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What I Learned from Cancer
What I Learned from Cancer is part narrative, part reflection, and part primer. Readers first follow the story of Dennis Maione’s 20-year journey through two cancers and the diagnosis of a genetic condition that ensures, one way or another, his journey is ongoing. Marked by wit and wisdom alongside poignance and passion, this tale has laugh-aloud humour while acknowledging the struggle to find life and hope in the midst of trying times.
Next, reflective essays present cancer as a journey not to be undertaken alone or without the right tools. Here, Maione explores the many dimensions of community. Written as advice for his 27-year-old self getting cancer for the first time, this is a glimpse into the soul of a cancer survivor.
Finally, a series of imagined conversations with a doctor tackles such questions as: “What is cancer?” “How can cancer be treated and prevented?” “How are genetics linked to cancer?”
and “How can I tell if my family has bad genes?”
The narrative is compelling, the essays riveting, and the conversations stimulating and informative. This is a book to be read and then shared with your friends and family.
Next, reflective essays present cancer as a journey not to be undertaken alone or without the right tools. Here, Maione explores the many dimensions of community. Written as advice for his 27-year-old self getting cancer for the first time, this is a glimpse into the soul of a cancer survivor.
Finally, a series of imagined conversations with a doctor tackles such questions as: “What is cancer?” “How can cancer be treated and prevented?” “How are genetics linked to cancer?”
and “How can I tell if my family has bad genes?”
The narrative is compelling, the essays riveting, and the conversations stimulating and informative. This is a book to be read and then shared with your friends and family.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2014
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11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 26, 2014
Dennis Maione’s What I Learned From Cancer is an engaging, thoughtful, and inspiring book about a topic that usually has next-to-nothing to commend it. Dennis writes from his personal experience, having survived cancer twice already. Dennis was born with Lynch Syndrome (which was news to him), an inherited genetic condition that predisposes him to develop colorectal cancer. As Dennis recounts his story, the reader is quickly drawn into the well-written narrative.
Dennis is a great communicator, and his style of story-telling is evocative and compelling. Whether it is the shock and bewilderment of discovering cancer at an early age, grief as he must inform his children that they also may have the same cancer-friendly gene, or light-hearted humor as he shares stories of dealing with abdominal stitches while at a comedy festival, Dennis has a way of making the reader feel like a part of the story.
What I Learned From Cancer is much more than the autobiographical tale of a cancer survivor. Dennis includes two very important and helpful sections of what his journey with cancer has taught him. The first is entitled (appropriately enough) “What I Learned from Cancer”, as Dennis highlights some key topics that will be extremely helpful to cancer patients, their families, and their friends: About Doctors, About Community, About Advocacy (this is a fascinating part of Dennis’ journey, and is worth the price of admission all by itself), About Dying, and A Tale of Two Doctors: A Message to Health Care Providers.
The final section of What I Learned From Cancer is “Conversations with a Doctor”, and is a helpful and practical study of how cancer occurs, the impact of genetics, and how to prevent cancer through lifestyle choices. These are extremely helpful chapters, and by utilizing a conversational approach, immensely readable.
Throughout this book, what shines through is a profound sense of gratitude, a deep appreciation for the power of community, the role of faith and humor, and Dennis' desire to equip, educate, and encourage. Written with candor, disarming transparency, and personal warmth, What I Learned from Cancer is a fascinating true story.
Highly recommended.
Dennis is a great communicator, and his style of story-telling is evocative and compelling. Whether it is the shock and bewilderment of discovering cancer at an early age, grief as he must inform his children that they also may have the same cancer-friendly gene, or light-hearted humor as he shares stories of dealing with abdominal stitches while at a comedy festival, Dennis has a way of making the reader feel like a part of the story.
What I Learned From Cancer is much more than the autobiographical tale of a cancer survivor. Dennis includes two very important and helpful sections of what his journey with cancer has taught him. The first is entitled (appropriately enough) “What I Learned from Cancer”, as Dennis highlights some key topics that will be extremely helpful to cancer patients, their families, and their friends: About Doctors, About Community, About Advocacy (this is a fascinating part of Dennis’ journey, and is worth the price of admission all by itself), About Dying, and A Tale of Two Doctors: A Message to Health Care Providers.
The final section of What I Learned From Cancer is “Conversations with a Doctor”, and is a helpful and practical study of how cancer occurs, the impact of genetics, and how to prevent cancer through lifestyle choices. These are extremely helpful chapters, and by utilizing a conversational approach, immensely readable.
Throughout this book, what shines through is a profound sense of gratitude, a deep appreciation for the power of community, the role of faith and humor, and Dennis' desire to equip, educate, and encourage. Written with candor, disarming transparency, and personal warmth, What I Learned from Cancer is a fascinating true story.
Highly recommended.
October 10, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. When I enthusiastically tell people about it, I feel like I need to qualify that it's about cancer BUT it's not depressing. Kind of like, it's gluten-free, BUT it tastes good. :)
Dennis is a skilled writer and tells his story with honesty and wit. As someone with a chronic illness very different from cancer, I still found I had much to take from his writing and much I could relate to. I especially liked the chapter on community. That chapter should be required reading for anyone going through a similar experience. We need caring people around us. And the people around us need to know how to care for us. People want to show their love and don't always know how to do it best. There are many practical ways, including the very valuable way of being a comedian! I think the bodyguard role struck me as one that more people need to put in place to protect themselves from tiring visitors at bad times of the day so they can enjoy visitors at appropriate times.
I recommend this book highly to anyone really. If you or someone you love has or has had cancer, it will have extra meaning, of course. If you've experienced another illness in your own life or the life of your family, it may also be helpful. However, you may find you develop a deeper understanding of others, faith, and life. And, yes, thank you to Dennis for talking about your faith. To God be the glory for the work He has done in your life.
This is a well-written and easy-to-read book. It is also a very important book.
Dennis is a skilled writer and tells his story with honesty and wit. As someone with a chronic illness very different from cancer, I still found I had much to take from his writing and much I could relate to. I especially liked the chapter on community. That chapter should be required reading for anyone going through a similar experience. We need caring people around us. And the people around us need to know how to care for us. People want to show their love and don't always know how to do it best. There are many practical ways, including the very valuable way of being a comedian! I think the bodyguard role struck me as one that more people need to put in place to protect themselves from tiring visitors at bad times of the day so they can enjoy visitors at appropriate times.
I recommend this book highly to anyone really. If you or someone you love has or has had cancer, it will have extra meaning, of course. If you've experienced another illness in your own life or the life of your family, it may also be helpful. However, you may find you develop a deeper understanding of others, faith, and life. And, yes, thank you to Dennis for talking about your faith. To God be the glory for the work He has done in your life.
This is a well-written and easy-to-read book. It is also a very important book.
June 28, 2019
As an oncologist, from time to time I’d forgotten what it’s like to sit on the other side of the exam room. What I Learned From Cancer provides a reminder and insight again into a perspective of one who has gone through and been witness to the good and bad of medicine, and the good and bad of doctors. Well written with excellent prose, Dennis has reminded me to strive to treat every patient with respect and operate from a place of humility as we work together to cure this most menacing of maladies.
September 25, 2014
Dennis Maione’s What I Learned From Cancer is an engaging, thoughtful, and inspiring book about a topic that usually has next-to-nothing to commend it. Dennis writes from his personal experiences -- having survived cancer twice already as someone who is genetically predisposed to develop colorectal cancer via Lynch Syndrome -- and as he tells his story, the reader is quickly drawn along with the narrative.
Dennis is a great communicator, and his style of story-telling is compelling. Whether it is the shock and bewilderment of discovering cancer at an early age, grief as he must inform his children that they also may have the same cancer-friendly gene, or light-hearted humor as he shares stories of dealing with abdominal stitches while at a comedy festival, Dennis has a way of making the reader feel like a part of the story.
What I Learned From Cancer is much more than the autobiographical tale of a cancer survivor. Dennis includes two very important and helpful sections of what his journey with cancer has taught him. In the section entitled (appropriately enough) “What I Learned”, Dennis highlights some key areas that would be extremely helpful to cancer patients, their families, and their friends: About Doctors, About Community, About Advocacy (this was a fascinating part of Dennis’ journey), About Dying, and A Tale of Two Doctors: A Message to Health Care Providers.
The final section of What I Learned From Cancer is “Conversations with a Doctor”, and is a helpful and practical study of how cancer occurs, the impact of genetics, and how to prevent cancer through lifestyle choices. These are extremely helpful chapters, and by utilizing a conversational approach, immensely readable.
Throughout this book, what shines through is a profound sense of gratitude, a deeper appreciation for the power of community, faith, humor, and a desire to equip other cancer patients, their families, and their friends.
Highly recommended.
Dennis is a great communicator, and his style of story-telling is compelling. Whether it is the shock and bewilderment of discovering cancer at an early age, grief as he must inform his children that they also may have the same cancer-friendly gene, or light-hearted humor as he shares stories of dealing with abdominal stitches while at a comedy festival, Dennis has a way of making the reader feel like a part of the story.
What I Learned From Cancer is much more than the autobiographical tale of a cancer survivor. Dennis includes two very important and helpful sections of what his journey with cancer has taught him. In the section entitled (appropriately enough) “What I Learned”, Dennis highlights some key areas that would be extremely helpful to cancer patients, their families, and their friends: About Doctors, About Community, About Advocacy (this was a fascinating part of Dennis’ journey), About Dying, and A Tale of Two Doctors: A Message to Health Care Providers.
The final section of What I Learned From Cancer is “Conversations with a Doctor”, and is a helpful and practical study of how cancer occurs, the impact of genetics, and how to prevent cancer through lifestyle choices. These are extremely helpful chapters, and by utilizing a conversational approach, immensely readable.
Throughout this book, what shines through is a profound sense of gratitude, a deeper appreciation for the power of community, faith, humor, and a desire to equip other cancer patients, their families, and their friends.
Highly recommended.
October 18, 2014
Excellent read. Insigtful, knowledgeable and not depressing as you would think that a book about cancer would be. I learned a lot from this book that would certainly come in handy, if I were ever to be so unfortunate as to get cancer. Thank you Dennis.
February 11, 2015
I really enjoyed it, I've learned a lot of things about the Lynch syndrome. Dennis used the right amount of humor and poignancy to make you "feel" his story and it really worked for me and I really appreciated Part 3 of the book. You are a hero Dennis!! Everybody deserves to read your book!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews