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This Might Surprise You: A Breast Cancer Story
'It's as if Hayley has been inside my head and captured every thought I had during treatment . . . an honest, brave, no-holds barred account'
Liz O'Riordan, surgeon and breast cancer survivor
'Hilarious, complex, honest and profound. Every page made me laugh. Most of them also made me cry.'
Ian Dunt, political journalist and broadcaster
In This Might Surprise A Breast Cancer Story, Hayley Gullen maps the physical and emotional trajectory of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery from breast cancer. But this is no ordinary told in a distinctive cartoon format, Hayley recounts in detail the reality of an experience by turns devastating, painful, absurd and ultimately life-affirming.
In the UK, one in seven women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives. Providing indispensable advice on navigating the medical system, bridging the doctor-patient divide, and compassionately communicating with your partner, children and loved ones as you go through the experience together – this book offers crucial support and hope.
Hayley's storytelling and cartoons are perfectly paired to show the emotional ups and downs of living with cancer. This book is a companion for those going through treatment themselves, helping them to feel less alone, as well as for their loved ones.
Liz O'Riordan, surgeon and breast cancer survivor
'Hilarious, complex, honest and profound. Every page made me laugh. Most of them also made me cry.'
Ian Dunt, political journalist and broadcaster
In This Might Surprise A Breast Cancer Story, Hayley Gullen maps the physical and emotional trajectory of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery from breast cancer. But this is no ordinary told in a distinctive cartoon format, Hayley recounts in detail the reality of an experience by turns devastating, painful, absurd and ultimately life-affirming.
In the UK, one in seven women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives. Providing indispensable advice on navigating the medical system, bridging the doctor-patient divide, and compassionately communicating with your partner, children and loved ones as you go through the experience together – this book offers crucial support and hope.
Hayley's storytelling and cartoons are perfectly paired to show the emotional ups and downs of living with cancer. This book is a companion for those going through treatment themselves, helping them to feel less alone, as well as for their loved ones.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published November 18, 2025
3 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 11, 2026
This is the first non-fiction book I read about BS since my diagnosis. I wanted to wait a little before diving into any literature and this being a graphic novel memoir, was a perfect ease in. I had a mastectomy earlier this week so I read this while wrapped in a blanket, across the sofa from my husband. I kept making him pause our show so I could read him bits.
I appreciated the humour sprinkled into this. And much of it is so relatable, especially the emotional and mental effects. All our paths are different and it's so interesting to read about other similar, but different cases.
"I wasn't embarrassed by imaginary symptoms. It WAS cancer. Phew." (p.10) This reflects our hesitation to seek medical attention or guidance for fear that we're wasting everyone's time, resources, that we're freaking out for nothing. I experienced this too. I insisted on a mammogram on my left side as well, when they were only calling to follow up on the right side. I thought I felt a lump, but I couldn't be sure and I felt stupid that I couldn't be sure.
She shows the impact on her husband and how she keeps apologizing to him, how she feels bad that he has to do so much and she can't help, how he says it's ok, but how he's drained.
The illustrations add so much to the story. I really enjoyed this. I will read again.
I appreciated the humour sprinkled into this. And much of it is so relatable, especially the emotional and mental effects. All our paths are different and it's so interesting to read about other similar, but different cases.
"I wasn't embarrassed by imaginary symptoms. It WAS cancer. Phew." (p.10) This reflects our hesitation to seek medical attention or guidance for fear that we're wasting everyone's time, resources, that we're freaking out for nothing. I experienced this too. I insisted on a mammogram on my left side as well, when they were only calling to follow up on the right side. I thought I felt a lump, but I couldn't be sure and I felt stupid that I couldn't be sure.
She shows the impact on her husband and how she keeps apologizing to him, how she feels bad that he has to do so much and she can't help, how he says it's ok, but how he's drained.
The illustrations add so much to the story. I really enjoyed this. I will read again.
November 28, 2025
Sincere, insightful and very funny. I am a breast cancer patient myself and this is the only book about breast cancer that has appealed to me since my diagnosis. I finished it yesterday and enjoyed every single page.
September 25, 2025
My pal Hayley has written a book - a graphic memoir about dealing with breast cancer. Graphic as in graphic-novel - although there are a large variety of sketched boobs dotted throughout the pages and some frank discussions of sex. I'm not very good with "medical stuff" - so I was quite proud of myself for only twice needing to take a break from reading it because I felt faint.
It is the most perfectly human book I've read in a while. The inner monologue will be intimately familiar to anyone who has sat nervously in a hospital waiting room. It is in turns funny, heartbreaking, devastating, and hopeful. The illustrations are lush. Soaring between the mundane nature of being stuck in a machine, to the surreal nature of your body conspiring against you. It expertly mixes the factual (what to take, when to take it, where to go) with the fanciful (how to visualise your oncologist catching you with a butterfly net).
This book is vital reading for anyone involved in the NHS. It presents a patient- person-centred view of everything that can go wrong on a patient's person's journey through the health system. From technobabbling doctors to outdated IT systems. It's a clear and punchy call for improved holistics. Every part of the system matters - especially when patients people are at their most vulnerable.
In a delightful meta-narrative, the book passes the eponymous Gullen-test which asks whether a character with cancer is cured by normal science or a miracle. In this case, it is lot (and lots) of drugs, machines, doctors, nurses, and chemicals.
People with cancer get bought a lot of books. This is a tight 180 pages exploring the melancholy and the joy which can accompany the journey.
Highly recommended.
It is the most perfectly human book I've read in a while. The inner monologue will be intimately familiar to anyone who has sat nervously in a hospital waiting room. It is in turns funny, heartbreaking, devastating, and hopeful. The illustrations are lush. Soaring between the mundane nature of being stuck in a machine, to the surreal nature of your body conspiring against you. It expertly mixes the factual (what to take, when to take it, where to go) with the fanciful (how to visualise your oncologist catching you with a butterfly net).
This book is vital reading for anyone involved in the NHS. It presents a patient- person-centred view of everything that can go wrong on a patient's person's journey through the health system. From technobabbling doctors to outdated IT systems. It's a clear and punchy call for improved holistics. Every part of the system matters - especially when patients people are at their most vulnerable.
In a delightful meta-narrative, the book passes the eponymous Gullen-test which asks whether a character with cancer is cured by normal science or a miracle. In this case, it is lot (and lots) of drugs, machines, doctors, nurses, and chemicals.
People with cancer get bought a lot of books. This is a tight 180 pages exploring the melancholy and the joy which can accompany the journey.
Highly recommended.
October 5, 2025
This is a brilliant BRILLIANT book. I pre-ordered it, having followed Hayley on social media throughout my own cancer treatment. Her humour was one of my lifelines, and the candour she used when sharing her experiences, good and otherwise, as she navigated the bumpy journey of cancer care, rang so true for me. If you've never had the big C, you might not want to read about it - but you may have friends or family affected, and reading this book will help you know what they are going through. I'm giving copies to the teams who treated me.
December 13, 2025
5 stars with no hesitation! I laughed, I cried, I cried while I laughed, I had a memory come back to me that made me take a sharp breath!! The music in surgery…I was also asked that and had completely forgotten! Just a strange thing but such a connection made♥️ Wonderful book. I hope this was a therapeutic experience for Hayley. It was a bit of therapy for me.
January 7, 2026
An honest, raw view of the authors journey through finding out she had breast cancer to the end of her treatment.
None of the pink fluffyness that's portrayed through the media, which is exactly how this should be talked about!
I enjoyed it, and will be suggesting / sending it to a friend to read too!
None of the pink fluffyness that's portrayed through the media, which is exactly how this should be talked about!
I enjoyed it, and will be suggesting / sending it to a friend to read too!
November 18, 2025
This book really resonated with me, as I had a similar cancer experience to Hayley. Easy to read and very relatable
November 19, 2025
From one breast cancer survivor to another, thank you for writing this book. I’m seriously considering sharing with all my doctors so they can truly understand what we go through during treatment.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews