Cancer is indiscriminate. It cares little for class, creed, or color. Its victims and their caregivers are everywhere. When Laura Holmes Haddad was diagnosed with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer at age thirty-seven, she discovered shelf upon shelf of overly earnest, somber survival books instead of the straight talk she needed. She knew there had to be a better way.

This Is Cancer is the thoughtful, informative, and sometimes entertaining result for those who prefer their pathos with equal parts humor, reality, and a touch of flair. A “what to expect when you’re expecting” book for the diagnosis you don’t want but are stuck with, This Is Cancer is the book that patients keep in their “heading to the hospital bag,” because it’s the only one that tells them what’s going on and keeps them company.

Included here are such useful snippets as the following:

There is no limit to what you will put yourself through when told it might save your life.Stay away from the Internet, and don’t let anyone tell you what they looked up about your diagnosis.You’ll be surrounded by people, but sometimes you’ll feel lonely and alone.Lexapro is Tylenol for the soul.If you don’t like your doctors, find new ones. You will feel somewhat at the mercy of them, like they hold the key to your mortality, but in fact, more than one doctor can potentially save you, and some are nice and some are mean.

Whether you or your loved ones want a primer full of useful information in an easy-to-reference format or a friendly and comforting read with honest, comforting, and darkly funny tips, This Is Cancer provides the real intel and advice that you need most during this tremendously difficult time.