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Cancer is Funny: Keeping Faith in Stage-Serious Chemo
Jason Micheli, a young father, husband, and pastor, was diagnosed with a bone cancer so rare and deadly that his doctors didn’t classify it with one of the normal four stages—they simply called it “stage-serious.” As Micheli struggled with despair and faced his own mortality, he resolved that although cancer kills the body, it would not kill his spirit, faith, or sense of humor.
Micheli knew that the promise of faith makes hope possible. And approaching cancer as fodder for some bowel-busting humor helps, too. His reflections are not trite. Instead, he writes honestly about being stricken with lethal cancer in the midst of a promising career and raising two young children. He struggles with his commitment to the God who, as he writes, may or may not be doing this to him. Because figuring this out for himself—not to mention explaining it to his congregation and his sons—is so important that theology is now a matter of life and death. This is a funny, no-holds-barred, irreverent-yet-faithful take on the disease that touches every family. Micheli’s story teaches us all how to stay human in dehumanizing situations—how to keep living in the face of death.
Micheli knew that the promise of faith makes hope possible. And approaching cancer as fodder for some bowel-busting humor helps, too. His reflections are not trite. Instead, he writes honestly about being stricken with lethal cancer in the midst of a promising career and raising two young children. He struggles with his commitment to the God who, as he writes, may or may not be doing this to him. Because figuring this out for himself—not to mention explaining it to his congregation and his sons—is so important that theology is now a matter of life and death. This is a funny, no-holds-barred, irreverent-yet-faithful take on the disease that touches every family. Micheli’s story teaches us all how to stay human in dehumanizing situations—how to keep living in the face of death.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2016
11 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Jason Micheli
17 books13 followersJason Micheli is a United Methodist pastor in Alexandria, Virginia, having earned degrees from the University of Virginia and Princeton Theological Seminary. He writes the Tamed Cynic blog and hosts the Crackers and Grape Juice Podcast. He lives in the Washington, DC, area with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 4, 2018
This is my current pastor's story of his physical and spiritual battle as he undergoes chemo. He tells his story with humor as he portrays his journey through doubt, faith, and meaning in life. I came away feeling that God truly is in everything, and I had some great belly laughs too as I read of all the indignities one experiences in medical treatment described with humor. Great writing too!
February 5, 2017
My brother-in-law died of cancer recently, so as a family we know the facts of cancer. As a pastor I've seen how cancer can ravage a body and a spirit. I've seen people "survive" or at least move into remission from cancer. We spend a lot of money looking for cures, but cures seem to be far out or reach. So, while science seeks the cure, we wrestle with the effects.
Jason Micheli writes about cancer from a very personal perspective. He's a United Methodist pastor who developed a rare form of lymphoma. A relatively young man (late 30s), he experienced a year of traumatic battles with his cancer, going through several rounds of rather invasive chemotherapy. It proved to be a challenge to his spirit and to his faith, but he held on and eventually moved into remission.
"Cancer is Funny" is Micheli's attempt to tell his own story in a form that might encourage others. He pulls no punches, and reveals the difficulties he experienced going through chemo. He attempts to do so by bringing in humor. Here's where it gets sticky. Humor is in the eye of the beholder. What one finds funny another might not. Often humor is generational. From the blurbs on the back cover, I gather that some readers found it funny. I didn't. That may say more about me than about the author.
As Morgan Guyton suggests in his blurb, "Jason has perfected the art of pastoral irreverence." That may be something that is needed. Sometimes we need to let go of our need for propriety, and Micheli does. He invites the reader to join him in his journey, to experience the pain and the anguish that accompanies the journey. He finds healing, though not a cure, in the process. He struggles with his faith, but perseveres.
As a pastor, I might share this book with younger members of my congregation, but not older ones. The language and the humor might not be fitting for some. Instead I might recommend Deanna Thompson's book Hoping For More: having cancer, talking faith, and accepting grace, which also shares a story of dealing with cancer, but in a more gentle fashion.
As I read the book, I felt like it needed significant editing. I think it could be more effective, if it were briefer. But, as I said, that may have more to do with me. It's a useful book, because it's a very honest book. Sometimes, that's what we need -- honesty. I'm not sure cancer is funny, but we do need to laugh in the midst of our struggles.
Jason Micheli writes about cancer from a very personal perspective. He's a United Methodist pastor who developed a rare form of lymphoma. A relatively young man (late 30s), he experienced a year of traumatic battles with his cancer, going through several rounds of rather invasive chemotherapy. It proved to be a challenge to his spirit and to his faith, but he held on and eventually moved into remission.
"Cancer is Funny" is Micheli's attempt to tell his own story in a form that might encourage others. He pulls no punches, and reveals the difficulties he experienced going through chemo. He attempts to do so by bringing in humor. Here's where it gets sticky. Humor is in the eye of the beholder. What one finds funny another might not. Often humor is generational. From the blurbs on the back cover, I gather that some readers found it funny. I didn't. That may say more about me than about the author.
As Morgan Guyton suggests in his blurb, "Jason has perfected the art of pastoral irreverence." That may be something that is needed. Sometimes we need to let go of our need for propriety, and Micheli does. He invites the reader to join him in his journey, to experience the pain and the anguish that accompanies the journey. He finds healing, though not a cure, in the process. He struggles with his faith, but perseveres.
As a pastor, I might share this book with younger members of my congregation, but not older ones. The language and the humor might not be fitting for some. Instead I might recommend Deanna Thompson's book Hoping For More: having cancer, talking faith, and accepting grace, which also shares a story of dealing with cancer, but in a more gentle fashion.
As I read the book, I felt like it needed significant editing. I think it could be more effective, if it were briefer. But, as I said, that may have more to do with me. It's a useful book, because it's a very honest book. Sometimes, that's what we need -- honesty. I'm not sure cancer is funny, but we do need to laugh in the midst of our struggles.
February 7, 2017
This book is a curious mixture of humor, a fight against cancer and faith. The author was diagnosed with a rare cancer that is labeled stage-serious. Being a Pastor, one would think that this book would be filled with platitudes of faith. Guess again. His is a journey of discovery with God, and he writes using words one doesn't typically expect from a man of the cloth. He's just a man and has the same fears as others, which is reassuring. His descriptions of medical procedures are too funny and that's why readers can relate to this book.
November 20, 2020
A must read for ministers doing any kind of pastoral care for people in health crisis. Also good for people with cancer- or caregivers of those people. It’s a well written reflection on the faith changes that happen during a tumultuous time- but without hoity toity church language.
March 6, 2018
Jason Micheli is a United Methodist minister and scholar, who has been walking the journey of cancer and cancer treatment. This is a wonderful memoir, filled with good humor, a little holy irreverence, and much wisdom. As a pancreatic cancer patient at present, I found his memoir to be hopeful and helpful. I recommend the book highly for patients and those who love them.
June 7, 2021
Thought-provokingly tear-inducing funny
Jason's exercise in reflecting on has experience with cancer urges us to not take time with those we love for granted, while he also finds the humor in the situations that he found himself in.
Jason's exercise in reflecting on has experience with cancer urges us to not take time with those we love for granted, while he also finds the humor in the situations that he found himself in.
February 17, 2017
This book is a lot of things. I'm still processing it. Here's a basic list of attributes for Cancer is Funny: crass, moving, profound, profane, insightful, human, gritty, heart-breaking, inspiring and yes, funny. Laugh out loud funny. Which feels weird. But it is. TBH, some moments fell flat or simply didn't resonate for me (some felt forced). Like I said, a lot of things.
The bone marrow experience encapsulated some of the highs and lows tidily. I actually felt tangible cringe-worthy pain from the description and from the sheer human awkwardness. Then I felt a little like throwing up and, interwoven throughout all of that, I laughed out loud. More than once. I should clarify that this was a response to wit and human pathos, not insensitive diabolical cackling. I'm not a monster.
Many of my spiritual/church friends would be put off by the seriously crass elements and language. Though others, who would find that aspect real and raw and relevant, might be put off by the discussions of faith and suffering viewed through a Christian lens. Some who are grappling with cancer - or grappling with it alongside their loved one - might struggle with the irreverent tone. While others might welcome the humor and insight. It might also just depend on the day you're reading it in those circumstances.
It's hard to know who to recommend it to. I found it incredibly insightful and worthwhile, but I tend to walk that razor's edge of deepest faith and base humanity myself, so it wasn't a herculean stretch for me.
His spiritual musings re: where God is in suffering, where faith is in the silence, where Christ is relative to our challenges and how the ability to experience joy or mirth during dark and excruciating times speaks to him of the reality of God - have all given me some new ways to think about my own challenges and I'll be pondering them for some time.
The bone marrow experience encapsulated some of the highs and lows tidily. I actually felt tangible cringe-worthy pain from the description and from the sheer human awkwardness. Then I felt a little like throwing up and, interwoven throughout all of that, I laughed out loud. More than once. I should clarify that this was a response to wit and human pathos, not insensitive diabolical cackling. I'm not a monster.
Many of my spiritual/church friends would be put off by the seriously crass elements and language. Though others, who would find that aspect real and raw and relevant, might be put off by the discussions of faith and suffering viewed through a Christian lens. Some who are grappling with cancer - or grappling with it alongside their loved one - might struggle with the irreverent tone. While others might welcome the humor and insight. It might also just depend on the day you're reading it in those circumstances.
It's hard to know who to recommend it to. I found it incredibly insightful and worthwhile, but I tend to walk that razor's edge of deepest faith and base humanity myself, so it wasn't a herculean stretch for me.
His spiritual musings re: where God is in suffering, where faith is in the silence, where Christ is relative to our challenges and how the ability to experience joy or mirth during dark and excruciating times speaks to him of the reality of God - have all given me some new ways to think about my own challenges and I'll be pondering them for some time.
April 12, 2019
This is a memoir of a Methodist Pastor as he goes through his cancer treatments. This is a great reflection on pastoral care, why pastors make bad patients, and the false hope that others seek to console each other. This is both extremely sarcastic and heartfelt at the same time. The humor at the beginning opens the door to really talk honestly about his experience. If you are turned off by his humor at the beginning I recommend sticking with it.
October 14, 2017
Hilarious and sober, truly funny and poignant with a bit of irreverence thrown in.
November 29, 2025
funny and raw memoir with great theology throughout by one of my favorite preachers.
February 25, 2018
A must read for anyone who has folks diagnosed
With cancer in their lives. Written from the perspective of a pastor and person of faith - this book helps dig through hard questions about serious diagnosises without cliche or trite answers
With cancer in their lives. Written from the perspective of a pastor and person of faith - this book helps dig through hard questions about serious diagnosises without cliche or trite answers
March 11, 2017
Found it hard to get into the book but read it to the end. Gratuitous cultural references that detracted from the story of "stage serious" cancer, but I was more than able to relate to treatments, perceptions by others, issues of faith and keeping a sense of humor having just been through a similar scenario.
July 21, 2017
What I Needed...
I'm a cancer patient currently, and Micheli nails moment after moment of what I'm going through. It's true what he says, that every cancer is as unique as its sufferer, but the emotional rawness of cancer is the same no matter which human you are. I am as far from a practicing Christian as you can get, and I still needed to hear what Micheli has to say about Jesus--not because I'm looking to get saved before I die, but because Micheli's Jesus is just as human as I am, and because Micheli himself has managed to wrestle all the heart and soul damage of cancer on to a page where I could read it and know I'm not the only one. It helps when he's being juvenile and funny about it. It's better still when he's not, because that's when the honesty comes in. Thanks, Rev. I needed your book. Godspeed to both of us.
I'm a cancer patient currently, and Micheli nails moment after moment of what I'm going through. It's true what he says, that every cancer is as unique as its sufferer, but the emotional rawness of cancer is the same no matter which human you are. I am as far from a practicing Christian as you can get, and I still needed to hear what Micheli has to say about Jesus--not because I'm looking to get saved before I die, but because Micheli's Jesus is just as human as I am, and because Micheli himself has managed to wrestle all the heart and soul damage of cancer on to a page where I could read it and know I'm not the only one. It helps when he's being juvenile and funny about it. It's better still when he's not, because that's when the honesty comes in. Thanks, Rev. I needed your book. Godspeed to both of us.
January 2, 2017
As a parishioner at Aldersgate and a reader of Jason's blog, I knew the basics of his cancer story. Even so, I was blown away by this book. Jason writes about his experience and his faith in a way that is accessible to any reader.
This is my Pop Sugar 2017 Reading Challenge - a book about a difficult topic
This is my Pop Sugar 2017 Reading Challenge - a book about a difficult topic
January 22, 2017
Purchased by my wife, a Methodist minister with an idea I might obtain some insight in how cancer victims address the disease and their faith. My son has stage IV colon and lung cancer.
As interesting as the book is, I sometimes struggled with the theology. I will likely do some outside reading and revisit this book in the future.
The book is definately unique...
As interesting as the book is, I sometimes struggled with the theology. I will likely do some outside reading and revisit this book in the future.
The book is definately unique...
March 18, 2017
A searing read. Here's my full review: https://alexjoyner.com/2017/03/18/hum...
February 8, 2018
Funny and moving memoir about a smart, young, irreverant Methodist pastor's battle with cancer. Micheli looks unflinchingly at the spiritual issues he faced, and describes how they challenged and changed his faith. Perhaps the best book I've read on the problem of evil.
August 10, 2025
Although I didn’t know or understand a majority of the references made, I really enjoyed the joking tone and unexpected humor for such a serious diagnosis. I appreciated hearing his perspective of faith and I thought it was eye opening to how all of us feel about our faith sometimes.
December 28, 2016
Simply put...... A MUST READ!
November 20, 2017
Thought Provoking
Hilarious look at cancer from a Christian point of view. Well worth the read, Micheli gives the reader a sense of what it means to be faithful
Hilarious look at cancer from a Christian point of view. Well worth the read, Micheli gives the reader a sense of what it means to be faithful
October 29, 2020
I felt slightly off reading this and I'm just not a fan of Jason Micheli's humour. One is left wanting something more which is not really ever given.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews