Cancer Stories: On Life and Suffering

Ian W. Toal is a registered nurse in Barrie, Ontario.

The central theme of this book is that people die from cancer. According
to the authors, cancer “has become socially constructed around the
three pillars of coping, hope and survival,” with the message that
“‘cancer can be beaten,’ ‘take control’ and ‘look good feel
good.’” Their book, which tells the stories of five people who did
not beat cancer, is an attempt to give voice to a rarely heard
perspective, to present the many faces of suffering, and to offer some
guidelines for dealing with that suffering.

The authors begin with some general thoughts on cancer and a brief
examination of the physiology of the three major cancers found in the
stories—breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and malignant melanoma.
Occupying the bulk of the book are the five personal histories. Each
story concludes with a section entitled “Lessons Learned,” in which
the major issues that caused the person’s suffering are examined; for
example, the lesson deriving from one woman’s reluctance to look at
her mastectomy scar, in spite of advice to do so as soon as possible, is
“journey at your own pace.”

Although the book is based on material that was gathered from an
academic study, it is intended for the general reader. Its subject
matter may be difficult, but Cancer Stories is neither depressing nor
morbid. Recommended for anyone involved with cancer, either personally
or professionally.