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Cancer Schmancer
From Fran Drescher, here's the funny and empowering New York Times bestseller about taking charge of health problems and finding humor in the face of adversity.
Part inspirational cancer-survival story, part memoir-as-a-laughriot, CANCER SCHMANCER picks up where Fran's last book, Enter Whining, left off. After the publication of that book, Fran's life launched into a downward spiral. She separated from a long and complicated relationship, her TV series started to slip in the ratings, and the health of her beloved dog Chester was failing fast. Then came the mysterious symptoms no doctor could explain. With her trademark sense of humor, Fran tells of her long search for answers and the cancer diagnosis that she ultimately beat. But not before a gold mine of insights were revealed to her about the importance of taking charge of your own health and recognizing what's most important in life.
Part inspirational cancer-survival story, part memoir-as-a-laughriot, CANCER SCHMANCER picks up where Fran's last book, Enter Whining, left off. After the publication of that book, Fran's life launched into a downward spiral. She separated from a long and complicated relationship, her TV series started to slip in the ratings, and the health of her beloved dog Chester was failing fast. Then came the mysterious symptoms no doctor could explain. With her trademark sense of humor, Fran tells of her long search for answers and the cancer diagnosis that she ultimately beat. But not before a gold mine of insights were revealed to her about the importance of taking charge of your own health and recognizing what's most important in life.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
58 people are currently reading
1379 people want to read
About the author
Fran Drescher
11 books112 followersFrancine Joy Drescher is an American film and television actress and comedian. She is famous for her nasal voice, laugh, and Queens accent.
Fran's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/drescher
Fran's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/drescher
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
December 27, 2015
I must be one of the few people who did not like/enjoy this book at all. I really liked Fran Drescher in The Nanny and was excited to start this book. Well...what can I say? It may be weird to give a low rating to someone's cancer story, but this book was annoying. Not very well written and she comes across as a bitch, a control freak and a very shallow person ( she's very concerned about looks, about what to wear and is judgemental of other women who don't wear makeup or wear fashion clothes). Everything that goes wrong in her life, it's her parents' fault; after all, she spent 3 years in therapy and that's how she figured it out. So, long story short, this book made me dislike Fran. Bummer.
October 1, 2012
I fell a little bad giving someone's cancer memoir only 2 stars, but it just isn't a very well written book. It is written like she is speaking to someone, complete with rhetorical questions and tangents about food. There are also at three instances where she follows a sentence with "Nu?" I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. My best guess is a funny way of saying No? but it doesn't really fit all of the occurrences.
She also name drops like crazy and spends a lot of time on how hard it is to be a celebrity with cancer. There seems to be a lot of self pitying in the book, which is to be expected, but it just doesn't make a good read. It is not nearly as funny as I was led to believe.
She also comes dangerously close to speaking as a medical authority, when in reality she is just one person who went through this particular type of cancer.
It was interesting to see how thing have changed in 12 years. As far as I know a current cancer patient wouldn't be given an estrogen patch immediately after surgery. However, her description of doing research about preventative radiation shows how that process seems just as confusing as it is now. The part I related to most was her anxiety about going back out in social situations after her recovery.
She also name drops like crazy and spends a lot of time on how hard it is to be a celebrity with cancer. There seems to be a lot of self pitying in the book, which is to be expected, but it just doesn't make a good read. It is not nearly as funny as I was led to believe.
She also comes dangerously close to speaking as a medical authority, when in reality she is just one person who went through this particular type of cancer.
It was interesting to see how thing have changed in 12 years. As far as I know a current cancer patient wouldn't be given an estrogen patch immediately after surgery. However, her description of doing research about preventative radiation shows how that process seems just as confusing as it is now. The part I related to most was her anxiety about going back out in social situations after her recovery.
April 11, 2014
Very weird how many things I related to in this book. Different cancer but many symptoms still the same. Although I am one to follow the doctors orders and she seemed to argue and challenge a lot. But that is her choice and her beliefs on treatments. I commend her 100% for doing it her way. I know I am already looking forward to my five year "cancer free".
August 12, 2012
Loved her view on things and appreciate all she went through to find her diagnosis. Lessons learned. A must for cancer patients/survivors.
September 11, 2008
I don't normally read autobiographies but I loved The Nanny so much I thought I'd give this a try. What an excellent read. Fran Drescher is just as clever and funny in this book as she was in The Nanny. But we also get to see a whole other side of her. The side that not that many others knew about...including moi!
October 1, 2007
I'm a sucker for celebrity biographies and autobiographies. This book follows Fran Drescher's battle with uterine cancer. The book is written in a light-heartened style and is both funny and touching.
May 17, 2018
While this book was very depressing (understandably, of course) it was interesting and a good reminder to stick to your opinion if you know something's wrong. The day-to-day retelling got a little stale but was still an interesting read all in all.
January 4, 2010
A very good book about Fran dealing with being misdiagnosed for way too long, to finally being diagnosed with uterine cancer, and through her surgery and recovery. Very honest and inspiring.
February 28, 2011
Within a day I read this whole book! It is easy written and you keep longing for more. When the book was over the first thought I had was "That cannot be the end! I want to know what happens next!"
March 12, 2008
Mr: -
Mrs: OK, her comes my outing: I am a big Frannie the Nanny fan! So, this review might be a bit biased, however...: I really liked this book! I read it when I had medical issues as well, and her stories and her witty Jewish humor made things a little more bearable again for me.
Mrs: OK, her comes my outing: I am a big Frannie the Nanny fan! So, this review might be a bit biased, however...: I really liked this book! I read it when I had medical issues as well, and her stories and her witty Jewish humor made things a little more bearable again for me.
July 4, 2025
the people who are calling her a bitch must clearly not have read the same book as me 😭 I love her voice, reading this felt like i was gossiping with somebody over coffee. and the fact that it took so long to get her cancer actually diagnosed really shows how women are really dismissed by doctors and medical professionals.
September 1, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
August 17, 2013
I noticed that Cancer Schmancer was an improvement from Enter Whining, Drescher's first memoir, published only a few years before. (Also, this may be a tall demand, but please, can I have a third memoir? What happened with John? Helloooo?) Anyway, the key factor of the improvement is simply that Cancer Schmancer feels more honest. As a result, it's darker, though not at the expense of losing any of Fran's humorous colloquial banter throughout the book. (I can understand how this would annoy some readers, because she does take it to an extreme, but I personally didn't find that it detracted from the story at all.) The honesty of the memoir makes it more engrossing, though it is a short, easy read.
It was interesting to note that Drescher admits several times in Cancer Schmancer that the truths that she expressed in Enter Whining didn't hold true after the few years following the release of the first memoir. The most powerful example of this is the contrast between her confidence in having moved on completely from the 1985 burlglary and rape, and her recognizing how deeply traumatized she was by the rape later on. Her insights on her divorce are also startlingly frank -- she admits to unhealthy codependency and immaturity.
Perhaps because I've only seen Drescher in "The Nanny," I haven't experienced these changes in outlook, even from the distance of a fan. I didn't expect the sudden maturity and growth evident in Cancer Schmancer's author. The two memoirs represent her growth, although I would recommend skipping over the more kitschy Enter Whining (complete with a billion family photos) and just reading Cancer Schmancer, even for fans.
It was interesting to note that Drescher admits several times in Cancer Schmancer that the truths that she expressed in Enter Whining didn't hold true after the few years following the release of the first memoir. The most powerful example of this is the contrast between her confidence in having moved on completely from the 1985 burlglary and rape, and her recognizing how deeply traumatized she was by the rape later on. Her insights on her divorce are also startlingly frank -- she admits to unhealthy codependency and immaturity.
Perhaps because I've only seen Drescher in "The Nanny," I haven't experienced these changes in outlook, even from the distance of a fan. I didn't expect the sudden maturity and growth evident in Cancer Schmancer's author. The two memoirs represent her growth, although I would recommend skipping over the more kitschy Enter Whining (complete with a billion family photos) and just reading Cancer Schmancer, even for fans.
August 3, 2009
It was good to read about someone else going through this - but I couldn't really relate to her experience, as I'm not a celebrity, and (as she takes pains to remind us) she is. One interesting thing is she had cancer for two years before being diagnosed, to my 3-6 months, and it was still stage one.
February 29, 2012
Read this years befor ei was diagnoised. I know have a very different appreciation for this book and Fran!
August 22, 2012
The real "Nanny" well written Fran had her struggles. If you like her on TV, you will love her in print. As a cancer survivor this book was inspirational. Very enjoyable.
January 10, 2022
fran drescher very openly discusses her journey to finally getting diagnosed with uterine cancer after two years of multiple doctors, misdiagnoses and mistreatments, her surgery and post-op recovery.
she goes into detail both about the medical process as well as her personal life, where she covers the ending of her marriage, the nanny, and the passing of her dog, chester. she also briefly touches on past traumas that she covered in her first book "enter whining", such as the break-in into her home and her rape, and how that affected her life and her marriage.
what i loved about fran's memoirs is that she's really open about everything: nothing is embarrassing, and she's also very open about her own faults and mistakes, when she wasn't the best person, as well as discussing her journey through years of therapy.
insightful and charming, with fran's recognizable humor.
she goes into detail both about the medical process as well as her personal life, where she covers the ending of her marriage, the nanny, and the passing of her dog, chester. she also briefly touches on past traumas that she covered in her first book "enter whining", such as the break-in into her home and her rape, and how that affected her life and her marriage.
what i loved about fran's memoirs is that she's really open about everything: nothing is embarrassing, and she's also very open about her own faults and mistakes, when she wasn't the best person, as well as discussing her journey through years of therapy.
insightful and charming, with fran's recognizable humor.
Read
September 9, 2025Another inspiring story from Fran. No points needed. I loved it.
May 5, 2020
TW: Fat shaming
I really enjoyed Fran's first book 'Enter Whining' but did not enjoy this as much. The whole book felt like she was trying to justify or explain her decisions about her marriage, career, boyfriend etc.
As someone chronically ill I would never judge someone else's journey with their health but I was outraged at her bullying of doctors and the medical system, demanding tests and results. I wondered how many people going through similar circumstances were pushed down the waiting list because "she couldn't stand to wait". Most of us don't have the privilege of celebrity to get our way like that.
Fran mentions in passing but never seems to be aware of or delve into her own failings and issues, like pleasing her parents, her relationship with her sister and her relationship with her body, despite being in therapy.
I really enjoyed Fran's first book 'Enter Whining' but did not enjoy this as much. The whole book felt like she was trying to justify or explain her decisions about her marriage, career, boyfriend etc.
As someone chronically ill I would never judge someone else's journey with their health but I was outraged at her bullying of doctors and the medical system, demanding tests and results. I wondered how many people going through similar circumstances were pushed down the waiting list because "she couldn't stand to wait". Most of us don't have the privilege of celebrity to get our way like that.
Fran mentions in passing but never seems to be aware of or delve into her own failings and issues, like pleasing her parents, her relationship with her sister and her relationship with her body, despite being in therapy.
November 25, 2009
Fran tells it like it is. She doesn't hold back. She tells you how she found herself to be diagnosed with uterine cancer. She describes her symptoms and how hard it was to get a correct diagnosis and treatment. She went to many different doctors to find out what was wrong with her but they all proclaimed her to be normal, just fine. But she wasn't fine, no sir. She had cancer. She also talks about how she recovered after her surgery and how having cancer affected her and her loved ones. She talks about being a baby and selfish and lets it all hang out, which is one reason why I loved this book. This is a good book to read just to learn about uterine cancer if nothing else, oy!
April 20, 2021
"For two years I walked around with a progressively worsening cancer and none of these doctors, not one, offered me the simple test that ultimately detected it".
"Often, the truly great and valuable lessons we learn in life are learned through pain".
"If you give into this fear it will grow into a phobia".
"When those around you offer to help carry the load, take it for the life-saver it is and simply say thank you".
"You don't want to ask too many people, because you'll always end up with about half who tell you what you want to hear, and half who don't".
"Often, the truly great and valuable lessons we learn in life are learned through pain".
"If you give into this fear it will grow into a phobia".
"When those around you offer to help carry the load, take it for the life-saver it is and simply say thank you".
"You don't want to ask too many people, because you'll always end up with about half who tell you what you want to hear, and half who don't".
July 23, 2010
This book is definately better then the first one (Enter Whinning) - it is a book that is inspiring and funny. Fran Drescher gives some great advice, shares much of her personal emotional experience dealing with cancer and states strongly to not always settle on the first opinion of somebody - to trust in yourself
June 6, 2009
greatttt book!
December 19, 2015
This book made me dislike the author.
February 1, 2016
Augh she's so shallow and self centered! I couldn't finish this, it was that bad. Yuck!
October 13, 2025
Very relatable, down to earth biography of her experience with cancer. Super informative and educational, which she wanted. I thought it was really fun and really earnest, and I could hear her voice come through very well (based on seeing her on TV). I appreciated her openness and honesty with this one!
July 3, 2023
Her story is familiar to mine, except the fact she is famous. It did not take as long for my diagnosis either so I am grateful for that. Just know that if you are not satisfied with the answers you get, you must listen to your inner self, and fight on.
January 7, 2026
it feels insane to rate a woman’s cancer journey…but im giving it 2 stars lol. i love u fran drescher!!! but the prose was hard to read at times. the message is still amazing and holds up, but not my favorite memoir
September 9, 2022
Fran is hilarious and this was easy to relate to as I was also blown off by several gynecologists and doctors for “being too young”
December 11, 2025
I think my favorite part of this book was her voice, she's really funny and comes across really well. The medical information was a little less than perfect but I appreciate what she's trying to do in this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews