Ticking Off Breast Cancer

by Sara Liyanage

'Ticking Off Breast Cancer is a candid, thoughtful account of the way Sara dealt with a breast cancer diagnosis. She is one impressive woman.' -- Victoria Derbyshire Previously an expert multi-tasker in her capacity as a busy, married, forty-two-year-old mother of two, and part time lawyer commuting into London, Sara managed her life by to-do list after to-do list. However, when breast cancer appeared on her list, Sara s life was thrown upside down and she had to make a few changes. With the combination of medical appointments, scans, and harsh treatment, Sara s dignity, grace and composure all flew out the window, but she did retain the ability to get herself organised and make a few lists to help her through the treatment. Armed with a multitude of shopping lists, to-do lists and checklists, she made it through eighteen months of gruelling cancer treatment to the other side, where, for the past couple of years, she s been basking in the glow of hair regrowth, new eyebrows and a renewed love for life. Ticking Off Breast Cancer is a chronological narrative of Sara s life from the day of her diagnosis and throughout her treatment. It follows Sara as she deals with the physical, emotional and mental challenges thrown at her by cancer and provides an honest insight into the treatment given to a breast cancer patient together with the impact that this has on someone s life. By sharing many of her to-do lists in the form of checklists at the end of each chapter, Ticking Off Breast Cancer provides thoughtful, helpful advice for every step of the way. Whether read as a companion for someone going through cancer treatment themselves, or as a guide for someone with a loved one or friend going through cancer treatment, Ticking Off Breast Cancer provides support and encouragement throughout. The book accompanies Sara s website of the same name, www.tickingoffbreastcancer.com, which provides practical help and support for those going through breast cancer treatment.

Genres: Nonfiction

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2019

About the author

I'm the author of two books about breast cancer. The first is Ticking Off Breast Cancer (2019), a book about juggling life with treatment for primary breast cancer at the age of forty-two. This book follows the physical and emotional impact of breast cancer on my life, and provides practical help by way of checklists at the end of each chapter. The second is After Breast Cancer: A Recovery Manual (2023) which is a guide to coping with the challenges that come with completing treatment for primary breast cancer. I'm also the founder of www.tickingoffbreastcancer.com, a website dedicated to helping people through their breast cancer treatment and their friends and family - which merged with Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity in 2021 and I now run their online support hub where people impacted by breast cancer can find information, tips and signposts to further resources.

Reviews

[CenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while I was away and I recommend that you read this.
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Ticking off Breast Cancer by @saraliyanage and published by @hashtag_press .
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Here is a book that gives you the brutal, raw the real deal of living with cancer.
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Sara has stripped it to the bare bones of what living with breast cancer. From diagnosis,treatment to the start of new beginnings.
It is a book that is honest,very emotional and real.
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As Sara takes us through her journey is gives you pointers/advice for anyone going through a similar journey which I think is just invaluable- and it is not exclusive to treatment,side effects, the effects on loved ones but also about friendships. .
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Her section on friendships and how they approach you . What to say , what not to say and also how to deal with friends who abandon you but also if you are that friend what you can do to rectify it. This section I found the most interesting. .
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This is comprehensive guide of what to do/say and what not to do/say. It also gives details on the most important things- when you complete your treatment your not given the ‘All Clear’ as most people would think. Plus how not hearing those 2 words matters a huge deal.
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To share a very private journey in such a beautiful way for me is to be applauded. .

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this honest open look into life loved with through and starving breast cancer, Sara talks us through her discovery and treatment to recovery from breast cancer complete with lists to help herself and aid is readers too along with tips on how to offer help and support to those we know suffering from cancer of any sort.



I really enjoyed Sara's way of writing this book with her worries about the uncertainty of cancer and the future she faces as well as how bravely she faced everything from fear of needles to coping with the cancer and treatment itself. I also happily read How supportive her friends and family were rallying round to help and how her young children coped super well too, i truly recommend you give this book a read.

[Angie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because my mother has been going through breast cancer treatment and I wanted to learn more about the illness. It was much easier to learn about breast cancer through the experience of a sufferer as the information is not presented in a clinical manner. No one wants to think of their loved ones going through cancer treatment but this book will show you how you can help and support them. Thank you to the author for being brave enough to share your journey with us.

[Anne Newsome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whizzed through this in 2 hours today, really good book, very relevant, lots of practical pointers and ideas along with reading about Sara's own journey

[Linda Tilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5* review for Ticking Off Breast Cancer by Sara Liyanage.
A beautiful down-to-earth look at surviving Breast Cancer from finding a small lump and embarking on the Cancer Carousel. Sara has managed to cover everything from diagnosis (or D-Day as she calls it), through hospital visits with Mr Breast Consultant, chemotherapy, sickness, hair loss, family life (where her husband thankfully took control of the Project Cancer Notebook) at all the oncology appointments to eventually seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

The lists at the end of each chapter were a brilliant idea, and although I read this on Kindle, I will be getting myself a copy of this book in case myself or friends or family ever have to endure cancer. At least I can feel I am doing something useful to help myself or them, rather than floundering like a beached whale continually asking how can I help? Give someone a job/chore to do and they will feel useful and you will end up with a pile of clean clothes/clean bathroom/fridge full of meals/childcare.

This book is a lovely thing for Sara to have done and I am sure it will help millions of sufferers in the future with her light-hearted approach to some grim situations, but invaluable help, advice and sensible lists. Sara admits that she wants to help those who are standing on the edge of the breast cancer precipice, are scared, don't know which way to turn, where to look online for support. Also help for finding the amazing online links and resources, charities and YouTube videos that Sara found invaluable and will hopefully help the next person who finds themselves Ticking Off Cancer to navigate their way.

Some of my favourite chapter heading quotes Sara included.
"She is brave and strong and broken all at once" - Anna Funder
"Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure everything out all at once. Breathe. You're strong. You Got This. - Karen Salmansohn
"To lose confidence in one's body is to lose confidence in oneself" - Simone de Beauvoir
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all" - Oscar Wilde.

[Denise Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ticked off her list alongside Sara. Readable, emotional, relatable, informative. Thank you for sharing your experience Sara

[Sandra Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so easy to read and beautifully written following the personal journey of Sara along with her practical suggestions as part of each chapter. I’ve been finding it helpful to support and relate to as someone in similar age age with children moving through the treatment stages and I find myself coming back again and again to the different sections as needed. It gives me hope and comfort to read the emotions and experiences of someone gone through before and would really recommend to anyone diagnosed or supporting them.

[Shondra Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who recently completed treatment for breast cancer, this really spoke to me. If you have a friend or loved one with cancer, I highly recommend reading this! Some of it seemed a bit “elementary” but I thought she did a fantastic job describing some of of the physical, mental, and emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis & treatment! Plus if you or (or have been) with someone on their cancer journey, it might help you put some of your own feelings into thoughts and words.

[Tammy Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is Sara's journey through breast cancer, from finding a lump under her arm to the treatment and the help she recieved from friends and family.
This is a great book, its really informative with added checklists if you or any family member are going through cancer.
It explains in plain and simple terms what to expect how to tell family and friends and not to be scared to ask for help.
This was a 5 star read for me, and Sara an inspiration, how she coped with young children and managed to keep it together.
I wish Sara and her family the very best or the future, i know from experience how hard it is to see a family member so ill and your not sure how to help, i just wish id had Sara's check lists at the time.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sara finds a small lump in her armpit she’s not too concerned at first, so it was a huge shock to discover that she had cancer. This is her account, the highs and lows, of how she dealt with it, the treatments and how they affected her, interspersed with valuable checklists, lots of helpful information which will assist anyone else in the same situation. A must read for everyone. All the best to Sara and I hope she’ll continue to grow stronger every day. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, eye-opening, honest, raw, friendly, approachable, kind, thoughtful

This book is an essential read for anyone with breast cancer and anyone who knows and cares about someone with breast cancer. It explains what happened to Sara from diagnosis and through treatment. It shows what happened to her - and of course the journey is going to be different to everyone - but there is so much to get your head around upon a diagnosis. What I found amazing was the to do lists and tick lists - particularly around what to take to the hospital with you. So helpful.

[Sally Tyrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ticking off breast cancer is a quick informative read that gives practical advice for those going through the process of diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and coming out the other side! I was interested to read this book as my cousin very recently lost her battle with breast cancer so this read was very poignant for me! A practical approach to what must be such an awful time in the life of the diagnosed and one that I’m sure will be a great help and source of information!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy to read story of Sara’s diagnosis and the treatment of her breast cancer.

Sara took us clearly through the eighteen months from finding a lump to finally feeling she could begin a new normal life. This will be a valuable tool for anyone also in this situation and especially for their family, friends and support team.

Highly recommended.

[Esra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the single book I needed to accompany me thru the process; discovery, treatment, loss. While my life was flowing with a crazy rhythm this book helped me to settle my thoughts. I am grateful.