Breakfast, School Run, Chemo: The Sometimes Funny, Definitely Not Depressing, True Story of a Mum With Cancer

by Julia Watson

I have cancer, but it's not who I am.

Mother of four girls Julia Watson thought her world was falling apart when she found out she had terminal cancer. But with humour and courage, Julia faces the greatest challenge of her life – and in the process becomes the person she'd always wanted to be.

A survivor of child abuse, brought up by a mother with mental illness, Julia was no stranger to adversity. After her daughter Georgie was born with Down syndrome, she thought she'd faced it all. But when doctors offer her the chance of risky but potentially life-saving surgery, Julia faces her toughest situation yet.

Follow Julia and her family, as she writes her way through the crisis, chases her dreams, gets her dancing shoes on and discovers the lighter side of life with a colostomy bag.

This is a candid, entertaining look at life with cancer and living each day with humour and hope.

Julia Watson blogs at Five Fairies and a Fella, and her articles have been published on Essential Baby. She lives in Melbourne.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2015

About the author

Librarian note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Julia Watson was a Victorian mother of four who wrote about her terminal bowel cancer.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of those "can't put down" books, and while you are expecting The End to be the literal end of her story, it's heartening to know Julia is still here, still fighting, and still writing her amazing story. And was here to see her book published and available for review by us, the super critical public! So my review is simply this: READ IT. Don't just leave it on your Wish list. Read it and laugh, cry and rail against it all as you get caught up in the power and wisdom of her words. This lady was definitely born to write :)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved it!

I'd read some of Julia's blog and I think I may have even met her words on EB all those years ago, but this insight into her life and her loves is inspirational and motivating and touching and raw. Just how I like a good writer to be! So many times I wanted to reach into the pages and hug the shit out of her- that's how well she writes. Never stop writing lady, the world needs your words as much as you need to say them.

[Heidi Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book to be reviewed, it is a book to be savoured and enjoyed for what it is, a gorgeous narrative on how we should be living our life to the fullest, each and every second. Incredible read.

[Jo]

Raw, real and she takes you into the trenches with her.

[Stef O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of the book misled me - "sometimes funny" - not really. I think I giggled once, "definitely not depressing". At times I felt very down while reading it. I don't know what I was really expecting but I guess not the raw book it turned out be - raw emotions, very realistic and at times I found l needed to put the book down and walk away for awhile.

The book consists of a lot of blog posts, memories and feelings. I loved the style of writing - mostly. It is very real and it's heartwarming that Julia was still living and fighting that demon, cancer at the end of the book. Too often these stories end with death.

Probably one thing I would have liked more on was how the love of her life, Gazza, was coping. Who was his support network, how did he hold himself together to be the support Julia needed? Julia writes of their children but rarely mentions Gazz.

I googled and found Julia's Five Fairies and a Fellow website and I'm thankful that Julia is still living the fight........

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. I expected it to give me an insight into life with chemo, but without depressing me too much. And I did get that; it's very well written, very honest about the horrors of cancer and its treatment, but often very funny too.

However, this book was inspiring in away I didn't expect. I was very affected by the way Julia has decided to live her life after learning she had cancer. Knowing she might have limited time left, she has tried the things she'd always dreamed of: got her dream haircut, changed the way she dressed, opened herself up to friends, etc.

Considering the happiness she found in making these changes for herself, you can't help but want to do the same in your own life. Follow what you think will make you happy now and not wait for something like cancer to give you a push when it's almost too late.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Watson was a young mum of four, trying to study and juggle home life with her husband when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. This book chronicles her life from diagnosis to now, and includes many of her published articles and blog posts. You have to admire the girl, and I loved her honesty about her struggle, especially when people think you should be upbeat all the time and look at the positives. It's pretty rubbish being told you have a terminal illness, and you can understand her fear of leaving her family and her lovely life. Terrifying stuff.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia brings a raw, open and realistic account of an illness which is rarely discussed. Having being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer a few months ago and entering the world of chemo I needed another perspective on the catching cancer journey, a share of experience. She captures the process warts and all. Julia thankyou so much for sharing your life, illness, inner thoughts and your beautiful family.

[Emma Leitner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a read, and certainly raw and real and inspiring, but really just a collection of blog posts published in book form. Unpolished, not particularly well collected, and in places weirdly contradictory. I assume this is because it was simply published as train-of-thought blog posts but I really felt this book could have been so much more, even if they wanted to get it published quickly.

[Cristina Pink · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mum of four myself, and an oncology nurse when I was young, this book touched all the parts of my heart . Julia is a fabulous writer and a joyful spirit which is present on every page, between every line and surrounds every letter. Love her to bits. Love the book to bits. Do yourself a favour and get a copy of Breakfast, School Run, Chemo.

[Cat Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautiful and powerful. It's hits you right in the heart over and over and is transparent to the truth and fears Julia is feeling.
This book drew me seek a more real and genuine life and I am thankful for that. It isn't easy to read but often that's how the truth works, we need to hear it even if it's painful.
So thankful for Julia and her approach to life. Inspired.

[Kym Allsep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book that truly touched my soul and took me on my own journey of self discovery. Thank you Julia Watson for sharing your story, it had me in fits of laughter on one page and in a flood of tears on the next. What an emotional roller coaster ride!! Highly recommend this book to everyone!!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly beautiful.

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me laugh, made me cry. A fantastic read!

[Phillippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this book. Some very sad content of course but funny and inspiring at the same time.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwrenching. A beautifully written, honest and raw account of trying to live life with cancer.

[Paul Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, raw, emotional and poignant, more so for knowing the author, and her passing just before Xmas. Her inner strength is an inspiration to us all, fly with the Angels Jules you will be missed.

[Kate Gissell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic, well written book! Loved it! Well done Julia!