A 2nd Act: Cancer Survivors Changing the Question from "Why me?" to "What's next!"

by Judith L. Pearson

When the tsunami of medical treatments end, cancer survivors often feel as though they’re drowning in physical and emotional collateral damage from the disease. But there is “HEALING IN HELPING.” The book you’re holding will introduce you to ordinary, EXTRAORDINARY women survivors who, by helping others, are healing themselves. These stories, shared with live audiences, come from curated performances of Survivors Tell A Real Story Woman by woman, city by city, we’re changing survivors’ life focus from “WHY ME?” to “WHAT’S NEXT!”

262 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2019

About the author

Best-selling and award winning author Judy Pearson’s career began in a tree: a wonderful old maple in her parents’ backyard, with a perfect branch on which to sit and write. Now hundreds of thousands of words later, this Michigan native’s voice is still inspiring!

Judy is a graduate of Michigan State University and has newspaper, magazine, online articles, and five books to her credit. She is also a much-requested presenter and speaker. But her favorite title is “story teller,” as exemplified by the biographies she writes.

The late Senator John McCain called her BELLY OF THE BEAST “a searing tribute.” It is the story of a naval corpsman who became one of the first POWs of the Imperial Japanese during WWII, endured a “hell ship” journey, and was one of the last to return home.

Her second biography, WOLVES AT THE DOOR: THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA'S GREATEST FEMALE SPY, is the story of Virginia Hall. She was the architect of the resistance in central France during WWII. Most unbelievable is that Virginia lost her left leg in a pre-war hunting accident. The book is not only a best-seller, but has been purchased for a movie.

Judy’s next book, FROM SHADOWS TO LIFE: A BIOGRAPHY OF THE CANCER SURVIVORSHIP MOVEMENT, is a group biography following five founders and leaders of the movement. These medical heroes brought cancer survivorship to national consciousness. The book won the 2022 Nautilus Gold Award.

CRUSADE TO HEAL AMERICA: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF MARY LASKER - a 2024 Florida Book Award winner - is an absorbing history details the work of fearless and feisty Mary Lasker. Mary led the country’s march to conquer humanity’s most feared maladies, and was responsible for building governmental financial support for medical research. Her coup de grace was the National Cancer Act, born in the midst of political intrigue and fueling billions of dollars into research.

Judy's most recent publication is RADICAL SISTERS, which follows Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, Evelyn Lauder, a the dawn of the breast cancer movement. These trail-blazing advocates never met, but boldly used their breast cancer diagnoses to radically change the social and medical landscape.

Judy was named one of Chicago’s Most Inspirational Women and a Phoenix Healthcare Hero, and was a finalist for the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Award.