My Breast

by Joyce Wadler

In an expanded, full-length version of the New York magazine article, a breast cancer survivor chronicles her experiences dealing with the disease, recounting real-life medical practices and her courage in the face of death. 45,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Joyce Wadler is a former New York Times staff reporter, who wrote the award winning ‘I Was Misinformed’ humor column for several years and today writes a humor column on Substack. https://joycewadler.substack.com/

Joyce was also the New York correspondent for The Washington Post and a contributing editor for New York Magazine and Rolling Stone.

Her best-selling memoir about breast cancer, ‘My Breast’, has been translated into several languages and was adapted by Ms. Wadler as a CBS television movie. Gloria Steinem called the book, “An irresistible and intimate story of defeating cancer with humor and self-respect.”

"Cured, My Ovarian Cancer Story", originally published as a cover story in New York Magazine, tells the story of Ms. Wadler's later battle against advanced ovarian cancer, as well as her discovery that she carried the BRCA-1 genetic mutation, which puts women at higher risk or breast and ovarian cancer. Like 'My Breast', it is a cancer book which will make you laugh -- and one with a happy ending.

Reviews

[Margaret Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXcellent

I wish this book had been around when I had breast cancer. Mine was different, and the treatment was surgery, chemo and radiation, and then removal of the other breast. That was in 1999 and I am still here in 2025. A book like this gives you hope and the feelings are universal. Good book.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister had this book and read it while she was in college. She said it was very good, and in the context of my mother's recent diagnosis, I thought I'd read it. Wadler has a great sense of humor and it was much needed for the anxiety levels detailed in this book. There were times that I was feeling sick to my stomach while reading this book... but I think it was me projecting the author's emotions on my mother. There was some anxiety for myself (in the context of 'if it ever happened to me') but the anxiety levels were more than I could bear at times... despite Wadler's wonderful humor. (Relief!) I suspect a lot was missing from the story, but it seemed very honest and open. So the 'missing' wasn't to hide anything; it was just to keep the story short. I thought Dr. Susan Love's afterward was excellent. Straight from the doctor's mouth review of the medical aspects of the story. Where do you find a doctor like that if/when the time comes?

[Unraveling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to see the author is still alive. She is now writing a book about her fight against ovarian cancer. Universe, I think you can stop giving this woman cancer now.

[Nancy Dardarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joyce Wadler is very funny and her story of her first cancer is both funny and scary. Her take on it all was very similar to mine.

[Suzanne Mundy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is most informative for one who has breast cancer. However, reading for the interest of the subject causes the reader to be sad.