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Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support & Love
This collection of 101 stories of courage, support and love is a support group you can hold in your hands.
These intimate stories by cancer patients and their loved ones, medical professionals, and friends, are a must-read for anyone affected by cancer. Writers share all their experiences — from the initial diagnosis, to breaking the news to loved ones, to discussing the effect on home, school, and work. Stories also cover securing a medical team, living through an ever-changing self-image, the embarrassment of losing hair, and discovering a new spirituality.
Plus a Bonus Book—the inspirational frank memoir It’s Just a Word by cancer patient Elizabeth Bayer
These intimate stories by cancer patients and their loved ones, medical professionals, and friends, are a must-read for anyone affected by cancer. Writers share all their experiences — from the initial diagnosis, to breaking the news to loved ones, to discussing the effect on home, school, and work. Stories also cover securing a medical team, living through an ever-changing self-image, the embarrassment of losing hair, and discovering a new spirituality.
Plus a Bonus Book—the inspirational frank memoir It’s Just a Word by cancer patient Elizabeth Bayer
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
440 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2009
51 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Jack Canfield
1,286 books1,751 followersJack Canfield is an American motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.
Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.
Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.
In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.
Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.
Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.
Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.
Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.
Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.
In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.
Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.
Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.
Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 10, 2017
This book came from my mom's shelves, most likely given to her during her own cancer fight, though I'm not sure she ever got the chance to read it. Primarily, it is comprised of stories to uplift those fighting the disease, whether by proving there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel, or showing that there are others having a tough fight ahead too and you are not alone. As a caregiver though, I found plenty of value within the pages, even now, 5 years after I knew my life was about to change in the worst way possible. I was happy for all the people who defied the odds and came out winners, perhaps slightly bruised and battered, but facing each day with a new outlook.
Yet at the same time I was sad, and glad I didn't read those stories while still trying to help my mom with her fight. We knew from the day she was diagnosed that she would never get to celebrate the milestone of being cancer-free, that even attempting to remove the tumor that ate away at her lower spine would destroy what quality of life she had, and it was hard to remain optimistic as we battled insurance companies, doctors who couldn't see the forest for the trees, and coping with the progressing symptoms. Those things are what no one discusses, both in the book and the world as a whole. Reading happy sunshine-and-roses stories would have made me angry, knowing ours would not end that way and the peaceful end she deserved would only be reached after much pain and suffering. Now though, knowing my mom is at peace, I'm OK with celebrating the triumphs of others and see the value of inspiring those for whom all hope is not lost. This book is excellent for that.
The additional story at the end was for the people in my mom's situation, the autobiography of a woman dealt a particularly bad hand and how she coped with knowing her time on Earth was short but doing what she could to make the most of it and extend her prognosis beyond what the doctors told her. It particularly connected with me after reading the Chicken Soup stories to find the bonus book to be the one that finally touched on the emotions and difficulty of knowing the cancer battle won't be won, just fought for as long as possible and what that long fight does to her and all those who love and support her.
Yet at the same time I was sad, and glad I didn't read those stories while still trying to help my mom with her fight. We knew from the day she was diagnosed that she would never get to celebrate the milestone of being cancer-free, that even attempting to remove the tumor that ate away at her lower spine would destroy what quality of life she had, and it was hard to remain optimistic as we battled insurance companies, doctors who couldn't see the forest for the trees, and coping with the progressing symptoms. Those things are what no one discusses, both in the book and the world as a whole. Reading happy sunshine-and-roses stories would have made me angry, knowing ours would not end that way and the peaceful end she deserved would only be reached after much pain and suffering. Now though, knowing my mom is at peace, I'm OK with celebrating the triumphs of others and see the value of inspiring those for whom all hope is not lost. This book is excellent for that.
The additional story at the end was for the people in my mom's situation, the autobiography of a woman dealt a particularly bad hand and how she coped with knowing her time on Earth was short but doing what she could to make the most of it and extend her prognosis beyond what the doctors told her. It particularly connected with me after reading the Chicken Soup stories to find the bonus book to be the one that finally touched on the emotions and difficulty of knowing the cancer battle won't be won, just fought for as long as possible and what that long fight does to her and all those who love and support her.
April 15, 2014
I was fourteen years old when my Mom was diagnosed with Stage III Colon Cancer. But unlike everyone else in the book, we were never sat down to be told of her condition. At least not that I remember. All I know was we have at least five more years to spend with her.
She passed away three years later.
To be honest, I was a bit reluctant to pick up this book. Everything Cancer-related has always been a sore topic for me ever since my Mom had it. Heck, I even cried when a local celebrity who I was never a fan of died because of Cancer. I guess when something hits a little close to home you can't help but break down because of what you have gone through yourself.
One thing I noticed about this book, though, was the lack of authors tackling about what it's like to lose someone because of it. Chapter 7, Loss, kind of talked about it, but not all ten entries were about it. Were the patients simply not strong or brave enough for losing the battle against Cancer? What about us, the ones who were left behind? Don't we have our own stories to share?
I remember writing about me and Mom's battle for my Feature Writing class when I was in junior college; barely a year after we laid Mom to rest. It took me a week to finish the story, but it was the same article that led me to achieving one of my dreams - to have my article published in MEG. At the time, I wrote about the same thing everyone wrote in the book, only my version didn't end like how I intended it to be.
My mom's story ended 11 years ago but her legacy definitely lives on. Was it hard not having her on our side as we go through every curveball that life is throwing us? Absolutely. But even though she's no longer with us, I'm sure that she's always up there looking over us, guiding us and making sure that we keep on keeping on.
She passed away three years later.
To be honest, I was a bit reluctant to pick up this book. Everything Cancer-related has always been a sore topic for me ever since my Mom had it. Heck, I even cried when a local celebrity who I was never a fan of died because of Cancer. I guess when something hits a little close to home you can't help but break down because of what you have gone through yourself.
One thing I noticed about this book, though, was the lack of authors tackling about what it's like to lose someone because of it. Chapter 7, Loss, kind of talked about it, but not all ten entries were about it. Were the patients simply not strong or brave enough for losing the battle against Cancer? What about us, the ones who were left behind? Don't we have our own stories to share?
I remember writing about me and Mom's battle for my Feature Writing class when I was in junior college; barely a year after we laid Mom to rest. It took me a week to finish the story, but it was the same article that led me to achieving one of my dreams - to have my article published in MEG. At the time, I wrote about the same thing everyone wrote in the book, only my version didn't end like how I intended it to be.
My mom's story ended 11 years ago but her legacy definitely lives on. Was it hard not having her on our side as we go through every curveball that life is throwing us? Absolutely. But even though she's no longer with us, I'm sure that she's always up there looking over us, guiding us and making sure that we keep on keeping on.
October 13, 2017
If the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support Love was a good read for this non-cancer survivor or even battler, It is most likely is a excellent read for anyone who is battling cancer, battled cancer or has a loved one who had to, or is, taking on cancer.
I do not often cry when reading a book. Some of the stories made me shed a tear.
I thank God that I have never had to battle cancer and that none of my close loved ones had to battle cancer. (For the record, there is a history of cancer in my family but those impacted lived miles away from me.) Unfortunately, like most Americans, I have had friends who have battled cancer. Many were winners, some lost their life in a valiant battle with the enemy of cancer.
From the top of my head I can think of four brave women who have battled breast cancer. Three of them one, and the other lost her battle.
Sadly, my wife and I have a good friend who’s 19 old grandson, a young man with a promising future in medicine and a full ride to a prestigious college, lost his battle to cancer during his freshman year of college.
I am old enough to know that no book, movie, TV special or play can fully and fairly portray what a person goes through in life. I am sure this theory is true when it comes to stories by cancer survivors and their loved ones.
I am thankful the contributors to this book allowed me a glimpse into a world I know little about and after reading their stories, I have so much more empathy and respect for those who battle cancer, their loved ones and the support team who are there by their side as they fight the fight of their life – in fact it is often a fight for their life!.
I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
I do not often cry when reading a book. Some of the stories made me shed a tear.
I thank God that I have never had to battle cancer and that none of my close loved ones had to battle cancer. (For the record, there is a history of cancer in my family but those impacted lived miles away from me.) Unfortunately, like most Americans, I have had friends who have battled cancer. Many were winners, some lost their life in a valiant battle with the enemy of cancer.
From the top of my head I can think of four brave women who have battled breast cancer. Three of them one, and the other lost her battle.
Sadly, my wife and I have a good friend who’s 19 old grandson, a young man with a promising future in medicine and a full ride to a prestigious college, lost his battle to cancer during his freshman year of college.
I am old enough to know that no book, movie, TV special or play can fully and fairly portray what a person goes through in life. I am sure this theory is true when it comes to stories by cancer survivors and their loved ones.
I am thankful the contributors to this book allowed me a glimpse into a world I know little about and after reading their stories, I have so much more empathy and respect for those who battle cancer, their loved ones and the support team who are there by their side as they fight the fight of their life – in fact it is often a fight for their life!.
I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
May 6, 2017
I am marking this book as read though I did not read but the first few stories. It did not uplift me as I had hoped, but instead made me more mad/sad about cancer and the damage it causes/leaves behind.
January 24, 2022
First 50 stories were a welcome hand to hold, the next 50 just instilled a sense of inevitability - that this will happen to me too, and soon. Probably shouldn't have read this all in one go, but I've never been good at spacing out books.
Want to read
January 28, 2025SM
October 24, 2011
It took me a long time to read because it was hard to get through. It brought up many memories but it was helpful
February 6, 2013
Favorite quote from this book: "It's hard to step away from the dying tree to see how it feeds the forest. But it does." (Contributor Mike Sacket, 'A Letter to my Sister', p. 313)
April 9, 2013
This book is very touching and an inspiriation. It will make you laugh and cry. I recommend this book for cancer survivors and their loved ones.
Read
April 11, 2017Book
I really loved this book cuz I can relate to some of the stories because I have cancer. I cried at most of the stories.
I really loved this book cuz I can relate to some of the stories because I have cancer. I cried at most of the stories.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews