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Under the Knife: Life Lessons from the Operating Theatre
Dr Liz O’Riordan is a breast cancer surgeon who has battled against social, physical and mental challenges to practise at the top of her field. Under the Knife charts Liz’s incredible performing like a couture dressmaker as she moulded and reshaped women’s breasts, while saving their lives; to the heart-breaking lows of telling ten women a day that they had cancer. But this memoir is more than just an eye-opening look at the realities of training to be a female surgeon in a man’s world. In addition to this high-powered, high-pressured role, Liz faced her own breast cancer diagnosis, severe depression and suicidal thoughts, in tandem with commonplace sexual harassment and bullying. And by revealing how she coped when her life crashed around her, she demonstrates there is always hope.
336 pages, Paperback
Published July 6, 2023
22 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 9, 2023
It's not often I read a book in a day, but I couldn't put it down. It felt such an open & honest review of life as a female with ambition in the NHS and then the devastation of becoming a patient within your own speciality.
This book should be mandatory reading by all medical students
This book should be mandatory reading by all medical students
July 31, 2023
Fabulous Liz wrote this amazing book! I read her first book just after being diagnosed and found it such a big help. Also love her education through instagram and was lucky enough to meet her at a talk last year. A wonderful woman!
This is a really well written book, first half detailing her career and the second focussing on her cancer. I struggled to put it down, but if you’re not a fan of medical biographies it’s very much a warts and all approach (there is a lot of detail about bowel surgery!). I imagine if you like Adam Kay this is a little similar.
If you have read liz’s blogs then then second half of the book does feel a little like a rehash from those. I was perhaps hoping for more detail, maybe more science? But I think if you don’t know her backstory then it’s understandable. In the same thread, I wish I knew more about liz’s training for Ironman and triathlons. How do you train and fit that into on calls and surgery?! And other than medals what was the motivation. The ending does feel a little sudden, there’s reference to conferences and talks but again I’d love to know how that came about and the motivation. I think overall I would have loved the book to be longer.
Having said that, 100% recommend this book, especially if you have experience of breast cancer. Yes parts are sad but it’s well written and left me smiling at the end.
This is a really well written book, first half detailing her career and the second focussing on her cancer. I struggled to put it down, but if you’re not a fan of medical biographies it’s very much a warts and all approach (there is a lot of detail about bowel surgery!). I imagine if you like Adam Kay this is a little similar.
If you have read liz’s blogs then then second half of the book does feel a little like a rehash from those. I was perhaps hoping for more detail, maybe more science? But I think if you don’t know her backstory then it’s understandable. In the same thread, I wish I knew more about liz’s training for Ironman and triathlons. How do you train and fit that into on calls and surgery?! And other than medals what was the motivation. The ending does feel a little sudden, there’s reference to conferences and talks but again I’d love to know how that came about and the motivation. I think overall I would have loved the book to be longer.
Having said that, 100% recommend this book, especially if you have experience of breast cancer. Yes parts are sad but it’s well written and left me smiling at the end.
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February 20, 2024"I had the rest of my life ahead of me, and was scared about how little of it I might have left. It was hard not to imagine what might happen in the future, and every ache and pain made me think the worst. I spent hours on the sofa, staring into space."
"I hadn't given my breasts much thought until now, but suddenly I was having to analyze how important they were... for my identity as a woman, and it was impossible to think rationally..."
I follow the author on Instagram and I listen to her podcast. She is an admirable, companionable, medical expert and a breast cancer endurer. Liz O'Riordan is an athlete (swimming, cycling, running), a scholar, a dog person, and a woman with firsthand knowledge of depression, so of course I wanted to read her book!
The portion covering her medical education and training is lengthy, emphasizing her ambition and and love for her work so that her diagnosis and illness is not the focal point of her life or personality from the beginning, and I appreciated that.
"I hadn't given my breasts much thought until now, but suddenly I was having to analyze how important they were... for my identity as a woman, and it was impossible to think rationally..."
I follow the author on Instagram and I listen to her podcast. She is an admirable, companionable, medical expert and a breast cancer endurer. Liz O'Riordan is an athlete (swimming, cycling, running), a scholar, a dog person, and a woman with firsthand knowledge of depression, so of course I wanted to read her book!
The portion covering her medical education and training is lengthy, emphasizing her ambition and and love for her work so that her diagnosis and illness is not the focal point of her life or personality from the beginning, and I appreciated that.
July 3, 2023
When a friend heard about my breast cancer diagnosis, she didn't know what to say and so instead sent me a copy of Liz’s Book, ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer”. The book helped me understand and cope with my own diagnosis and all that followed. I subsequently followed Liz on social media and as a result heard about her crowdfunding efforts to enable her to publish ‘Under the Knife’, which I supported. I've read several stories of women’s experiences of navigating their way through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and it is always helpful, reassuring and affirming to hear about other women's experiences. However, Liz's book is very special because she shares her life story very honestly and openly with the reader. We all need to manage a cancer diagnosis in the context of our own life experiences and Liz shares her personal challenges, including developing a high-flying career as a breast surgeon alongside recurrent depression, very openly. As someone who has not found it straightforward to balance my own needs with the needs of my career, especially as I have returned to work after cancer, it was hugely reassuring to read about someone else’s experiences of coming to terms with the impact of cancer on a career. I recommend this book most highly, not only to women dealing with breast cancer, but to anyone who wants to understand the ongoing impact of cancer on each individual.
January 6, 2024
A real insight into how the NHS functions - thank you Liz for your honest account! I follow her u-tube channel which is excellent. As a breast cancer survivor it's good to follow someone so well informed.
July 16, 2023
Liz writes with a fluid, easy, conversational style, and the book is a quick enjoyable read as a result.
This book is a touchingly honest account of Liz's life as a doctor, a surgeon and a patient. The poignancy of her own diagnosis of breast cancer whilst working as a specialist breast surgeon, and her subsequent therapies, is heartbreaking. She discusses candidly how challenging a return to work was, how it is impossible to separate your own personal experience as a patient from your role as a doctor, and how ultimately she needed to make the difficult decision to step away from being a breast surgeon for her own wellbeing.
I graduated medical school in 1998, as Liz was starting, so much of what she describes in the first half of her book was painfully familiar: the ritual humiliation of medical school ward rounds, the systemic misogyny, the inappropriate sexual advances during training... it was like having a chat with an old friend. (I would like to think things have improved now, but I fear they may not have done.)
I would recommend this book to all.
This book is a touchingly honest account of Liz's life as a doctor, a surgeon and a patient. The poignancy of her own diagnosis of breast cancer whilst working as a specialist breast surgeon, and her subsequent therapies, is heartbreaking. She discusses candidly how challenging a return to work was, how it is impossible to separate your own personal experience as a patient from your role as a doctor, and how ultimately she needed to make the difficult decision to step away from being a breast surgeon for her own wellbeing.
I graduated medical school in 1998, as Liz was starting, so much of what she describes in the first half of her book was painfully familiar: the ritual humiliation of medical school ward rounds, the systemic misogyny, the inappropriate sexual advances during training... it was like having a chat with an old friend. (I would like to think things have improved now, but I fear they may not have done.)
I would recommend this book to all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2024
I was expecting something along the lines of Adam Kay’s “this is going to hurt”, but this book is more a memoir of a surgical career and breast cancer. I found it to be a light and enjoyable read despite the heavy subject matter. Occasionally, the writing felt clunky, and I found myself flicking back through the book to see had I missed the part where ‘x’ was explained, eg she mentions she thought a lump was just another cyst, but I couldn’t remember her speaking about an initial cyst? Why was her second dog suddenly dropped from the narrative? Did the wild partying days where she was accused of being an alcoholic just grind to a halt?
Despite these criticisms I would recommend this book as an honest account of the struggles and triumphs of training to be a consultant surgeon, and dealing with cancer. Dr Liz never seeks sympathy, though she deserves it in droves, and came across as likeable, determined and overall, hugely caring about her patients.
Despite these criticisms I would recommend this book as an honest account of the struggles and triumphs of training to be a consultant surgeon, and dealing with cancer. Dr Liz never seeks sympathy, though she deserves it in droves, and came across as likeable, determined and overall, hugely caring about her patients.
June 30, 2023
In summary - your book brings smiles, laughter, tears, heartbreak, love and deep honesty (plus hedgehogs and me - what's not to LOVE?!)
The raw insight into studying medicine is exhausting although I bet it only just touches the surface.
The love shared between you and Dermot is incredible. I feel it. It made me cry happy tears because he loves you so much.
The turmoil of knowing too much and how hard it must have been to step back really comes across.
Sharing your experiences of depression and suicidal thoughts is moving and relatable.
Showing you are just as delicate and vulnerable as every single human on the planet is so powerful and the decisions you've made throughout your personal and professional life make the reader reflect upon their own journey.
Kudos. It's perfect. I'm so privileged to be able to call you a friend ❤️
The raw insight into studying medicine is exhausting although I bet it only just touches the surface.
The love shared between you and Dermot is incredible. I feel it. It made me cry happy tears because he loves you so much.
The turmoil of knowing too much and how hard it must have been to step back really comes across.
Sharing your experiences of depression and suicidal thoughts is moving and relatable.
Showing you are just as delicate and vulnerable as every single human on the planet is so powerful and the decisions you've made throughout your personal and professional life make the reader reflect upon their own journey.
Kudos. It's perfect. I'm so privileged to be able to call you a friend ❤️
August 2, 2023
A wonderful book. A joy to read.
Liz covers medical school and then the rigours of junior doctor training - trying to acquire immense knowledge and skills with the odds seemingly stacked against her regarding the many years of relentless workload and little sleep and, horribly, brushes with misogyny.
Despite this, humorous anecdotes keep on coming - they made me laugh out loud!
She becomes a consultant breast surgeon and then breast cancer cruelly comes along.
The resilience and grit already demonstrated time and again shines through again and again in coping not only with the disease but also the effects on her mental health.
Liz lays bare her soul.
She makes very brave changes and emerges stronger than ever with the stalwart support of her husband, Dermot.
She has a whole new career now and as a result can reach out to and help far more people.
What a woman!
Liz covers medical school and then the rigours of junior doctor training - trying to acquire immense knowledge and skills with the odds seemingly stacked against her regarding the many years of relentless workload and little sleep and, horribly, brushes with misogyny.
Despite this, humorous anecdotes keep on coming - they made me laugh out loud!
She becomes a consultant breast surgeon and then breast cancer cruelly comes along.
The resilience and grit already demonstrated time and again shines through again and again in coping not only with the disease but also the effects on her mental health.
Liz lays bare her soul.
She makes very brave changes and emerges stronger than ever with the stalwart support of her husband, Dermot.
She has a whole new career now and as a result can reach out to and help far more people.
What a woman!
July 8, 2023
A fascinating and moving read.
Liz's book opens up a fascinating world that most of us only see snatches of as patients.
Her writing not only conveys just how much our doctors, surgeons and other medical staff go through to train and to care for us but there is also a raw honesty about Liz's struggles with depression. Something many of us will relate to in our own way.
The chapters where she relates her own experiences with breast cancer brought me to tears as I recognised and remembered what it is like to sit in those waiting rooms, to endure the days or even weeks of waiting for results and then sitting in front of a surgeon who says, "It is cancer."
Thank you Liz for sharing your story with the world.
Liz's book opens up a fascinating world that most of us only see snatches of as patients.
Her writing not only conveys just how much our doctors, surgeons and other medical staff go through to train and to care for us but there is also a raw honesty about Liz's struggles with depression. Something many of us will relate to in our own way.
The chapters where she relates her own experiences with breast cancer brought me to tears as I recognised and remembered what it is like to sit in those waiting rooms, to endure the days or even weeks of waiting for results and then sitting in front of a surgeon who says, "It is cancer."
Thank you Liz for sharing your story with the world.
January 26, 2024
As I read, I learned about Dr. Liz O’Riordan’s own battle with depression, followed by finding a lump on her left breast (which turned out to be just a cyst), and then a large irregular mass on her left breast fiver years later (this time a six centimetre lobular cancer), chemotherapy, radiotherapy surgery and tamoxifen, and yet a locoregional chest wall recurrence. Her ordeal with tears, hair loss, radiotherapy skin burn, incessant night sweats from ovary shutdown, gets stuck in my head.
Her story is more than a patient journey. It is a doctor’s reflection on what a patient’s life is like. I know more about patient's suffering, and have told myself to be a better listener.
Her story is more than a patient journey. It is a doctor’s reflection on what a patient’s life is like. I know more about patient's suffering, and have told myself to be a better listener.
October 7, 2023
Loved your book Liz..!!
The first half really resonated as I relived my surgical training although mine took a bit of a detour..!!
The second half thankfully not so much as you described your illness in harrowing detail. Hopefully I’ll never need to refer to it for guidance but would highly recommend it’s optimistic but realistic view of living with cancer for those who do.
It’s great seeing you so positive after all you’ve endured. Long may it last..!! 🤞
Highly recommended. Brava Liz..!! 🙏👏
The first half really resonated as I relived my surgical training although mine took a bit of a detour..!!
The second half thankfully not so much as you described your illness in harrowing detail. Hopefully I’ll never need to refer to it for guidance but would highly recommend it’s optimistic but realistic view of living with cancer for those who do.
It’s great seeing you so positive after all you’ve endured. Long may it last..!! 🤞
Highly recommended. Brava Liz..!! 🙏👏
July 3, 2023
This is an incredible book . The first half is just as addictive as ‘This may hurt’ by Adam Kay. There are candid revelations about life as a junior doctor , many of which I could relate to - sexism, depression, exhaustion and alcohol poisoning! The second half of the book relates much more to Liz’s lived experience of breast cancer - a must for anyone who has a relative or friend going through this . It is unputdownable and enormous thanks for writing this Liz.
July 5, 2023
I picked up this book yesterday and read it in one sitting, only pausing to cook dinner! Shocking,absorbing and uplifting, this book is a must read for anyone working with or friends/ family of breast cancer patients and anyone who has sat in that chair being given a breast cancer diagnosis. Searingly honest and brave, all potential medical students should also read this memoir to gain insight into the profession and the emotional rollercoaster of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
January 5, 2024
I listened to the audiobook version.
Interesting and intimate, as the doctor/author shares her experiences growing up wanting to become a doctor, her medical training, settling on her specialty in treating breast cancer, and then becoming a breast cancer patient herself. Along the way we hear about her successes and disappointments, meeting the man whom she would marry, and facing some of life’s most difficult moments as a person with cancer.
Interesting and intimate, as the doctor/author shares her experiences growing up wanting to become a doctor, her medical training, settling on her specialty in treating breast cancer, and then becoming a breast cancer patient herself. Along the way we hear about her successes and disappointments, meeting the man whom she would marry, and facing some of life’s most difficult moments as a person with cancer.
February 28, 2024
I've been following Liz on Insta and YouTube for a while (I"m a breast cancer survivor) and fell in love with her empathy, compassion, rigorous research and really helpful information so knew I had to read her memoir.
Wow, it exceeded all expectations. Will be recommending it far and wide.
Liz, you are making a difference. Keep on! We need your voice, experience, wisdom, honesty and expertise.
Still in tears. Good tears.
Wow, it exceeded all expectations. Will be recommending it far and wide.
Liz, you are making a difference. Keep on! We need your voice, experience, wisdom, honesty and expertise.
Still in tears. Good tears.
July 3, 2023
This is a book of two halves; one half giving a fascinating insight into the life of a surgeon in training and beyond, and the other half being Liz’s personal story in facing cancer and mental health issues. I am full of admiration for Liz having read this, it is truly a story of bravery in her facing of tough situations. It was inspiring and I couldn’t put it down.
July 11, 2023
Took a day of my holiday to read this cover to cover. Wonderfully written and very moving as it describes a life revolving around breast cancer from both sides of the fence. Much more though it covers depression, love and relationships, and making a difference when and where you can, always, all ways. Thank you.
August 18, 2023
This book gives an incredible insight into just how intelligent, dedicated and committed our medical profession are. This honest but heart wrenching account of Liz’s experience has made an absolutely brilliant book. Liz has shared so much with her audience, an incredibly brave and courageous woman.
June 6, 2024
Liz spoke to my company a few months ago and I found her to be so interesting that I had to read her book. She touched on the struggles of being a woman in her field but I wish she would have said more about it. Her fears of her husband not wanting her anymore after cancer changed her body made me tear up.
June 29, 2023
A captivating read from the very first line. Completely honest; a true story of a breast surgeon’s experiences as they trained and their journey on to the other side as a breast cancer patient. You will laugh, cry, empathise and not be able to put this book down. An absolute must read.
July 3, 2023
Amazing insight into the life of a junior doctor-told with candour and empathy. At times a difficult but truly honest book. Having had breast cancer myself twice it was an interesting point of view from the other side .Well Done Liz you have overcome many difficulties and deserve the highest of praise
July 18, 2023
I read this in one day. Liz was so brave in telling her story. It was honest, raw and authentic. Loved it. Looking forward to hearing more about her journey from here. I am sure good things are in her future.
September 1, 2023
A very enjoyable memoir even with some difficult subject matter (breast cancer, depression) - a real insight into her life as a trainee, surgeon, consultant - and then patient! I've been following Dr Liz for a while and love her way of relating her story. Would recommend.
February 7, 2024
A heartfelt journey but also a very conscious and factual account of a surgeon who later battled cancer herself. After the first few pages I was already determined this is a story of someone whom I could root for and support wholeheartedly even though I don’t know her in person. Not all heroes wear capes. Really wish the book was longer!
July 3, 2023
Brilliant, so emotionally charged. I read it in a day as I couldnt put it down. Thank you Liz for sharing your story.
July 3, 2023
Highly recommended, couldn’t put it down
Well written
Well written
July 4, 2023
Great read Liz. Well done and best wishes from Bricky and Sian.
July 9, 2023
Such a raw book, Liz's honesty and candour is so refreshing. I found her first book became a bible for me, this one finishes with such hope despite the trauma. Brilliant
July 14, 2023
Thoroughly depressing. I didn’t enjoy at all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews