It's Not About the Hair: And Other Certainties of Life and Cancer

"A friend going through breast cancer told me about this book. I got it from the library and could not put it down. Debra Jarvis is a chaplain at a well respected Cancer clinic in Seattle, and in a twist of irony, she is diagnosed with cancer (one week after her mother's similar diagnosis.)

(Reviewer disclosure: I do not have cancer, nor am I religious.)
Jarvis puts "God" in a perspective to which even I can relate.

Sounds like it might be dark, but Jarvis's humor, wisdom, faith and grace are both enlightened and hysterical. She has a wicked sense of humor. I've since bought this book for several people and will continue to. If you're having a tough time, due to health, emotional or any other worries and can't seem to see past the dark clouds, I highly recommend this book. She is inspiring and the book is a gift.



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~ Written on 2008-09-11

"This book is written in such a personable manner, I felt like I was making a friend while reading the book. The way Debra deals with painful and scary situations with humor and caring diffuse the negative emotions attached to cancer, hospitals and dying. I was really impressed with how she integrated different styles of spirituality into a practice that sounds flexible and comfortable. I am not an active church goer anymore, but Debra's welcoming acceptance of others and continuing search for answers for the big questions in life gave me interest in more actively pursuing a spiritual life. She gives me hope that I will some day find a spiritual community to grow with."
~ Written on 2008-07-18

"Debra Jarvis has the perspective few other cancer patients have: that of a cancer patient and cancer chaplain. When I think of "chaplain", I imagine a older gentleman with a collar and a bible, ready to read me my last rites; Debra is the antithesis of this. She is a young, funny woman with a surprisingly secular approach to God, and she is able to minister to people with cancer in a way that touches everyone. And when she is diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, her reactions and emotions strike a nerve as genuinely human and real -- her training as a chaplain doesn't give her any special superhuman strength to deal with it more than any of her patients.

This book is a great insight into a cancer patient's journey, especially for a loved one or caregiver. When a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, I think this book was as helpful for her as it was for me in learning to speak about it. Just like a great film, this book will make you laugh and cry, but ultimately uplift the experience of cancer and shine light on the dark shadows that surround it."
~ Written on 2008-04-06

"I found this book while browsing in a bookstore early in my chemotherapy adventure. In many ways it helped me survive the ordeal. The writing is wonderful--engaging, humorous, realistic, and at times heart-wrenching. There are many "this is how I survived cancer" books around, but this one is different somehow. It meant so much to me, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis."
~ Written on 2008-03-02

"This is a MUST BUY book! It is an amazing story told by an amazing woman. You will laugh, you may cry, and I guarantee your heart will be touched as you hear her story of cancer and how she dealt with it. Her emails describing encounters with pills and doctors will make you laugh. Debra understands cancer from both sides, that of a patient and as a Chaplain who counsels people. If your life has ever been touched by cancer, you will benefit from reading this book. Joe Barnes, Pacific Science Center, Seattle. "
~ Written on 2007-12-28