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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo
A year-long regimen of chemotherapy and radiotherapy wasn’t quite what Luke Ryan had in mind when he turned twenty-two. Especially having been through the same rigmarole when he was eleven. Needless to say, Luke is eyeing off thirty-three warily.
Clearly there’s only one course of action to take when you’ve been handed two life-threatening diagnoses in twenty-two comedy. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo is a warm-hearted and hilarious memoir from someone who has laughed in the face of more adversity than most of us will encounter in a lifetime.
Luke’s is a life marked by cancer, not defined by it. These are tales of growing up, getting sick, getting better, getting sick again, dating while bald, partying while on chemo and keeping your semen in the freezer. But, above all, it’s a story about the redemptive power of family when everything else is falling apart.
Clearly there’s only one course of action to take when you’ve been handed two life-threatening diagnoses in twenty-two comedy. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo is a warm-hearted and hilarious memoir from someone who has laughed in the face of more adversity than most of us will encounter in a lifetime.
Luke’s is a life marked by cancer, not defined by it. These are tales of growing up, getting sick, getting better, getting sick again, dating while bald, partying while on chemo and keeping your semen in the freezer. But, above all, it’s a story about the redemptive power of family when everything else is falling apart.
- GenresNonfictionHumorBiography
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2014
6 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Luke Ryan
12 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for Luke ^ Ryan.
Luke Ryan is a Melbourne-based freelance writer and comedian. His first book, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Chemo comes out in July 2014: a comic memoir about family, growing up and having had cancer twice. He has written for a number of publications including The Age, Smith Journal, The Lifted Brow, TheVine, Crikey, Kill Your Darlings and many more, and performs with a sketch comedy outfit called the Lords of Luxury. He also has a law degree, but would rather physically explode than use it.
Luke Ryan is a Melbourne-based freelance writer and comedian. His first book, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Chemo comes out in July 2014: a comic memoir about family, growing up and having had cancer twice. He has written for a number of publications including The Age, Smith Journal, The Lifted Brow, TheVine, Crikey, Kill Your Darlings and many more, and performs with a sketch comedy outfit called the Lords of Luxury. He also has a law degree, but would rather physically explode than use it.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 1, 2015
A few years back, I saw a comedy set about cancer. It was the most uncomfortable comedy performance I have ever sat through. The guy got up in front of the crowd and started telling jokes about how he used his mum’s cancer to get out of things that he didn't want to do. It didn't go down too well. No one laughed. Once. Ouch.
From that point on, I thought cancer was a comedy no-no, like rape and the holocaust (I sometimes laugh at holocaust jokes, does that makes me a bad person?). But I was wrong, because what this failed comedy performance lacked was perspective – not just about the cancer experience itself, but how the disease shapes your existence.
Perspective is what makes ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo’ such a compelling read. Luke Ryan interweaves his cancer treatment with anecdotes from his childhood and time as a young adult, creating a powerful story that is honest, funny and at times, devastatingly poignant.
I found myself laughing out loud a number of times and thoroughly enjoyed his discourse on growing up in the 90s.
4.5 stars.
From that point on, I thought cancer was a comedy no-no, like rape and the holocaust (I sometimes laugh at holocaust jokes, does that makes me a bad person?). But I was wrong, because what this failed comedy performance lacked was perspective – not just about the cancer experience itself, but how the disease shapes your existence.
Perspective is what makes ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo’ such a compelling read. Luke Ryan interweaves his cancer treatment with anecdotes from his childhood and time as a young adult, creating a powerful story that is honest, funny and at times, devastatingly poignant.
I found myself laughing out loud a number of times and thoroughly enjoyed his discourse on growing up in the 90s.
4.5 stars.
February 14, 2022
Very funny; very true. Such an honest writer/person. Cancer is a life changing event but not in the way you expect- it changes you & it doesn’t .... & in the end life goes on. He went on - but with him a little like having twins you think it’s over but before you can breathe a sigh of relief you have to do it again- and you’re not ready.
I loved this book, but maybe not for everyone. I found it in a cancer hospital library, where it belonged. It is not triumphal, nor heroic, but it is real & in parts laugh-out-loud-witty .... and I’m back to my beginning.
I loved this book, but maybe not for everyone. I found it in a cancer hospital library, where it belonged. It is not triumphal, nor heroic, but it is real & in parts laugh-out-loud-witty .... and I’m back to my beginning.
August 3, 2014
The title ensures that readers know exactly what they’re getting from Luke Ryan’s debut book. The 29 year-old author was unlucky enough to have been diagnosed with cancer twice, at the age of 11 and 22. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo centres on of the grimmest periods of the Melbourne-based writer’s life.
Yet punchlines abound to the point where there’s practically a gag on every page, a large proportion of which cut through due to tragicomic circumstances or the sheer drollness of his observations.
"Given my white, suburban, middle-class, Catholic upbringing, quite possibly these are the only things of interest to have ever happened to me," Ryan wryly notes.
His painful childhood illness is viewed through the wiser lens of adulthood, complete with staircase wit: after returning to school and slipping to the social periphery, the author was told by "a group of horny reprobates" to return to hospital.
"This was, I felt, both cruel and frankly inappropriate advice coming from anyone besides a medical professional," he writes.
The more socially adept older Ryan met the second round with a resolution not to adhere to the cancer narratives of journeys, battles and survivors. These conventional stories were of no interest to him; instead, he opted to craft a comic persona to deny the seriousness of his situation. It worked: he got through the experience with good humour intact, and his 2009 stand-up show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Luke’s Got Cancer, was a sell-out hit.
Though Ryan’s incisive wit is the chief narrative voice here, he’s not above lifting the curtain to show the anxiety and fear that swirled through his mind offstage. These glimpses of emotional honesty are some of the book’s finest moments and add gravitas to a fine memoir that never approaches self-pity. After all, as he writes in the introduction, this isn’t a book about denying cancer, but about seeing cancer as part of a life, rather than its sum total.
An intelligent writer of great talent, Ryan wilfully acknowledges that with the publication of this book he has milked this particular subject and its minutiae of sickness and tedium for all it’s worth. Having proved himself a deft hand at the task of painful self-examination, Ryan seems highly likely to excel at whichever topic he chooses to write about next.
(Originally reviewed for The Weekend Australian on August 2, 2014.)
Yet punchlines abound to the point where there’s practically a gag on every page, a large proportion of which cut through due to tragicomic circumstances or the sheer drollness of his observations.
"Given my white, suburban, middle-class, Catholic upbringing, quite possibly these are the only things of interest to have ever happened to me," Ryan wryly notes.
His painful childhood illness is viewed through the wiser lens of adulthood, complete with staircase wit: after returning to school and slipping to the social periphery, the author was told by "a group of horny reprobates" to return to hospital.
"This was, I felt, both cruel and frankly inappropriate advice coming from anyone besides a medical professional," he writes.
The more socially adept older Ryan met the second round with a resolution not to adhere to the cancer narratives of journeys, battles and survivors. These conventional stories were of no interest to him; instead, he opted to craft a comic persona to deny the seriousness of his situation. It worked: he got through the experience with good humour intact, and his 2009 stand-up show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Luke’s Got Cancer, was a sell-out hit.
Though Ryan’s incisive wit is the chief narrative voice here, he’s not above lifting the curtain to show the anxiety and fear that swirled through his mind offstage. These glimpses of emotional honesty are some of the book’s finest moments and add gravitas to a fine memoir that never approaches self-pity. After all, as he writes in the introduction, this isn’t a book about denying cancer, but about seeing cancer as part of a life, rather than its sum total.
An intelligent writer of great talent, Ryan wilfully acknowledges that with the publication of this book he has milked this particular subject and its minutiae of sickness and tedium for all it’s worth. Having proved himself a deft hand at the task of painful self-examination, Ryan seems highly likely to excel at whichever topic he chooses to write about next.
(Originally reviewed for The Weekend Australian on August 2, 2014.)
October 4, 2017
This book is funny on so many levels. It's the kind of awkward funny of 'hey - speaking of funny, I've got cancer' and the deep, almost invisible funny of looking on the bright side of life (even if sometimes in a Monty Python way) and my personal favourite (sorry) of 'oh my god the loo won't flush and everyone will know it was me' funny.
I read it in preparation for a 'Writing Comedy' course that Ryan is running. A sort of 'I want to write funny, he's going to try to teach me how to write funny, I better read his book'. And maybe because I was wearing my analysing hat rather than my reading-for-enjoyment hat, I didn't find the 'gag on every page' one reviewer found.
Instead, I found a perfect balance - about six laugh-out-loud moments in total, one intensely shocking jaw-dropping moment that I honestly didn't know was a thing even though I work in emergency health (you'll know which one I mean. You'll just know as soon as you read the words. And then you'll google it and your jaw will drop even further), and the rest was an honest look at how cancer affects a man and his tight-knit family. Twice.
It was refreshing in that Ryan never once seemed to want to make me feel sorry for him (even though he has every right to). He may have played the cancer card to the max with friends and strangers, but he made it all into the lightest of troubles in this book. We know cancer is cruel. We know it's tough and merciless and degrading. Yet somehow he manages to have a beautiful outlook, an amazing self-deprecating attitude, a normal let's-get-drunk-and-have-fun sense of denial. He brings in such personality - about his inherent lack of sportiness, his apparent drive to make his twenties all about himself - and he just owns his weaknesses (love that five-year-old Hawke joke!).
This book was the perfect length and went into the perfect amount of detail: it left me wanting to know more rather than being a slogging-to-turn-the-pages-because-I'd-be-a-heartless-human-being-if-I-couldn't-at-least-finish-it kind of book.
I have no idea how I'm ever going to pull off the concept of writing funny like Ryan has.
I read it in preparation for a 'Writing Comedy' course that Ryan is running. A sort of 'I want to write funny, he's going to try to teach me how to write funny, I better read his book'. And maybe because I was wearing my analysing hat rather than my reading-for-enjoyment hat, I didn't find the 'gag on every page' one reviewer found.
Instead, I found a perfect balance - about six laugh-out-loud moments in total, one intensely shocking jaw-dropping moment that I honestly didn't know was a thing even though I work in emergency health (you'll know which one I mean. You'll just know as soon as you read the words. And then you'll google it and your jaw will drop even further), and the rest was an honest look at how cancer affects a man and his tight-knit family. Twice.
It was refreshing in that Ryan never once seemed to want to make me feel sorry for him (even though he has every right to). He may have played the cancer card to the max with friends and strangers, but he made it all into the lightest of troubles in this book. We know cancer is cruel. We know it's tough and merciless and degrading. Yet somehow he manages to have a beautiful outlook, an amazing self-deprecating attitude, a normal let's-get-drunk-and-have-fun sense of denial. He brings in such personality - about his inherent lack of sportiness, his apparent drive to make his twenties all about himself - and he just owns his weaknesses (love that five-year-old Hawke joke!).
This book was the perfect length and went into the perfect amount of detail: it left me wanting to know more rather than being a slogging-to-turn-the-pages-because-I'd-be-a-heartless-human-being-if-I-couldn't-at-least-finish-it kind of book.
I have no idea how I'm ever going to pull off the concept of writing funny like Ryan has.
July 7, 2015
What I liked about this book was how Luke explained the awkwardness of telling people you have cancer. How difficult it is, but also how you then have to expend energy helping people to feel comfortable talking to you. He describes the whole palaver well.
I liked his attitude to cancer. The way he joked about it, but also when things got serious his reflections on his previous jokes.
I skim read bits -about religion - but all in all I am glad I read this book. It is a different take on cancer, and one that aligns with my own view. Though I am not doing stand up anytime soon.
I liked his attitude to cancer. The way he joked about it, but also when things got serious his reflections on his previous jokes.
I skim read bits -about religion - but all in all I am glad I read this book. It is a different take on cancer, and one that aligns with my own view. Though I am not doing stand up anytime soon.
July 17, 2014
A stupendously funny book that had me doing that old 'i'm on public transport but I can't stop myself from creepily chuckling' thing. Luke has an amazing gift for gently pointing out the funnier sides of things that maybe we don't laugh at enough, and we're allowed to in this book because we're laughing WITH him. Loved it.
August 31, 2014
As a fellow comic with cancer also finished treatment and not yet in remission, I really identified with the material. I also laugh because I believe if you don't laugh you'll cry.
Luke had an intense journey at both age 11 and 22. This book is not just one for cancer patients, survivors and their families and friends but an inspirational and funny story.
Luke had an intense journey at both age 11 and 22. This book is not just one for cancer patients, survivors and their families and friends but an inspirational and funny story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2019
Absolutely adored this memoir. Honest, funny and a fantastic insight into the life of someone living with cancer. I recommended this to all of my friends once I'd finished. My only regret was that I bought a copy on iBooks, so I couldn't lend it to people!
August 20, 2020
Very funny. Very poignant. Family relationships.
December 21, 2024
From someone who has been through chemo I can relate to his humour and honesty. Really enjoyed this book.
July 17, 2014
My copy of this book is covered in spittle from the many times the author made me sputter with laughter.
Luke Ryan's sharply written, touching and very funny cancer memoir is engaging from the first word.
Rather than being a linear journey from carefree childhood to chemo to remission and back again, it is a series of neatly packaged chapters that contemplate the physical, emotional and social sides of getting cancer. Twice.
He references Christopher Hitchens early and often and frequently shows an acuity and cool, black humour reminiscent of the older writer.
His comedic laser-beam is mostly aimed at himself: a self-described nerd whose favourite sport is "a form of loosely organised standing in the sun" known as T-ball and whose body has a passion for producing tumours. But the onslaught of jokes (and it is an onslaught) is tempered by the very real threat that hangs over his head, and heart-warming tributes to those who went through the ordeals with him.
In Ryan's world humour reigns supreme but as this is a book about cancer it delivers plenty of emotional sucker-punches.
These are delivered fearlessly by a writer with a talent for endearing himself to his readers.
Ultimately, you find yourself feeling you are not only a fan of Ryan's, but a friend.
This makes the book's surprising crescendo all the more harrowing.
I finished A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo in two sittings, if you exclude the many times I had to get up and walk around the room to compose myself and mop up the tears.
It was hard to put down.
The only thing that might improve it would be to make it waterproof.
Luke Ryan's sharply written, touching and very funny cancer memoir is engaging from the first word.
Rather than being a linear journey from carefree childhood to chemo to remission and back again, it is a series of neatly packaged chapters that contemplate the physical, emotional and social sides of getting cancer. Twice.
He references Christopher Hitchens early and often and frequently shows an acuity and cool, black humour reminiscent of the older writer.
His comedic laser-beam is mostly aimed at himself: a self-described nerd whose favourite sport is "a form of loosely organised standing in the sun" known as T-ball and whose body has a passion for producing tumours. But the onslaught of jokes (and it is an onslaught) is tempered by the very real threat that hangs over his head, and heart-warming tributes to those who went through the ordeals with him.
In Ryan's world humour reigns supreme but as this is a book about cancer it delivers plenty of emotional sucker-punches.
These are delivered fearlessly by a writer with a talent for endearing himself to his readers.
Ultimately, you find yourself feeling you are not only a fan of Ryan's, but a friend.
This makes the book's surprising crescendo all the more harrowing.
I finished A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo in two sittings, if you exclude the many times I had to get up and walk around the room to compose myself and mop up the tears.
It was hard to put down.
The only thing that might improve it would be to make it waterproof.
July 7, 2014
Luke uses his bad luck with illness at his young age to full effect.
There's plenty of hilarious and embarrassing stories that he doesn't shy away from along with tender, personal reflections on his family and their steadfast role on his journey of getting repeatedly shit on by the abnormal cell growths of the world.
There's plenty of hilarious and embarrassing stories that he doesn't shy away from along with tender, personal reflections on his family and their steadfast role on his journey of getting repeatedly shit on by the abnormal cell growths of the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2014
Luke Ryan is an excellent writer with an amazing story.
Cancer and age 11 and again at age 22, yet he delivers a beautiful and humorous memoir. Some of the passages about family are as lovely as anything I have read.
Cancer and age 11 and again at age 22, yet he delivers a beautiful and humorous memoir. Some of the passages about family are as lovely as anything I have read.
August 16, 2014
I enjoyed this book. I bought it because I heard the author speaking on the radio about the book. Although the book is full of humour I felt it was also quite sad. I felt for Luke and his parents. I do hope he stays in remission and that all goes well for him.
September 28, 2015
This book had me either in fits of laughter or deep in Real Emotions territory. The passages describing his various experiences of chemotherapy treatment are a highlight. A really fascinating, fun and surprisingly easy read, given the subject matter.
August 11, 2014
More thoughtful review to follow, but you should probably read this book.
September 15, 2014
I laughed out loud many times while reading this book. Luke Ryan is an incredibly skilful writer, deftly weaving outrageous comedy with heartfelt, honest moments.
A true joy to read.
A true joy to read.
October 11, 2014
Manages to make cancer funny. Not sure if it's even possible to give any higher praise than that.
August 9, 2016
I nearly popped my stitches laughing!
December 8, 2022
3.5.
The sections where he spoke more about the cancer and how it affected him were the parts I devoured. Very honest and real
The sections where he spoke more about the cancer and how it affected him were the parts I devoured. Very honest and real
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews