Four Walls : Breaking Through Life’s Challenges, One Wall at a Time - A Memoir of Battling Cancer

by Ryan Scanlan

All of the blood in Ryan Scanlan’s body is someone else’s. At twenty-two years old, Ryan was diagnosed with a blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia. Despite receiving five cycles of chemotherapy, Ryan experienced a relapse of his disease. He received two additional cycles of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant for a chance at a cure.

Just over two years following his stem cell transplant, Ryan began working as a pharmacist at the number one cancer center in the United States. In his memoir, he details the struggles and lessons learned throughout his journey from being a cancer patient to caring for those who suffer from cancer the same way he did. No matter the challenge he faces today, he will always remember what he learned within those Four Walls.

Four Walls serves as a metaphor for approaching difficult circumstances in life. To overcome the challenges life has in store for us, we must take down those walls one by one.

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2023

Reviews

[Carmen DiCello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Walls is outstanding. Though I just received it, I have already completed the majority of this must-read.

Ryan (a former student and good friend with my youngest), who has always been an outstanding young man, recounts his harrowing experiences with this dreaded disease. Throughout this memoir, Ryan shares his intimate struggles and triumphs, taking the reader on the roller coaster ride of his personal journey.

This is a book that is difficult to put down but also, in a strange sort of way, difficult to pick up, for you're never sure what to expect--a wonderful victory or a heartbreaking setback.

Along the way, Ryan shares with his readers the various lessons he's learned--clearly, wisely, and realistically providing principles and practices that can benefit all who pay attention. Indeed, he highlights a pathway for successfully managing the obstacles, the walls, that we all face.

Get Four Walls! It is a tremendous read! Way to go, Ryan!

[Erin Mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Walls leaves the reader with the raw emotion of the impacts cancer has on the body both physically and emotionally. Scanlan takes you on a journey of triumph, frustration, and perseverance. It highlights the importance of mindset and love when overcoming obstacles. The story was compelling and easy to follow with an overall theme of the importance of resiliency. At times it made me tear up to read about him at his lowest, while other moments I was overjoyed with excitement to read about the many ways he picked himself up after hitting those low points. A must read for anyone impacted by cancer to better understand the full scope of how it can affect the person diagnosed and those supporting them through the battle.

[Jacob Dicello · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Four Walls” by Ryan Scanlan is a book about his battle with Leukemia and details what his life was like during that time period and after. Ryan talks about all of details in a real and unfiltered fashion, which gives the reader a glimpse into the realities of a cancer patient and the arduous journey that it takes to defeat cancer. This is a great book written by an even better person. Ryan is a role model to everyone he surrounds himself with and his book will give hope to anyone that picks it up and reads it!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational read shedding light on the day-to-day battles with cancer. Ryan profiles his immeasurable strength as he beat cancer two times.

[Shelby Hahner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop reading. Really insightful firsthand account on how cancer impacts someone’s life. Great book!!

[Jonni Knarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read. So much more than a memoir of a cancer journey! Ryan really opens your eyes to how important your mind is in tough times and the journey to success!!Congratulations Ryan!