Recommended Reading

The books below have been recommended by breast cancer survivors. Since 2000, VBCF has provided grants to Virginia public libraries to purchase up-to-date breast cancer materials. You may be able to check these titles out at your local library. Resources also have a price indicator for a new copy, with $ being below $10, $$ being between $10-$30, and $$$ being above $30.

Medical Books

A Survivor’s Guide to Kicking Cancer’s Ass ($$)
Author: Dena Medes

Be a Survivor: Your Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment ($$)
Author: Vladimir Lange

Breast Cancer: The Complete Guide ($$)
Author: Yashar Hirshaut

Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know – Now ($)
Author: American Cancer Society

Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book (7th Edition) ($$)
Author: Susan Love, MD

Living Well Beyond Breast Cancer: A Survivor’s Guide for When Treatment Ends And the Rest of Your Life Begins ($$)
Authors: Marisa C. Weiss, MD and Ellen Weiss

Navigating Breast Cancer: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, 2nd Edition ($$$)
Author: Lillie Shockney

The 10 Best Questions for Surviving Breast Cancer: The Script You Need to Take Control of Your Health ($$)
Author: Dede Bonner, PhD, Foreword by Marisa C. Weiss, MD

The Breast Cancer Checklist ($$)
Author: Fern Reiss

Your Journey Beyond Breast Cancer: Tools for the Road ($, $$)
Author: Louise B. Lubin PhD

Cookbooks

Betty Crocker Living with Cancer (2nd Edition) ($$)
Author: Kris Ghosh, MD & Linda Carson, MD

The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen – Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery ($$)
Authors: Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson

Non-Medical Books

Anticancer, A New Way of Life ($$)
Author: David Servan-Schreiber

The Adventures of Cancer Bitch ($$)
Author: S. L. Wisenberg

Bald With Fake Boobs: My story of battling breast cancer and the things no one tells you ($$)
Author: Heather Marie Van Cleave

Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls ($$)
Authors: Marybeth Maida and Debbie Kiederer

Cancer Vixen: A True Story ($$)
*also available in Spanish
Author: Marissa Acocella Marchetto

The Dog Lived (and so will I): A Memoir ($$)
Author: Teresa J. Rhyne

Everything Health Guide to Living with Breast Cancer ($$)
Authors: Lucia Giuggio & James A. Stewart

Intimacy After Breast Cancer: A Practical Guide to Dealing with Your Body, Relationships, and Sex ($$)
Author: Gina M. Maisano

No Family History: The Environmental Links to Breast Cancer ($$)
Author: Sabrina McCormick

Pieces of Me ($$)
Author: Veronica Neave

Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women’s Health ($$$)
Author: Gayle A. Sulik

Positive Results: Making the Best Decisions when You’re at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer ($$)
Author: Joi Morris

Promise Me: How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer ($$)
Author: Nancy G. Brinker

Preventive Strikes: Women, Precancer, and Prophylactic Surgery ($$$)
Author: Ilana Lowy

Stop Breast Cancer Before it Starts ($$)
Author: Samuel S. Epstein, MD

Red Sunshine: A Story of Strength and Inspiration from a Doctor Who Survived Stage 3 Breast Cancer ($$)
Author: Kimberly Allison

Soul to Soul: Writings from Dark Places ($$)
Author: Deborah Masel

Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors ($$)
Author: Barbara Delinsky

Where’d I Put My Boobs?: Life Goes on During Breast Cancer ($$)
Author: Sarah Ball

You Can Do This!: Surviving Breast Cancer Without Losing Your Sanity or Your Style ($$)
Authors: Elisha Daniels and Kelley Tuthill

Advanced Cancer

100 Questions & Answers About Advanced and Metastatic Breast Cancer ($$)
Authors: Lillie Shockney, Gary R. Shapiro

Breast Cancer Recurrence and Advanced Disease: Comprehensive Expert Guidance ($$)
Author: Barbara L. Gordon

For Caregivers

For All Caregivers

Things I Wish I’d Known: Cancer Caregivers Speak Out (Second Edition) ($-$$)
Author: Deborah J. Cornwall

When Life Becomes Precious: The Essential Guide for Patients, Loved Ones, and Friends of Those Facing Serious Illness ($-$$)
Author: Elise Babcock

When a Woman You Care About Has Breast Cancer ($)
From Frankly Speaking About Cancer. Order free copy at www.cancersupportcommunity.org

For Husbands, Fathers, and other Male Caregivers

Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond ($$)
Author: Marc Silver

Stand by Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men ($$)
Author: John W. Anderson

To Read Together

Breast Support: If You or Someone You Love has Breast Cancer, You Need This Book ($)
Author: Gwendoline Smith

Couples Confronting Cancer ($$)
Authors: Joy L. Fincannon, R.N., M.S., Katherine V. Bruss, Psy. D.

For Friends

Treat Her Like a Princess: How to Help Your Girlfriend with Breast Cancer ($)
Author: Denise Hazen

For Children

When Mom has cancer

Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer…a hopeful, helpful book for kids ($)
Author: Ellen McVicker

The Goodbye Cancer Garden ($$)
Authors: Janna Matthies; Kristi Valiant

My Mum’s Got Cancer ($)
Authors: Lucy Blunt; Eloise Osborn; Petrea King

Nowhere Hair: Explains Cancer and Chemo to Your Kids ($-$$)
Author: Sue Glader

Okay Mommy, I Will Help You: Oh No! My Mom Has Breast Cancer! ($-$$)
Author: M.N.L Illustrator: Nazia Obaid

When Your Mom Has Cancer: Helping Children Cope at Home and Beyond ($$)(Religious)
Author: Maryann Makekau

12 and up

What’s Up with Bridget’s Mom – Medikidz Explain Breast Cancer ($$)
Author: Kim Chilman-Blair
Young Adults

Breast Cancer Prevention ($$)
Author: Paula Johanson

Life on the Refrigerator Door ($-$$)
Author: Alice Kuipers

Taking Care of Your “Girls”: A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens and In-Betweens ($-$$)
Authors: Marisa Weiss & Isabel Friedman

Grief

Did I Ever Tell You? A Memoir ($-$$)
Author: Genevieve Kingston

Videos

Inheritance (free, https://www.alejandracampoverdi.com/inheritance)
A groundbreaking PBS documentary about hereditary breast cancer and its impact on three women as they undergo life-altering medical procedures in the hope of reducing their genetic risk – and saving their own lives.

In the Family ($$)
Joanna Rudnick, First Run Features

News for the Cure (free online videos)
Susan G. Komen for the Cure in English & Spanish

Tig (available on Netflix)
Documentary about comedian Tig Notaro’s worst year, and life after breast cancer.

Stott Pilates. Pilates for Breast Cancer Rehab ($$)
P. J. O’Clair, Moira Stott-Merrithew; Merrithew Entertainment

Stott Pilates. Breast Cancer Rehab on Equipment ($$)
Merrithew Entertainment