The Cancer Survivors Club

June 1, 2015
English journalist and cancer survivor Geiger anthologizes his columns, which ran in the U.K.'s Independent newspaper, about battling the disease, presented alongside others' accounts of cancer diagnoses and treatments. When this collection first appeared, in self-published form, it became popular among cancer survivors, and this edition (which has not been altered) will likewise be a source of solace for cancer patients and their families. The appeal of the book, which begins with Geiger's own story of undergoing two years of treatment, lies in the numerous examples of people who fought cancer and won. It also provides a cautionary note, with two typical entries involving young, seemingly healthy people who were diagnosed while visiting the doctor for, respectively, flu-like symptoms and a bout of indigestion caused by spicy noodles. Nearly every selection is written in a plain, confessional manner appropriate for a support group meeting, which should make the book feel even more relevant and inspiring both for survivors and those currently contending with cancer. The intercalary chapters in which Geiger reprints his columns provide injections of heartwarming, humorous insight into an otherwise somber volume. Each story and column is brief, to the point, and free of difficult medical terminology, ensuring an accessible read for those who will most benefit from it.

June 15, 2015

This book became a best seller when it was self-published. Geiger, an award-winning journalist and cancer survivor, brings together a collection of 23 stories from Cancer Survivor Club members, with the first one from Geiger. The majority of contributors are adults, who write about the shock of diagnosis, the treatments they endure, how their family and friends supported them through their illness, and what they have learned from their battle. In between the accounts are a few of Geiger's newspaper columns related to the disease. He also includes a cancer awareness article that broke a Guinness World Record by being published in several hundred newspapers worldwide. The book fittingly ends with a survivors' update. VERDICT An inspiring compilation for anyone struggling with cancer. Readers will find comfort and even a few laughs in the pages. A note: this book is from the UK; the survivors refer to the nation's National Health Service, and the list of cancer-related websites and blogs is mostly from the UK.--Rebecca Raszewski, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Chicago

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