The Cancer Journey: Understanding Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention

by Chadi Nabhan

A compassionate guide to the cancer journey, from screening and prevention to diagnosis and recovery.

A cancer diagnosis can change our lives and the lives of our loved ones in an instant. It leaves us seeking answers to myriad questions and searching for hope.

In The Cancer Journey, Dr. Chadi Nabhan demystifies this complex disease and offers a compassionate guide to understanding your diagnosis and treatment options.

With decades of experience treating oncology patients, Dr. Nabhan answers your essential questions about cancer, including how it develops, how it is diagnosed, how it is treated, and how to prevent it from returning. He provides suggestions for how readers can prepare for their first visit to a cancer specialist, what questions to ask the health care team, and insider tips for getting second opinions and clinical trials. This comprehensive guide covers screening, survivorship, the art of communication, complementary and integrative medicines, and the future of cancer care. For those who may be at risk or are newly diagnosed, for family members and friends seeking guidance to help their loved ones, and for non-specialist providers seeking to educate their patients, The Cancer Journey is your one-stop-shop for all the information you need.

“Nabhan masterfully simplifies the science, controversies, and complexity of cancer for patients and their loved ones. Through storytelling, humility, and armed with 20 years of experience in oncology, he takes the reader through the cancer journey from A to Z, separating facts from myths. His ability to communicate is commendable, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in this topic.”—Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, author of The Emperor of All Maladies, The Gene, and The Song of the Cell

360 pages, Hardcover

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from the unique perspective of an oncologist, The Cancer Journey offers a deeply insightful and compassionate guide through the cancer experience. It breaks down the complex process from diagnosis to treatments in a way that is both accessible and reassuring. The combination of medical expertise and personal understanding makes it an invaluable resource for patients and their loved ones. This book not only provides clarity but also offers hope and support for those facing cancer.

This book is a must read.

[Jennifer Hoang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book and read. It’s informative and the storytelling is amazing. I related to the book and highly recommend it to all.

[John Crupi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book about a topic that, unfortunately, affects all of us.

It is easy to understand and uniquely compelling in the way Dr. Nabhan uses stories to simplify complex topics. This combination of clarity and storytelling makes it particularly engaging

[Lama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. The author tells and shares stories from his clinical experience to explain cancer-related issues.
The communication chapter is by far my favorite.
Totally recommend this page turner - 5 stars all along,

[Martha luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story telling book that taught me a lot in a fun way. Kudos. Page turner.

[Mila Ter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and easy to read book.
Author does a good job describing the entire cancer journey from time of diagnosis to first visit with Oncologist to undergoing treatment and what that entails.
As a caregiver to a family member with cancer as well as oncology nurse myself I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with or taking care of a loved one with this difficult diagnosis.

[Manar Mady]

Very useful information and knowledge.. more than like

[Mila Ter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, very well written and easy to read.
This book will be helpful for anyone going through cancer diagnosis and their loved ones who are playing the role of caregivers.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely wonderful book with captivating writing! I couldn’t put it down.

[Alexia Krispin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A practical, approachable, and empathetic look at the Cancer journey. This book stands out for its masterful blend of medical expertise and genuine human connection. Through his engaging narrative style, Nabhan guides readers through complex medical terrain with remarkable clarity and compassion. His voice as a storyteller shines through each chapter, making the difficult subject matter accessible without oversimplifying it.

For anyone touched by cancer -- whether you're a patient, a caregiver, a friend, etc. -- the book offers both practical wisdom and emotional sustenance, delivered with a balance of professional insight and human understanding.

[S Parsad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful resource for patients, caregivers, and anyone involved in the management of patients with cancer. Complex concepts are broken down through story telling -- the author uses patient scenarios from his work as a hematologist/oncologist to explain how cancer is diagnosed, screened, and treated. I found the section on survivorship and recovery especially well written and easy to understand. This is a very helpful resource, one which is up to date and thorough. An enjoyable read despite the heavy nature of this disease.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “Cancer Journey”, is a game changer for anyone navigating the emotional and complex world of cancer. This book offers guidance, support and a compassionate glimmer of hope, through what some may say are their darkest days. This book offers stories with various perspectives rather than just using medical terminology. This is a must read that sheds light into a rather dark world.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book allows a non medical layperson to comprehend is vast amount of information regarding cancer. It is a valued source of medical knowledge and information that is often difficult to understand. It is so beneficial it needs to be shared with and given to friends and family.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-rounded “journey” to understand the different stages and further work on prevention.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource. Informative and easy to understand.

[AnnaRichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book if you need it. Very easy to read and understand.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a must read and a page turner while allowing me to learn more about a topic that interests us all- hungry recommebded

[Olga Yarigina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and a guide for everyone interested in learning about cancer in an easy way. It’s a page turner and i read it over 3-4 days. Highly recommended.

[Brooke Schuler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really solid overview of the cancer journey and what to expect.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional—start here if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer.

I had a grade 3 astrocytoma resected from my brain four weeks ago, and I begin radiation and temozolomide (oral chemo) next week. This book has my full recommendation.

I'd recommend the following, in this order:

NCCN's guidelines for patients
Food Rules by Michael Pollan (extremely concise and easy to read!)
The Moss Report's free podcast
The Cancer Journey by Dr. Chadi Nabhan
Keto for Cancer by Miriam Kalamian
research of Thomas Seyfried, PhD (contact him for a free info packet)
2015 PBS documentary Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies from 2015 (runtime 6 hours)
Help Heal Yourself from Cancer by Dr. William Sears
Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients by Dr. Russell Blaylock (though I would proceed with caution . . . these days you're probably better off using Ai prompts instead of relying on a human author)

Definitely talk with your care team about any decisions you're considering. Your oncology care team is your best resource. And I hope you experience peace and good luck during this painful ordeal. Good luck.

[William A Minner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very worthwhile book for those with a general or personal interest in cancer causes, diagnosis, treatment strategies, follow-up, and the research that has supported the medical science move forward. In addition to providing an introduction to the technical details, Dr. Nabhan illustrates them in a manner that captures one’s interest, by recounting memorable patient afflictions and interactions over the course of his career. As Dr. Nabhan is a Hematologist-Oncologist, I particularly found his review and discussion of leukemia to be interesting and educational.