In the Country of Illness : Comfort and Advice for the Journey

by Robert Lipsyte

The author guides readers through the country of illness, a land with its own customs and power structure. He draws on his own and family members' experiences with cancer and the experiences of those he has met on his beat as a journalist, and offers advice on dealing with doctors and hospital staff, understanding hospitalspeak, and handling health insurance matters. He offers humor and optimism and encourages celebrating progress at every stage. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Health

252 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 1998

Reviews

[Mrsgaskell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1978 the author, then 40, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It would be the first of several journeys into the land which he called Malady. He had a second bout of cancer in the nineties and also accompanied his first wife on her two excursions into the world of breast cancer. They faced their illnesses with humour (“tumor humour”) and learned to navigate the American healthcare system. He talked about “the dread” and I liked his reminder that when the dread strikes it is not that you are necessarily sick again, just that you are afraid again. He also talked about “beating chemo”, not cancer. This was a good book from someone who understands in the way that only those who have been there can. It was at times comforting but also sad when his ex-wife died. I agreed with her view that people should take their cues from her – if she was feeling that she was going to die, she didn’t want to be told that everything would be okay and conversely, if she was making plans for ten years in the future, she didn’t want to be told to be realistic.
My book rating: 8 stars

Library copy.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapter is an excellent introduction to citizens who are new to the country of illness; I highly recommend the book and especially the first section.