.01

I'm Not Her

Janet Gurtler | 4.01

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Dave Eggers | 4.01

Amy Chua His mother and father died within five weeks of each other, and at 21 he finds himself a single parent in charge of his eight-year-old brother. (Source)

Maybe Matt's Miracle (The Reed Brothers, #4)

Tammy Falkne | 4.00

Anyway You Can: Doctor Bosworth Shares Her Mom's Cancer Journey

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO KETONES FOR LIFE

Annette Bosworth M.D. | 4.00

The Wahls Protocol

A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles

Terry Wahls M.D. | 4.00

Life and Other Near-Death Experiences

Camille Pagá | 4.00

Cancer Vixen

Marisa Acocella Marchetto | 4.00

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14 Books Written By Cancer Fighters, Survivors, and Supporters

This list has been updated on July 11, 2017. Books have the special quality of transporting the reader into another world. We've come up with a quick list of reads, most of which have been written by IHC members, that we recommend you check out. If you're a lover of words and have found cancer in your life somehow, you were probably immediately referred to The Fault in Our Stars . Before its publication, the title on everyone's tongue was Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. Although these books have done wonders to open a door in literature to talk about cancer, there's a whole lot more than just those two--and rightly so. We are a rich and diverse community with complex, plentiful stories and deserve access to a wealth of literature that represents us. Here is some reading material that you may not have seen before. Most of the books on this list are home-grown right from our own community and available for purchase on Amazon. Check out the usernames of the authors to connect with them and send direct feedback about their books. You can purchase all of the following on Amazon. 1. Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen by Kendall Scott , Survivor, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and Annette Ramke, Angel. Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen is the bible for the woman who has been handed the cancer card-and for the one who never wants to get it. Authors Annette Ramke and Kendall Scott both used their firsthand experience with cancer to write this cookbook. Unfortunately Annette recently passed away, but the energy and love she put into the book will always live on. Here they share girlfriend-style, real-life knowledge and experience about the healing power of food, along with their stories of cancer ups and downs-with more than 100 recipes for fighting cancer and soothing symptoms of treatment. Whether someone is in the thick of "Cancer World" and wants to know what to expect, or for anyone who wants to do all they can to boost their health, Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen offers guidance on not only surviving, but thriving-before, during, and after cancer. 2. Too Young For This by Alice K. Crisci , Survivor, Breast Cancer Hailed as a must-read for newly diagnosed cancer patients and their loved ones, this authentic memoir details the wit, faith and inspiration a 31-year-old woman used to confront her untimely cancer diagnosis. Author Alice Crisci writes with the same raw emotions she felt while dealing with questions about her sexuality, finances, losing her breasts and possibly her fertility from cancer treatment. Husbands, mothers, friends, boyfriends and caregivers repeatedly tell Crisci her words helped them understand what their loved one is going through. 3. Both Sides of the Bedside: From Oncology Nurse to Patient, an RN's Journey with Cancer. by Christine Magnus Moore , Survivor, Non Hodgkin Lymphoma Oncological nurse Christine Magnus Moore stood by the bedside of cancer patients for many years, caring for them as they endured major surgeries, chemotherapy and even the aftermath of grueling bone marrow transplants. They fought a battle with an enemy in their bodies: cancer. Some triumphed and some did not. Fighting for her patients' health, she thought of herself as a soldier on the battlefield and was amazed at how they dealt with their difficult road and that they often thanked her with a smile. As connected as she felt to her patients, she didn't fully comprehend the courage it took to confront cancer every day until she became one of them. 4. Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know by Lori Hope , Survivor, Lung Cancer When we hear that someone close to us has been diagnosed with cancer, we want nothing more than to comfort them with words of hope, support, and love. But sometimes we don't know what to say or do and don't feel comfortable asking. With sensitive insights and thoughtful anecdotes, Help Me Live provides a personal yet thoroughly researched account of words and actions that are most helpful. 5. Cooking For Chemo...And After! by Ryan Callahan , Supporter, Breast Cancer This is a how-to cookbook that teaches you how to adjust your cooking for someone going through chemotherapy. It focuses on teaching how to adjust the flavor of your favorite foods so you can enjoy eating again! Anybody who has ever gone through chemotherapy, acted as a caregiver, or knows someone who has gone through chemo will admit that combating and living with the metallic tastes in your mouth is one of the hardest parts of going through chemotherapy. This book specifically addresses this problem head on and gives you easy, real life solutions to tackle this issue. This is not a "new fad-diet" cookbook or a "what to eat, what not to eat" nutritional guide-- it's a book that will change the way you see and taste food. 6. Now It's Funny: How I Survived Cancer, Divorce, and Other Looming Disasters by Michael Solomon , Survivor, Non-hodgkin's Lymphoma On one hand a page-turning medical thriller, and on the other a hilarious romp through the mind of a man bedazzled by fatherhood and midlife, what makes it so different from other illness memoirs is that it reads like a movie in its frenetic pace, its intensity, and its improbable and relentless humor. This memoir transcends its medical milieu and introduces a fresh new voice into the realm of nonfiction to tell a heartfelt story about a father's search for meaning and his undying devotion to his sons. 7. I Kicked Cancer's Ass! Nicole's Leukemia Story by Nicole Sundermeir Magretto , Survivor, Acute Myeloid Leukemia Nicole was only 28 years old when she was suddenly diagnosed with a rare, high-risk form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. After undergoing four toxic rounds of chemotherapy and an unrelated bone marrow transplant, she finally achieved what all fighters dream of--being cancer-free. Throughout her cancer journey, she journalized her experiences to help inspire others who are also fighting for their lives for the goal of helping any and all people struggling along the same path. 8. Welcome to the Club! Surviving Cancer, One Laugh at a Time by Myles Beskind , an angel who sadly passed away on February 5, 2014. The humor and insight he shared with us has made a lasting impact on our community. Lucky you! Somebody you know has cancer, and you get to care for them. Think of all the glory you'll get from doing the driving, household chores, calls to insurance companies, runs to the pharmacy, extra laundry loads. Maybe you're the one with cancer. No worries " (other than the whole cancer thing)," you can read this book too. All kidding aside - and don't worry, there's plenty of kidding in this book - cancer sucks. Are you ready to laugh at cancer? 9. Fearless, Fabulous You! Lessons on Living Life on Your Terms by Melanie Young , Survivor, Breast Cancer Motivational muse, wellness advocate and breast cancer survivor Melanie Young shares her tips on how to recharge your mental batteries and revalue your self worth, release negative energy and embrace positive change, reconnect with your amazing talents and turn road blocks into building blocks, reframe the vision of who you want to be and how you want to project yourself, reclaim the person you are destined to be and the life you want to live. 10. Being Single, with Cancer by Tracy Maxwell , Survivor, Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer seven years ago, Tracy Maxwell understands the unique swirl of hopes and fears, insecurities and triumphs of a single person with cancer. In Being Single, with Cancer , she combines her experience, other survivors' personal stories, results of a survey of over 100 survivors, and advice from experts to help you navigate through each stage of your journey from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. 11. Not In the Pink by Tina Martel , Survivor, Breast Cancer When visual artist Tina Martel was diagnosed with Stage Two breast cancer she decided to document everything. Throughout her treatment she created a stream of sketchbooks, photographs, paintings and video, in response to and frequently in spite of what was happening to her. Not in the Pink is a "graphic narrative" of the pain, frustration and frequent hilarity of her day-to-day dealing with the eccentricities and bureaucracy of the medical system. It is also a candid and moving exploration of the expectations often placed on you once you are diagnosed with cancer: by the people around you, by society and ultimately by yourself. Stay up-to-date with Tina's work at her site, NotInThePink.ca . 12. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Angel, Lung Cancer What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir. 13. Intimately Brave by Kelly Lund , Survivor, Appendix Cancer Being brave isn’t just standing on the front lines in a battlefield. It’s about stepping up in our lives stronger than we were the moment before. It’s about recognizing our weakness, being vulnerable, and showing up anyways. It’s about forgiveness, and integrity, and love, and giving a voice to the voiceless. Bravery is alive when we are facing the toughest challenges, and choosing to handle them with grace. It’s about creating a life, not merely reacting to our situation. We all possess this strength. 14. The House of the Moon and Stars by Blake David Lynch , Survivor, Testicular Cancer A collection of the first two books of poetry by Blake Lynch, written as he attended law school and faced late-stage testicular cancer. These poems stare down darkness while documenting imagery and narrative in a way that only a poet of Lynch's magnitude can do. Have any book recommendations? Share your favorites in the comments below!

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Liz Truss 'looked at stopping free NHS cancer treatment' after mini-Budget chaos, book claims

The shocking claim comes in a new book examining Ms Truss's chaotic 49 days in No10 - just weeks after voters turfed her out of the Commons at the General Election

• 16:21, 27 Aug 2024
• Updated 09:58, 28 Aug 2024

Disaster PM Liz Truss and her team allegedly looked at stopping cancer treatment on the NHS amid the chaotic fallout of her mini-Budget.

The shocking claim comes in a new book examining Ms Truss's chaotic 49 days in No10 - just weeks after voters turfed her out of the Commons at the General Election . The former Tory leader was forced to resign as Prime Minister in the autumn of 2022 after her mini-Budget of unfunded tax cuts triggered an economic crisis.

According to a new book by the political biographer Sir Anthony Seldon - titled 'How Not to Be a Prime Minister’ - it is claimed Ms Truss met with her then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to discuss the aftermath and attempt to restore market confidence.

Extracts of the book published in The Independent said one of the ex-PM's senior advisers was told at the time "that Truss and Kwarteng were thinking they could still sort out the black hole with severe cuts".

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"We've been told that they are looking at stopping cancer treatment on the NHS," it adds.

The aide is said to have asked in response "is she being serious?" while others said she had “lost the plot”. They told Sir Anthony: "She’s shouting at everyone that ‘We’ve got to find the money.’

"When we tell her it can’t be done, she shouts back: ‘It’s not true. The money is there. You go and find it."

Mr Kwarteng, who was sacked as Chancellor just days before Ms Truss resigned as PM, told The Independent: "I wasn’t involved in any conversations about restricting healthcare, but that doesn’t mean the Prime Minister and her team didn’t discuss this.”

The book by Sir Anthony - published later this week - comes after Ms Truss furiously lashed out after a lettuce banner was unfurled behind her during a speech in Suffolk. Earlier this month the ex-PM was at first oblivious as the sign appeared behind her - only to abruptly leave the stage when a member of the audience pointed out the stunt.

Ms Truss, whose final days in No10 failed to last longer than a decaying lettuce live-streamed by the Daily Star, later claimed on X the stunt was "not funny". "Far-left activists disrupted the event, which then had to be stopped for security reasons," the former PM added.

A spokesman for Liz Truss said: “It is completely untrue that she ever considered it.”

MORE ON Politics Liz Truss Kwasi Kwarteng NHS Conservative Party Economic crisis British economy Cancer

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Liz Truss considered scrapping all NHS cancer treatment after crashing economy, book claims

New book by sir anthony seldon features interviews with insiders from the truss government, article bookmarked.

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Liz Truss considered scrapping all cancer treatment on the NHS in a desperate bid to repair the damage caused by her disastrous economic policies, according to a new book.

The extraordinary claim is made in a new biography of Ms Truss by Sir Anthony Seldon .

Sir Anthony, who is Britain’s leading political biographer, also states that Ms Truss’s allies feared her team could be targeted with a “cocaine” smear by unnamed figures at Tory HQ who wanted to stop her from becoming prime minister.

Sir Anthony’s book, Truss at 10: How Not to Be a Prime Minister , is deeply critical of Ms Truss, who was forced to resign in 2022 after she triggered an economic crisis by proposing the introduction of £45bn of unfunded tax cuts. She spent only 49 days in office.

The author claims that, in the immediate aftermath of the mini-Budget, Ms Truss and her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, launched a desperate attempt to find spending cuts in an effort to restore stock-market confidence in their strategy.

Sir Anthony says a group of Ms Truss’s Tory aides met to discuss the issue. One of her senior advisers, Alex Boyd, “was told that Truss and Kwarteng were thinking they could still sort out the black hole with severe cuts”: “We’ve been told that they’re looking at stopping cancer treatment on the NHS.”

Mr Boyd’s response was to ask “Is she being serious?” writes Sir Anthony, while other aides said she had “lost the plot”.

“She’s shouting at everyone that ‘We’ve got to find the money.’ When we tell her it can’t be done, she shouts back: ‘It’s not true. The money is there. You go and find it,’” they told the author.

Speaking to The Independent , Mr Kwarteng said: “I wasn’t involved in any conversations about restricting healthcare, but that doesn’t mean the prime minister and her team didn’t discuss this.”

According to Sir Anthony, arch-Brexiteer (now Sir) Jacob Rees-Mogg tried to persuade Ms Truss to make him chancellor instead of Mr Kwarteng.

Sir Anthony mockingly compares Mr Rees-Mogg’s “passionate” attempt to “woo” Ms Truss into putting him in charge of the Treasury to the attempt by Malvolio, the pompous cross-gartered flunky in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night , to seduce Lady Olivia.

The author says Mr Rees-Mogg urged Ms Truss to abolish inheritance tax, replace all tax rates with a 20p flat rate, and organise a stunt to promote nuclear power.

He writes that the then cabinet minister told Ms Truss: “We should get a nuclear submarine to dock at Liverpool and plug it into the grid. That would show it is safe.” Sir Anthony says cabinet secretary Simon Case dismissed the idea as a “non-starter”, adding that “the subs are needed in operations”.

He describes friction with other senior Conservatives, and says that Ms Truss referred to Michael Gove as a “snake” after he denounced her tax cuts.

Sir Anthony claims that Ms Truss suspected that a “dirty tricks” operation was being planned by unnamed figures in Tory HQ in an effort to stop her from becoming leader. He says her allies feared there would be an attempt to “intimidate her with talk of a thick dossier of her indiscretions, her drinking, cocaine use by others among her team”.

In the event, the dossier “never materialised”, says the author.

Ms Truss was approached by The Independent but declined to comment.

‘Truss at 10: How Not to Be a Prime Minister’ by Sir Anthony Seldon is out on 29 August

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An Oncologist Writes 'A Biography Of Cancer'

A woman prepares to undergo radiation therapy for an invasive cancer. Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee writes about the discovery of radiation therapy as a treatment option in his biography of cancer. National Cancer Institute hide caption

A woman prepares to undergo radiation therapy for an invasive cancer. Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee writes about the discovery of radiation therapy as a treatment option in his biography of cancer.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer By Siddhartha Mukherjee Hardcover, 592 pages Scribner List price: $30.00

Oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee was treating one of his patients, a woman with advanced abdominal cancer who had relapsed multiple times, when she asked him what seemed like a simple question.

"She said, 'I'm willing to go on, but before I go on, I need to know what it is I'm battling,' " Mukherjee tells NPR's Terry Gross.

But, as Mukherjee explains, describing his patient's illness wasn't so simple. Defining cancer, he says, is something doctors and scientists have been struggling to do since the disease's first documented appearance thousands of years ago.

"Cancer is not just a dividing cell," he says. "It's a complex disease: It invades, it metastasizes, it evades the immune system. So there are many, many other stages of [defining] cancer which are still in their infancy."

Mukherjee's new book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer , grew out of his desire to better understand the disease he treats, through examining the way cancer has been described and treated throughout history. He chronicles the ways therapies evolved, particularly in the 20th century, as more treatment options became available and scientists worked to understand the underlying genetic mutations that caused the disease.

"If there's a seminal discovery in oncology in the last 20 years, it's that idea that cancer genes are often mutated versions of normal genes," he says. "And the arrival of that moment really sent a chill down the spine of cancer biologists. Because here we were hoping that cancer would turn out to be some kind of exogenous event — a virus or something that could then be removed from our environment and our bodies and we could be rid of it — but [it turns out] that cancer genes are sitting inside of each and every one of our chromosomes, waiting to be corrupted or activated."

Siddhartha Mukherjee is a staff oncologist at Columbia University Medical Center. Deborah Feingold via Scribner hide caption

Siddhartha Mukherjee is a staff oncologist at Columbia University Medical Center.

As the genetic understanding of cancer evolves, Mukherjee says, oncologists will be able to integrate that knowledge to develop more targeted treatment options — particularly as they find commonalities between different types of cancer.

"A breast cancer might turn out to have a close resemblance to a gastric cancer," he says. "And this kind of reorganization of cancer in terms of its internal genetic anatomy has really changed the way we treat and approach cancer in general."

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a staff cancer oncologist at Columbia University Medical Center. His articles have been published in Nature , The New England Journal of Medicine , and The New York Times .

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The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer Audio CD – Unabridged, November 17, 2010

• Language English
• Publisher Tantor Audio
• Publication date November 17, 2010
• Dimensions 6.9 x 1.8 x 6.9 inches
• ISBN-10 1400149177
• ISBN-13 978-1400149179
• See all details

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Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tantor Audio; Library - Unabridged CD edition (November 17, 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1400149177
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400149179
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.07 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.9 x 1.8 x 6.9 inches

About the author

Siddhartha mukherjee.

Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a staff cancer physician at the CU/NYU Presbytarian Hospital. A former Rhodes scholar, he graduated from Stanford University, University of Oxford (where he received a PhD studying cancer-causing viruses) and from Harvard Medical School. His laboratory focuses on discovering new cancer drugs using innovative biological methods. Mukherjee trained in cancer medicine at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School and was on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He has published articles and commentary in such journals as Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Neuron and the Journal of Clinical Investigation and in publications such as the New York Times and the New Republic. His work was nominated for Best American Science Writing, 2000 (edited by James Gleick). He lives in Boston and New York with his wife, Sarah Sze, an artist, and with his daughter, Leela.

His author website is www.siddharthamukherjee.me

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 79% 15% 3% 1% 1% 79%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 79% 15% 3% 1% 1% 15%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 79% 15% 3% 1% 1% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 79% 15% 3% 1% 1% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 79% 15% 3% 1% 1% 1%

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Customers say

Customers find the content enlightening and compelling, highlighting the causes of cancer. They also appreciate the eloquent prose, accessibility, and humanistic manner. Readers describe the subject matter as interesting, unsettling, and caring. They praise the structure as well-structured and superb. Opinions are mixed on the entertainment value, with some finding it engaging and awe-inspiring, while others find it repetitive and unnecessary. Reader opinions also differ on the length, with others finding it fairly long and others saying it's a little lengthy.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the content enlightening, clear, and interesting. They say it’s a perfect guide to the history of cancer, and awed at the knowledge of the author. They also say the book provides deep background into what doctors do.

"...The pathway disease.24. Excellent links to notes .25. The inclusion of a glossary and bibliography.Negatives:1...." Read more

"...Cancer is such a dreaded diagnosis, and this book is so helpful in understanding why it doesn't need to be so dreaded...." Read more

"... Inspiring ." Read more

"...research effort is wide and spans many areas, and it is very interesting to see the changes in the perception of the illness and possible treatments..." Read more

Customers find the book eloquent, easy to read and understand, and very visual. They also say it helps explain many of the questions they had and uses simple, understandable analogies.

"...A beautifully written book that treats this complex topic of cancer with the utmost care and respect while providing the reader valuable insights..." Read more

"...a way that makes it a story, from the voice of a writer who is easy to understand , even if you have no medical background...." Read more

"...The book was easy to read and understand , even if you are someone who does not have a background in science...." Read more

"...very heavy, but it was easy to stay interested, and I really enjoyed the literary analogies that were sprinkled throughout...." Read more

Customers find the subject matter interesting, unsettling, heartbreaking, and uplifting. They also say the stories are terrifying, relentless, and very wily. Readers also say that the author is able to make a seemingly dry subject matter personal and engaging. They mention that the book has interesting personal data and is enlightening.

"...The stories can be heartbreaking but are never maudlin; you can feel the desperation of parents whose children have leukemia, and patients who have..." Read more

"...But he does so in a way that is not only easy to read, but also gripping and compelling...." Read more

"...To say that this book was enlightening is to sell it short ...." Read more

"...This book is rich with history, pertinent names and dates and interesting personal data ...." Read more

Customers find the book well structured, illuminating, and well written. They also say it's sectioned in manageable segments and woven seamlessly.

"...Also it was put together in an gripping way making me want to read more, almost like a mystery...." Read more

"...As to the content, I would like to say that the book has pretty well consolidated and replenished my earlier and rather loose knowledge in the field..." Read more

"As an overview, I think Dr. Mukherjee does a superb job tying the strands of historical oncology in one book...." Read more

"...For such an incredibly vast subject matter it was organized in a highly readable fashion ...." Read more

Customers find the flow of the book very good, moving quickly and interestingly. They also appreciate the rhythm and fluid style.

"...This documentary is a thoughtful, moving , emotional journey into everything about cancer and what all the doctors, nurses, researchers and victims..." Read more

"...The book is very easy to read, Mr. Mukherjee's text is clear, his pacing excellent , and he introduces us to many engaging characters...." Read more

"While I really enjoy this book, it's a tedious read. It doesn't flow particularly well ..." Read more

"...Dr. Mukherjee has provided an intense and superbly written tome that flows well ...." Read more

Customers find the book accessible to a general readership. They also say it's suitable for both lay readers and medical professionals.

"...the most important discoveries in the field of cancer makes this an accessible , unpretentious book that both the general public and cancer..." Read more

"...turn into an overwhelming work of science and make it accessible to a wider audience by spending the first half of the book on the human side of..." Read more

"...At some points it is a hard reading, dense and full of bad stories but always with a hope message ahead...." Read more

"...the implication of what was just learned making the book accessible to all readers ...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the entertainment value of the book. Some find it engaging, passionate, and highly focused. They also say the writing is luminous, powerful, and personal. However, some find the book repetitive and unnecessary.

"...A book of this size could have been very heavy, but it was easy to stay interested , and I really enjoyed the literary analogies that were sprinkled..." Read more

"...It made the book so personal ; I felt like I was rooting for these people (I am, each and every one of them)...." Read more

"...of cell biology and genetics in my opinion is simply too much and unnecessary ...." Read more

"...But it is Dr. Mukherjee's ability to remind his readers , sometimes at the most unexpected moments, that the story is a human story and that there..." Read more

Customers are mixed about the length of the book. Some mention that it's fairly long but interesting and well-written, while others say that it is a little lengthy.

"...it is rife with small victories and major setbacks, and it is 470 pages long ...." Read more

"... Five hundred pages fly by . (Okay, except for somewhat heavy reading for laymen about genetics in the middle.)..." Read more

"...The book is very long , but it is so well written that you will be engaged throughout. The history of the search for a cure is very illuminating...." Read more

"...MD would write a compendious though accessible book--the chapters are very short making for easy reading--that reads like a journalistic novel...." Read more

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