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Information is power, and that couldn’t be more true for the 1.6 million Americans who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Although this disease is the second most common cancer in women, it is highly complex and individual — and with recent oncological advancements like genomic testing, our understanding of how to prevent, diagnose, and treat it is deepening at a rapid pace. The social and emotional dimensions of breast cancer are also woefully under-explored. When faced with a scary, life-changing diagnosis, it can be comforting to hear stories from people who have undergone breast cancer treatment and emerged more resilient than ever.
Below, we’ve rounded up 12 books about breast cancer — including practical guides, heartfelt memoirs, and incisive cultural commentary — that will broaden your understanding of this disease. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, know someone who has, or simply want to educate yourself, there’s something for you on this list.
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‘Beat Breast Cancer Like a Boss’ by Ali Rogin
Image Credit: Amazon Beat Breast Cancer Like a Boss is a compilation of 30 interviews about breast cancer conducted and condensed by Ali Rogin, an award-winning journalist of PBS Newshour fame. With poignant stories of pain and triumph from prominent survivors like Edie Falco, Sheryl Crow, and Athena Jones, this book is perfect for anyone seeking inspiration in their breast cancer journey. It’s also a deeply personal endeavor for Rogin, who faced life-altering uncertainty herself when she learned that she has the BRCA1 genetic mutation at age 20.
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‘Not the Breast Year of My Life’ by Cara Sapida
Image Credit: Amazon Cara Sapida, an award-winning broadcast journalist, chronicles her breast cancer journey with frankness and humor in her debut memoir Not the Breast Year of My Life. She tackles everything from going through chemotherapy to navigating a divorce. Although the tale she unfolds is full of challenges, Sapida reminds readers of the power of hope and resilience. It’s no wonder this candid memoir became the number-one bestseller in Amazon’s breast cancer category soon after it was published.
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‘Breasts: The Owner’s Manual’ by Kristi Funk
Image Credit: Amazon A board-certified breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Kristi Funk is best known for treating A-list celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow. Breasts: The Owner’s Manual distills the practical knowledge she’s amassed regarding breast cancer prevention, treatment options, and outcomes. As Dr. Funk notes, “Many women believe that family history and genetics determine who gets breast cancer, but that’s not true for most people.” Her book offers accessible, evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention and recovery, including lifestyle swaps and nutritional guides.
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‘The Breast Cancer Survival Manual’ by John Link
Image Credit: Amazon Dr. John Link is the founder of Breastlink Medical Group and a leading oncologist who specializes in breast cancer treatment. The seventh edition of The Breast Cancer Survival Manual, which was released just this year, draws upon his decades of experience helping patients fight this disease. Dr. Link clearly and thoroughly covers the latest research in the field, including the value of genomic testing, individually tailored treatment plans, and hormone therapy after cancer. It’s an ideal resource for anyone in search of practical, up-to-date information as they navigate treatment or recovery.
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‘Living with Breast Cancer’ by Jennifer A. Shin, David P. Ryan, and Vicki A. Jackson, with Michelle D. Seaton
Image Credit: Amazon The physical effects of breast cancer treatment are well-charted territory. However, fewer resources explore the emotional and psychological dimensions of this disease. In Living with Breast Cancer, Drs. Jennifer A. Shin, David P. Ryan, and Vicki A. Jackson — three active providers at renowned hospital systems who treat cancer patients — tackle the topic from all angles. They clearly and empathetically explain how to grapple with your diagnosis, navigate treatment and possible side effects, and cope with advanced or progressive cancer.
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‘The Middle Place’ by Kelly Corrigan
Image Credit: Amazon Acclaimed writer Kelly Corrigan is host of the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders and the PBS Show Tell Me More. The Middle Place, her New York Times-bestselling memoir, recounts her journey battling breast cancer while caring for her ailing family patriarch, George Corrigan. She occupies the roles of both patient and caregiver, ushering in a two-fold journey of coming into her adult self and revisiting her roots. As sad as some of her personal struggles are, Corrigan chronicles them with humor and grace. It’s a meaningful read for anyone who needs a boost of comfort and hope.
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‘Off Our Chests’ by John Marshall and Liza Marshall
Image Credit: Amazon Off Our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer was coauthored by Dr. John Marshall and Liza Marshall. John is a renowned oncologist at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital; Liza is his wife — and later, a stage-III triple-negative breast cancer patient. Their tell-all memoir explores what it’s like to grapple with a cancer diagnosis and treat the disease from the dual perspectives of caregiver and patient, husband and wife. It was published in 2021 and won the 2022 Living Now Book Award for Health/Wellness.
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‘Radical’ by Kate Pickert
Image Credit: Amazon There aren’t many books out there that discuss breast cancer from a cultural or historical perspective. With Radical: The Science, Culture, and History of Breast Cancer in America, New York Times healthcare journalist Kate Pickert fills that gap. The book pulls from Pickert’s research, reporting, and personal experience battling breast cancer in her 30s. It’s full of fascinating insights into oncological medicine and our nation’s healthcare system that will contextualize anyone’s journey navigating treatment — and shed light on why scientists still haven’t cured this notoriously common and deadly disease.
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‘The Undying’ by Anne Boyer
Image Credit: Amazon In this Pultizer Prize-winning hybrid memoir, poet and essayist Anne Boyer chronicles her harrowing diagnosis with triple-negative breast cancer in her 40s. With its use of illness as metaphor, The Undying: A Meditation on Modern Illness harkens back to the works of other women writers like Audre Lorde and Kathy Acker, who used their craft to make sense of their sickness. It’s an unflinching but comforting read for literary types grappling with the existential questions that surround cancer and mortality.
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‘The Breast Cancer Book’ by Kenneth D. Miller and Melissa Camp, with Kathy Steligo
Image Credit: Amazon Dr. Kenneth D. Miller is an oncologist at the University of Maryland; Dr. Melissa Camp is a breast cancer surgeon with Johns Hopkins. The Breast Cancer Book: A Trusted Guide for You and Your Loved Ones, which they coauthored with the help of Kathy Steligo, is a practical, comprehensive resource geared toward people who’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer. It presents a wide range of treatment options with insights from noted experts in complementary fields, including genetics and radiology. Visual learners, rejoice: This book is chock-full of helpful diagrams, photographs, and illustrations.
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‘Let Me Get This Off My Chest…’ by Margaret Lesh
Image Credit: Amazon Like many women, Margaret Lesh’s life was turned upside down when she got her breast cancer diagnosis. In Let Me Get This Off My Chest…: A Breast Cancer Survivor Over-Shares, the freelance court reporter and novelist gets real about her experience navigating cancer treatment — not once, but twice. Her heartfelt, humorous takes on everything from drug-induced hot flashes to mortality crises will resonate with anyone on a similar journey. Per reviewers, it’s perfect for folks who prefer a more intimate, conversational read.
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‘Flat’ by Catherine Guthrie
Image Credit: Amazon There’s no such thing as a universal breast cancer experience. In Flat: Reclaiming My Body From Breast Cancer, memoirist Catherine Guthrie reminds us of this important truth. Guthrie is a queer woman, and she’d spent years of her life trying to feel at home in her skin. Her two bouts of breast cancer upended this progress — and introduced new issues in her relationship with her life partner, Mary. Flat tackles all of this and more, challenging the hyper-gendered, pink ribbon-laden messaging around breast cancer. (Remember, this disease doesn’t just affect cisgender women.)
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