Not the Breast Year of My Life: Finding Hope and Resilience After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

This book is a must-read, and not just for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. As a middle-aged male whose knowledge of breast cancer was quite limited prior to reading Cara's book, I learned a tremendous amount about what patients go through.... the ups and downs; the emotional swings; and the resilience it takes to beat such an awful disease. Cara's writing is so detailed, so honest, that it feels like you are right there in the room with her. Her book managed to be simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. It will inspire you to live every day to the fullest, and to never take life for granted.

Having just finished treatment for the same type and stage of cancer, I could relate to every word in this book. Cara’s writing is raw and relatable. Her story brought tears to my eyes as I relived my own experience alongside hers. Thank you for putting it all into words. May you continue to lead a long, beautiful, purposeful, snuggle-filled life.

I read this from start to finish in one sitting, because I could not put it down. Cara drew me in with her honesty, her wit, and her relatability, and I found myself feeling the whole range of emotions as I turned the pages. This book is a lifeline for those in the “darkest days” of a new diagnosis, as well as a guidebook for those wondering how to best help and support a loved one battling this dreadful disease. Cara doesn’t hold back in sharing the good, the bad, and the very ugly when it comes to breast cancer treatment, but it feels like it’s coming from the best friend who is just looking out for you and holding your hand through it all, rather than from some nameless person who is trying to scare you with statistics. I will be wholeheartedly recommending this book to everyone I know. Thanks for putting this wonderful book out into the universe, Cara.

Cara’s story is brave and raw. She doesn’t sugarcoat her experience so that people at the beginning of their fight know what they can expect, people in the middle of the fight find solidarity or people at the end can look back and know they weren’t alone. She tells the story of her breast cancer journey in the midst of two other significant life and global events. Cara doesn’t bog down the truth with hard-to-understand medical terms and a bunch of statistics. Reading this book was like sitting with a friend who was telling me the ups and downs - the tragedies and triumphs - the get down and trudge forward of it all that led to a new found resilience, power and grace. This truth is a must for anyone going through this personally or a friend or loved one watching someone go through this. Her story will leave you feel empowered, educated and rooting for what’s next.

My friend was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of months ago. I bought her this book to help her navigate this difficult time in her life. She LOVES it! It’s helped her mentally be ready for what’s happening. Funny, serious, informative! Thank you guys for sharing.

It is very difficult to find the right words to describe Cara’s book because I want to do it justice. This book is not a one time read. It is a tool you will use as you stumble through your breast cancer journey; a journey that never ends once it begins. Cara’s journey is selfless, inspirational, deep…anyone who has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer will read this book and feel that this book was written about them. Dark Days, The Chair, the storm, the wind, Godwink, health insurance anxiety, and the overwhelming obstacle of moving forward after treatment and surgery. Cara, thank you!

Cara's journey through triple negative breast cancer is heart-wrenching, uplifting, and yet pragmatic. As a mother of two young children, her singular focus was to survive the deadliest form of this terrible disease. She poignantly describes her journey through a devastating diagnosis, brutal treatment, and tentative recovery. As she says, "Breast cancer is a thief...it is NOT pink ribbons, and it is NOT fair." Cara notes how denial of critical tests by her insurance company made her path unnecessarily more difficult. And yet, she became surrounded by a "tribe" of women who enriched her life during a terrible time and continue to do so as she navigates through recovery. This book is a must read for every woman who has or knows someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Have your tissues ready!

The author has a gift of articulating her journey. She captured the emotions of initial diagnosis, stages of treatment both physically and emotionally, and helpful insights for those not experiencing it first hand. This book has helped me to understand what my friend is going through and how best to support her.