Marie de Haan--wife, mother of three, piano teacher, songwriter, and writer--was leading an impossibly busy life. All of that changed when she was blindsided by a diagnosis of Stage III "locally advanced" breast cancer.She got even busier.From chemotherapy and surgery to battles with the insurance company, tussles with her naturopath over the consumption of sugar to internal debate over whether or not to endure radiation, Cancer Is a Funny Thing details how Marie handles these issues with humor and grace. And Haagen-Dazs Mint Chip ice cream.
My cancer journey began with a diagnosis of stage four metastatic breast cancer. So I decided that I needed to do something helpful and fun with the rest of my life. I began studying everything that happened to me. I hope you'll join me on this quest and I really hope you'll laugh!!
Marie de Haan - wife, mother of three, piano teacher, songwriter, and writer - was leading an impossibly busy life. All of that changed when she was blindsided by a diagnosis of Stage III "locally advanced" breast cancer. She got even busier. From chemotherapy and surgery to battles with the insurance company, tussles with her naturopath over the consumption of sugar to internal debate over whether or not to endure radiation, Cancer Is a Funny Thing details how Marie handles these issues with humor and grace. And Haagen-Dazs Mint Chip ice cream.
“I’ve been single for so long, I’ve started having sexual fantasies about my vibrator," riffs Karla for her captive, cancer-ward audience. The patients—her mother, who’s recovering from surgery for ovarian cancer, and her roommate behind the curtain, aren’t laughing—or even awake—but there’s someone else in the room . . .In Halley Feiffer’s “ painfully irresistible" (The New York Times) new play, a foul-mouthed twenty-something comedian and a middle-aged man embroiled in a nasty divorce are brought together unexpectedly when their cancer-stricken mothers become roommates in the hospital. Together, this unlikely duo must negotiate some of life’s biggest challenges . . . while making some of the world’s most inappropriate jokes. Can these two very lost people learn to laugh through their pain and lean on each other when all they really want to do is run away? In A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City, Halley Feiffer slays in a work that’s dark and disturbing and yet totally hilarious. The acclaimed world premiere at MCC Theater featured Beth Behrs, Erik Lochtefeld, Lisa Emery, and Jacqueline Sydney, and was directed by Trip Cullman.
A diagnosis of cancer will certainly get your attention. Your goals and expectations are going to change. The things that happen to you are so outrageously outside the norm, they get to be funny. In my case, I found that embracing the humor gave me a little separation between the person I've always been and the person this disease was turning me into. It also helped me find my way back. The Funny Thing About Bladder Cancer is my look back at the journey from health into sickness and finally back to health. I explore the doubt and fear of the early revelation, but also how acknowledging the ridiculous aspect of the situation help keep the fear in check.
Marie de Haan - wife, mother of three, piano teacher, song-writer, and writer-is back again, snarky as ever. Cancer Is a Funny Thing: Reconstructing My Life is the heartwarming follow-up to Marie's memoir about her breast cancer diagnosis, and details here pursuit of joy and purpose in the midst of continued treatment and healing.Diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer at the age of 42, Marie was given a poor prognosis. Putting on her big-girl panties, she endured surgery and chemotherapy, albeit kicking and screaming. At visits to the naturopath, the battle continued over her consumption of sugar. In between all of her doctor appointments and infusions, Marie started a cancer blog, which covers such subjects as poop, boobies, and sex.Now, as if six doctors wasn't enough, she agonizes about adding a plastic surgeon-to perform a breast reconstruction-to the mix, all the while trying to stay on top of medical bills, lose weight, fulfill her dream of meeting Fran Drescher, and accomplish her never-ending to-do list. She handles all of these issues with humor and grace. And Haagen-Dazs Rocky Road ice cream.Marie de Haan lives near Seattle with her husband and one to three children at any given time. In addition to teaching piano and writing books, she regularly embarrasses herself on her cancer blog.
A year-long regimen of chemotherapy and radiotherapy wasn't quite what Luke Ryan had in mind when he turned 22. Especially having been through the same rigmarole when he was 11! Needless to say, Luke Ryan is eyeing off 33 warily. There's only one course of action to take after you've fought off cancer twice - stand-up comedy. Growing out of a sell-out show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo is a warm-hearted and hilarious memoir from someone who has laughed in the face of more adversity than most of us would face in a lifetime. Luke's is a life marked by cancer, not defined by it. These are stories of growing up, getting sick, getting better, getting sick again, dating while bald, keeping your semen in the freezer and living life to the full.
This book is the opposite of a misery memoir and is certainly safe to give to cancer patients as a cheerful present. More importantly, it sheds new light on:• Why Kim Kardashian is worth Keeping Up With• What playlists to make for MRI scans• The truth behind the legend of Medea• Bikini etiquette on a deserted beach• What to do with a glut of rainbow chard• What an Oscar-winner should say in an acceptance speech• How to deal with cold-callers selling life insurance• And what to wear on a March Against Menopause (layers, obviously)
A year - long regimen of chemotherapy and radiotherapy wasn't quite what Luke Ryan had in mind when he turned 22. Especially having been through the same rigmarole when he was 11. Luke's is a life marked by cancer, not defined by it. These are tales of growing up, getting sick, getting better, getting sick again, dating while bald, keeping your ...
