› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Excellent Book to Read (especially for young adults)
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ealbrecht683.
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- March 14, 2016 at 9:13 pm
I found a recommendation for this book on a blog of a young woman going through cancer. I am almost done reading it and I am so glad I found it!
"Everything Changes: Insider's Guide to Cancer in Your 20's and 30's" by Kairol Rosenthal
It's not a guide really, but it's written by a woman who found out she had thyroid cancer at age 27 and decided to write a book made of many different young cancer patient's stories.
This is the description from Amazon:
On a shoestring budget and with tape recorder in hand, Kairol Rosenthal emerged from treatment and hit the road in search of other twenty- and thirtysomething cancer survivors. From the Big Apple to the Bible Belt, she dusted the sugarcoating off of the young adult cancer experience, exposing the gritty and compelling stories of twenty-five complete strangers. The men and women in Everything Changes confess their most vulnerable moments, revealing cancer experiences they never told anyone else—everything from what they thought about at night before going to bed to what they wish they could tell their lovers but were too afraid to.
Being 29 myself, it definitely feels lonely sometimes… all of my friends are getting married, having kids, getting engaged and have never had cancer of any kind. Every day it seems like a new fun life event is happening to someone I know on Facebook… and I'm over here like, yeah I just got my first ultrasound and it wasn't for pregnancy!
Anyway, for anyone else that is young and wants a good book to read to not feel so alone in this cancer world, this is a great one. It's good for all ages, really.
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- March 14, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Jenn, I can see how it could be a very lonely place to be. Glad you found something that is helping you.Did you have your biopsy today?
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- March 14, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Jenn, I can see how it could be a very lonely place to be. Glad you found something that is helping you.Did you have your biopsy today?
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- March 14, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Jenn, I can see how it could be a very lonely place to be. Glad you found something that is helping you.Did you have your biopsy today?
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- March 15, 2016 at 12:43 am
Yes I did. I am a bit sore, resting now with my dog Cooper. Hoping for good results 🙂
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- March 15, 2016 at 12:43 am
Yes I did. I am a bit sore, resting now with my dog Cooper. Hoping for good results 🙂
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- March 15, 2016 at 12:43 am
Yes I did. I am a bit sore, resting now with my dog Cooper. Hoping for good results 🙂
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- March 15, 2016 at 1:25 am
Jenn, sounds like this book is a perfect read for you – and inspiring as the author turned her diagnosis into an adventure of sorts, a cross-country Keroac-like quest for her own Truth. You sold me, I'm buying!
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- March 15, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Hey Jenn!
Thanks for the tip! It is a strange feeling being young with cancer – I was stage I at 29, kind of stage III at 30, and am currently NED stage IV and 32. I am married with kids, but I still share some of the same sentiments as you. It's a tricky thing learning to relate to people once you have cancer. I sometimes have a tough time listening to people's (petty) complaints. I try not to judge and remind myself we now have different life experiences. Here's my favorite story:
I found out I was stage IV a week after my son's birth (I refused to have treatment/scans during my pregnancy so we actually don't know if I was III or IV during). I was treated at Mayo Clinic and they put me on chemo. After I started doing my research, and after many on this board urged me, I switched my care to MD Anderson. This required me to move my family from North Dakota to Texas to go on the combo trial. In TX we lived with my husband's uncle who is quite wealthy. They were very gracious to us, as were their friends. One night they had a dinner party and I was chatting with one of their friends. She was complaining about her $250,000 kitchen remodel. She went on to say, "Oh, you just don't understand…it's THE WORST." Then she paused, looked at me (with my bald head, holding a 3 month old) and turned completely red.
My husband and I still laugh about this. Now that we live in an NED world, it's easy to get caught up in little stuff (although I always feel like I'm looking over my shoulder for that melanoma beast). Sometimes when I'm worried about something measly my husband reminds me it isn't THE WORST. 😉
Ashley
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- March 15, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Hey Jenn!
Thanks for the tip! It is a strange feeling being young with cancer – I was stage I at 29, kind of stage III at 30, and am currently NED stage IV and 32. I am married with kids, but I still share some of the same sentiments as you. It's a tricky thing learning to relate to people once you have cancer. I sometimes have a tough time listening to people's (petty) complaints. I try not to judge and remind myself we now have different life experiences. Here's my favorite story:
I found out I was stage IV a week after my son's birth (I refused to have treatment/scans during my pregnancy so we actually don't know if I was III or IV during). I was treated at Mayo Clinic and they put me on chemo. After I started doing my research, and after many on this board urged me, I switched my care to MD Anderson. This required me to move my family from North Dakota to Texas to go on the combo trial. In TX we lived with my husband's uncle who is quite wealthy. They were very gracious to us, as were their friends. One night they had a dinner party and I was chatting with one of their friends. She was complaining about her $250,000 kitchen remodel. She went on to say, "Oh, you just don't understand…it's THE WORST." Then she paused, looked at me (with my bald head, holding a 3 month old) and turned completely red.
My husband and I still laugh about this. Now that we live in an NED world, it's easy to get caught up in little stuff (although I always feel like I'm looking over my shoulder for that melanoma beast). Sometimes when I'm worried about something measly my husband reminds me it isn't THE WORST. 😉
Ashley
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- March 15, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Hey Jenn!
Thanks for the tip! It is a strange feeling being young with cancer – I was stage I at 29, kind of stage III at 30, and am currently NED stage IV and 32. I am married with kids, but I still share some of the same sentiments as you. It's a tricky thing learning to relate to people once you have cancer. I sometimes have a tough time listening to people's (petty) complaints. I try not to judge and remind myself we now have different life experiences. Here's my favorite story:
I found out I was stage IV a week after my son's birth (I refused to have treatment/scans during my pregnancy so we actually don't know if I was III or IV during). I was treated at Mayo Clinic and they put me on chemo. After I started doing my research, and after many on this board urged me, I switched my care to MD Anderson. This required me to move my family from North Dakota to Texas to go on the combo trial. In TX we lived with my husband's uncle who is quite wealthy. They were very gracious to us, as were their friends. One night they had a dinner party and I was chatting with one of their friends. She was complaining about her $250,000 kitchen remodel. She went on to say, "Oh, you just don't understand…it's THE WORST." Then she paused, looked at me (with my bald head, holding a 3 month old) and turned completely red.
My husband and I still laugh about this. Now that we live in an NED world, it's easy to get caught up in little stuff (although I always feel like I'm looking over my shoulder for that melanoma beast). Sometimes when I'm worried about something measly my husband reminds me it isn't THE WORST. 😉
Ashley
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- March 15, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Thanks for that story, I very much relate to moments like that!
My whole family (except my dad) are in South Dakota, and I am in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am so grateful I did not move back to SD some years ago because finding a melanoma specialist would have been MUCH harder!
Glad to hear you are NED and life is feeling pretty normal, hope that continues for many many many more years!
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- March 15, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Thanks for that story, I very much relate to moments like that!
My whole family (except my dad) are in South Dakota, and I am in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am so grateful I did not move back to SD some years ago because finding a melanoma specialist would have been MUCH harder!
Glad to hear you are NED and life is feeling pretty normal, hope that continues for many many many more years!
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- March 15, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Thanks for that story, I very much relate to moments like that!
My whole family (except my dad) are in South Dakota, and I am in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am so grateful I did not move back to SD some years ago because finding a melanoma specialist would have been MUCH harder!
Glad to hear you are NED and life is feeling pretty normal, hope that continues for many many many more years!
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- March 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Yeah, it is tough living in a more remote area. I actually would have been better off listening to my doctor in a very small hospital in ND, as he recommended ipi after my progression. But everyone here just goes to Mayo when they have cancer. I thought that was what I needed to do. I'm so happy the folks on this board steered me towards finding a true specialist!
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- March 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Yeah, it is tough living in a more remote area. I actually would have been better off listening to my doctor in a very small hospital in ND, as he recommended ipi after my progression. But everyone here just goes to Mayo when they have cancer. I thought that was what I needed to do. I'm so happy the folks on this board steered me towards finding a true specialist!
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- March 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Yeah, it is tough living in a more remote area. I actually would have been better off listening to my doctor in a very small hospital in ND, as he recommended ipi after my progression. But everyone here just goes to Mayo when they have cancer. I thought that was what I needed to do. I'm so happy the folks on this board steered me towards finding a true specialist!
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- March 15, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Yep, same is true for my family, major health stuff and they are off to MN. They have great doctors where they are but back when my niece was just a year old and we found out she had a massive tumor taking over one of her kidneys, my brother and his wife basically lived in MN for her surgery and chemo treatments. She's going to turn 13 this year and is an amazing kid… definitely those at Mayo did wonders but when it comes to specialized care, we gotta do what we gotta do. So glad you found this forum and got yourself a good specialist!
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- March 15, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Yep, same is true for my family, major health stuff and they are off to MN. They have great doctors where they are but back when my niece was just a year old and we found out she had a massive tumor taking over one of her kidneys, my brother and his wife basically lived in MN for her surgery and chemo treatments. She's going to turn 13 this year and is an amazing kid… definitely those at Mayo did wonders but when it comes to specialized care, we gotta do what we gotta do. So glad you found this forum and got yourself a good specialist!
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- March 15, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Yep, same is true for my family, major health stuff and they are off to MN. They have great doctors where they are but back when my niece was just a year old and we found out she had a massive tumor taking over one of her kidneys, my brother and his wife basically lived in MN for her surgery and chemo treatments. She's going to turn 13 this year and is an amazing kid… definitely those at Mayo did wonders but when it comes to specialized care, we gotta do what we gotta do. So glad you found this forum and got yourself a good specialist!
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- April 18, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Hi Jenn and Ashley,
I am very interested in your advice when it comes to MD Anderson vs Mayo. I was originally diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in June 2016 (when I was 32 years old). I had surgery and removed it, and had clean pet scans every 6 months until now. They found 5 melanoma spots on my lung and one on my pelvic area. I am going to be starting Yervoy/Optivo at Mayo in Rochester, MN in the next couple of days. My Grandfather reached out to me about considering MD Anderson, as he has survied prostate and pancreatic cancer. He said MD Anderson is #1 for cancer. I lived an hour and half from Mayo, which I feel very fortunate that it makes it very doable, as I will be getting IV treatments every 3 weeks. I was thinking of maybe seeing if I could go to MD Anderson for a 2nd opinion. Maybe they have clinical studies available. Just struck my interest when I read your response above. I am new to all these support groups. I never looked into them the last time. It definitely is nice to be able to have people that can relate and understand how you're feeling!
Ellie
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- March 17, 2016 at 10:13 am
K. Thank you!! I am the mom of a stage 4 18 yr old who I can't communicate with at all! It's heartbreaking. I know he talks to NO ONE! He feels a new lump and keeps it to himself until we are at an appointment. He sits alone in his room half his life now. His future was stolen by cancer. He is more tired than his mom. He can't go do many things due to fear of the sun……I need this book! Thank you!!
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- March 17, 2016 at 10:13 am
K. Thank you!! I am the mom of a stage 4 18 yr old who I can't communicate with at all! It's heartbreaking. I know he talks to NO ONE! He feels a new lump and keeps it to himself until we are at an appointment. He sits alone in his room half his life now. His future was stolen by cancer. He is more tired than his mom. He can't go do many things due to fear of the sun……I need this book! Thank you!!
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- March 17, 2016 at 3:59 pm
I noticed through the stories in the book that keeping things to themselves was common. It's so hard being young and dealing with cancer. It all feels so unfair. My heart goes out to you and Jake.
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- March 17, 2016 at 3:59 pm
I noticed through the stories in the book that keeping things to themselves was common. It's so hard being young and dealing with cancer. It all feels so unfair. My heart goes out to you and Jake.
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- March 17, 2016 at 3:59 pm
I noticed through the stories in the book that keeping things to themselves was common. It's so hard being young and dealing with cancer. It all feels so unfair. My heart goes out to you and Jake.
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- March 17, 2016 at 10:13 am
K. Thank you!! I am the mom of a stage 4 18 yr old who I can't communicate with at all! It's heartbreaking. I know he talks to NO ONE! He feels a new lump and keeps it to himself until we are at an appointment. He sits alone in his room half his life now. His future was stolen by cancer. He is more tired than his mom. He can't go do many things due to fear of the sun……I need this book! Thank you!!
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- April 18, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Jenn,
I may be just completely missing it – but what is the title / author for the book you are reccommending? I didn't see that part.
Thanks!
Ellie
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