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Cross Everything: A personal journey into the evolution of cancer
Cross Everything is a heart-wrenching cancer memoir, a fascinating popular-science detective story, and a witty and at times darkly comical take on a disease that half of us will experience at some point in our lives.
When Henry Scowcroft's fiancée Zarah was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer in 2016, their world fell apart. An award-winning science writer for Cancer Research UK, Henry had spent 14 years at the coal-face of cancer research, but now the disease had infiltrated his personal life too. In Cross Everything-- his first book--Henry uses this unique perspective to tell the story of Zarah's illness, how he tried in vain to use everything he'd learnt in his professional career to try to save her, and in doing so, how he realized that even a career writing about cancer daily isn't enough preparation for what comes next. Along the way, Cross Everything brings the reader up to speed with the latest understanding of cancer--a complex disease with a Darwinian capacity to outsmart its host.
When Henry Scowcroft's fiancée Zarah was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer in 2016, their world fell apart. An award-winning science writer for Cancer Research UK, Henry had spent 14 years at the coal-face of cancer research, but now the disease had infiltrated his personal life too. In Cross Everything-- his first book--Henry uses this unique perspective to tell the story of Zarah's illness, how he tried in vain to use everything he'd learnt in his professional career to try to save her, and in doing so, how he realized that even a career writing about cancer daily isn't enough preparation for what comes next. Along the way, Cross Everything brings the reader up to speed with the latest understanding of cancer--a complex disease with a Darwinian capacity to outsmart its host.
- GenresMemoir
288 pages, Hardcover
Published April 20, 2021
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81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2021
Cross Everything is a heart-wrenching cancer memoir, a fascinating popular-science detective story, and a witty and at times darkly comical take on a disease that half of us will experience at some point in our lives. When Henry Scowcroft's fiancée Zarah was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer in 2016, their world fell apart. An award-winning science writer for Cancer Research UK, Henry had spent 14 years at the coal-face of cancer research, but now the disease had infiltrated his personal life too. In Cross Everything--his first book--Henry uses this unique perspective to tell the story of Zarah's illness, how he tried in vain to use everything he'd learnt in his professional career to try to save her, and in doing so, how he realized that even a career writing about cancer daily isn't enough preparation for what comes next.
Along the way, Cross Everything brings the reader up to speed with the latest understanding of cancer--a complex disease with a Darwinian capacity to outsmart its host. This is a stark reminder that even those who have medical expertise or are closely linked to that field can't stop the ravaging an aggressive cancer can wreak on the body; it's really quite scary. I was deeply moved by the love and care Scowcroft provided to Zarah and his ceaseless search for a way to save her life. I also found the information, facts and statistics and the latest research on cancer to be fascinating and feel this is useful to a great many people given 1 in 2 of us will develop cancer in our lifetime. Highly recommended.
Along the way, Cross Everything brings the reader up to speed with the latest understanding of cancer--a complex disease with a Darwinian capacity to outsmart its host. This is a stark reminder that even those who have medical expertise or are closely linked to that field can't stop the ravaging an aggressive cancer can wreak on the body; it's really quite scary. I was deeply moved by the love and care Scowcroft provided to Zarah and his ceaseless search for a way to save her life. I also found the information, facts and statistics and the latest research on cancer to be fascinating and feel this is useful to a great many people given 1 in 2 of us will develop cancer in our lifetime. Highly recommended.
September 3, 2023
At once intimate, as it chronicles his and his partner's journey through the diagnosis and treatment of her bladder cancer, and scientific, as he digs into the development of cancer, and the various treatments, this was both a hard and sad book to read. I found the chemistry and biology a bit deep, but otherwise a good attempt to separate the personal from the science.
An interesting coincidence- I had reread Christina Frangou's article about her husband's death from cancer at a very young age, and her attempts to deal with her overwhelming grief a few days prior to this , and was pleasantly surprised to see her quoted in the book.
An interesting coincidence- I had reread Christina Frangou's article about her husband's death from cancer at a very young age, and her attempts to deal with her overwhelming grief a few days prior to this , and was pleasantly surprised to see her quoted in the book.
August 31, 2021
I've been reading a lot about cancer in the last year, mostly because I'm working on a story that involves a person with the illness itself (leukaemia). Most of my books were about how was it to find out that a person had the disease, the side effects of the chemo and the treatment itself, the support from the beloved ones, and so on... you get an idea.
When I found "Cross Everything" in the library and saw that Siddharta Mukherjee ("The Emperor of all maladies") described it as "moving, compelling and vital" I decided to take it home with me. And a few weeks later I can tell you that I'm pretty glad I did.
The author (Henry Scowcroft) tells us the story of his girlfriend Zarah, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016, and how their lives changed forever after that. The difference with every other book about cancer that I've read is that on this one I got to understand the origin of the disease, the biological part of it, the science behind the monster. As a person who has never been really good at science -and with English as my second language- it was quite hard to get everything straightaway, but I simply re-read it and that was it, simple as it has never been before; terrifying as cancer can always be.
Henry shows all the ugly bits (or chunks) of cancer, from the very beginning until the very end, but also gives us the chance to get involved in his story with Zarah, of the Team Twat. It's such a wonderful combo of science, love, hope, life and death, that I can't fully find the words to recommend it enough if you're going through Cancer or a beloved one is, or want to understand how it can starts, develop and even take over.
A sensitive, moving, interesting and informative book that it's worth reading!
When I found "Cross Everything" in the library and saw that Siddharta Mukherjee ("The Emperor of all maladies") described it as "moving, compelling and vital" I decided to take it home with me. And a few weeks later I can tell you that I'm pretty glad I did.
The author (Henry Scowcroft) tells us the story of his girlfriend Zarah, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016, and how their lives changed forever after that. The difference with every other book about cancer that I've read is that on this one I got to understand the origin of the disease, the biological part of it, the science behind the monster. As a person who has never been really good at science -and with English as my second language- it was quite hard to get everything straightaway, but I simply re-read it and that was it, simple as it has never been before; terrifying as cancer can always be.
Henry shows all the ugly bits (or chunks) of cancer, from the very beginning until the very end, but also gives us the chance to get involved in his story with Zarah, of the Team Twat. It's such a wonderful combo of science, love, hope, life and death, that I can't fully find the words to recommend it enough if you're going through Cancer or a beloved one is, or want to understand how it can starts, develop and even take over.
A sensitive, moving, interesting and informative book that it's worth reading!
February 6, 2021
Because I have a medical background, and love reading memoir, this book captivated me from the start. It’s partly a darkly humorous, heart-rending memoir and part deep scientific exploration into the mechanisms of how bladder cancer develops, including its subsequent treatment, and ongoing research to help future sufferers.
The author is a well qualified and reliable guide because he’s a cancer research scientist who has worked as a science writer for Cancer Research UK for 14 years. So when his beloved partner, the exuberant, optimistic and life affirming Zarah, develops bladder cancer, his medical knowledge automatically infiltrates with the heartbreaking personal journey they both undertake.
He highlights the fun loving side of Zarah and the quirks she had but doesn’t shy away from painful issues either. This is an honest, harrowing but beautiful memoir and eulogy with laughter alongside the tears, and fascinating medical detail coupled with insight into how Zarah’s progressive terminal illness personally affected them both. A difficult, tear-jerking read in places but also full of interest and pathos. Grateful thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for the ARC.
The author is a well qualified and reliable guide because he’s a cancer research scientist who has worked as a science writer for Cancer Research UK for 14 years. So when his beloved partner, the exuberant, optimistic and life affirming Zarah, develops bladder cancer, his medical knowledge automatically infiltrates with the heartbreaking personal journey they both undertake.
He highlights the fun loving side of Zarah and the quirks she had but doesn’t shy away from painful issues either. This is an honest, harrowing but beautiful memoir and eulogy with laughter alongside the tears, and fascinating medical detail coupled with insight into how Zarah’s progressive terminal illness personally affected them both. A difficult, tear-jerking read in places but also full of interest and pathos. Grateful thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for the ARC.
February 18, 2021
This is a brilliant book. It is a deeply personal story of Henry's own experiences with cancer, interspersed with explanations of the science underpinning Zarah's cancer and its treatment. It is a heart-breaking read at times, but peppered through with dark humour, and more light-hearted than the subject matter would suggest. I couldn't put it down and I've thought about it a lot since I finished it. The other reviewer who described it as "a medical book with a heart" was spot on!
It's rare to find such accessible & gripping science content, especially about complex topics like cancer biology. But you would expect this from Henry, who is a real expert in science comms and hugely talented. I work in cancer too but I hadn't fully appreciated just how rapid the progress has been in our understanding of cancer, and I finished the book feeling really hopeful that there will be more breakthroughs around the corner.
If you enjoyed When Breath Becomes Air then you'll enjoy this. But honestly I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in cancer, whether you work in healthcare/research or have a personal experience yourself.
It's rare to find such accessible & gripping science content, especially about complex topics like cancer biology. But you would expect this from Henry, who is a real expert in science comms and hugely talented. I work in cancer too but I hadn't fully appreciated just how rapid the progress has been in our understanding of cancer, and I finished the book feeling really hopeful that there will be more breakthroughs around the corner.
If you enjoyed When Breath Becomes Air then you'll enjoy this. But honestly I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in cancer, whether you work in healthcare/research or have a personal experience yourself.
November 9, 2020
We know from the beginning of the book that Henry’s partner Zarah died of bladder cancer. No spoilers there. But this is a great blend of showing us the intricacies of their journey through it - the medical and the very human - alongside the detailed picture of what was happening in her body.
I really enjoyed the humour too as ‘Team Twat’ - Henry and Zarah - muddles through life together.
Henry also worked for Cancer Research and he uses his clinical knowledge and detailed analysis of Zarah’s tissue, blood and more by dedicated experts to help us understand how cancer happens.
This is sometimes quite techie but you can choose to take in as much as you want.
I really liked the balance of a medical book with a heart. I grew to really care about Zarah and to feel I was alongside her and Henry.
I’d thoroughly recommend this to anyone who is interested in the science but also wants a well-written and human story of a life well-lived.
I really enjoyed the humour too as ‘Team Twat’ - Henry and Zarah - muddles through life together.
Henry also worked for Cancer Research and he uses his clinical knowledge and detailed analysis of Zarah’s tissue, blood and more by dedicated experts to help us understand how cancer happens.
This is sometimes quite techie but you can choose to take in as much as you want.
I really liked the balance of a medical book with a heart. I grew to really care about Zarah and to feel I was alongside her and Henry.
I’d thoroughly recommend this to anyone who is interested in the science but also wants a well-written and human story of a life well-lived.
February 18, 2021
Having been lucky enough to know Zarah I can’t claim to be objective about this book. Even so, it is a beautiful tribute to an amazing woman, an honest and moving account of her experience with cancer and a fascinating and accessible summary of the modern medicine’s increasingly complex understanding of cancer. It’s not always an easy read, and I shed tears on more than one occasion, but it is essential reading for anyone whose life is affected by cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews