Books for people with lived experience of cancer

Reading can be a meaningful way of exploring experiences of cancer, grief, loss, and change. When we are going through something difficult, finding the words to describe what we are feeling is not always easy. Books can sometimes help us make sense of emotions that may feel confusing, overwhelming, or difficult to explain. Reading about characters or people who have experienced illness, uncertainty, loss, or significant change can also create a sense of recognition and connection, reminding us that we are not the only ones to experience these feelings.

In this way, books can offer different perspectives on the experience of cancer and on the many forms of grief and loss that can accompany it. Some stories focus directly on illness or treatment, while others explore themes such as changes to the body, identity, relationships, uncertainty, hope, love, resilience, and finding meaning when life does not unfold as expected. You may find yourself relating to a character, a particular experience, or even just a sentence that puts into words something you have been feeling. Sometimes, seeing an experience reflected in a story can help us feel more able to name, understand, or make space for our own.

At the same time, reading does not always have to be a way of engaging with difficult experiences. There may be moments when you simply do not want to think about cancer or grief, and reading can offer a welcome pause. Entering another world through a story can provide a temporary escape from difficult thoughts and emotions, creating space for rest, imagination, or simply a moment of normality (in this case check out the Book Library). You can choose what you read, when you read it, and how much you want to engage with it. If a particular book feels too difficult, brings up emotions you are not ready to face, or simply does not feel right for you at the moment, it is completely okay to stop reading and return to it later — or choose something else.

With this in mind, the books included in this section have been selected to offer a range of perspectives and experiences related to cancer, grief, loss, and change. Some may help you feel understood or put words to an experience that has been difficult to express; others may offer companionship, comfort, or simply a moment away from it all. There is no particular order in which they need to be read, and no expectation that every book will feel right for you. Explore them at your own pace and choose the stories that feel most meaningful, comforting, or relevant to you.