As October is the month for breast cancer awareness, I thought it would be fitting to write a review on a book about one person's journey dealing with breast cancer. I will be reviewing Amy Robach's book, Better.
Amy Robach is news journalist on ABC's Good Morning America. As you may know, she discovered she had breast cancer when she agreed to have an on-air mammogram to help raise awareness for the cause on October 1, 2013. She tells in her book how she was reluctant to have the mammogram when her producers first approached her. They asked her to think about it before she gave a definite "no" response. So she talked to her family about it and still said no. When she told her producers the reason she didn't want to participate was because she was only 40, had no family history of breast cancer and had no connection to the cause (other than her main job on GMA was to backfill for Robin Roberts who was being treated for a secondary cancer caused by the treatment she received from her breast cancer diagnosis). They once again asked her to think about it some more. So she did. She talked to Robin Roberts, someone she didn't know well at the time, about it. When Robin told her that 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease, Amy relented and agreed to have the mammogram live.
However, she still felt maybe she wasn't the right person to do this and felt it necessary to explain her decision to the public prior to stepping into the mammovan for the mammogram. In her pre-taped piece she explained that this was not something she wanted to do but that she was doing it in the hopes that someone else might see it and realize they should or could do it as well.
Shortly thereafter, because she had done this and a few necessary follow up tests, she found out she had breast cancer.
In the book she goes into detail about all of the tests and doctors appointments she went to. She talks about how sick she felt during treatment and how hard some days were to get through. She describes how uncomfortable it was to go from telling the story to being the story. Yet despite that, she did tell the story because she felt it was an important message. Here she had been very reluctant to have the mammogram that revealed she had cancer. It's a powerful message.
Amy really opens up in the book about what she went through but it's obvious that she's still not comfortable being completely vulnerable in this. She did go into detail what she was feeling at particular times but I had hoped she would reveal more. I realize it is very personal and not really anyone's business but something I had hoped she would discuss was how what she went through affected her intimate relationship with her husband. I remember when Ann Jillian was diagnosed with breast cancer 20+ years ago and how it initially had a very negative impact on her intimate relationship with her husband (per the movie made about it in which Ann starred in so I believe it's credible). Amy didn't delve that deeply into what she covered and I think it would be beneficial to women who go through this and read her story.
The other thing I would like to mention about her story is, I watched GMA a lot when she was going through treatment and I remember thinking she must've been fast-tracked on the treatment (not that there is a fast-track that I know of) because she looked great and I figured she had to have completed treatment, when in fact she was still getting treatment. I remember specific episodes where I thought that and some of those specific episodes are mentioned in the book - as hard days to get through because she was so sick.
Amy is a true survivor and after having read her book I have so much admiration for her and how strong she is. She was scheduled to cover the Olympics in Russia during her treatment. Her family and doctors said that might not be the best idea but she had determined that cancer wasn't going to take anything else away from her so in between treatments, she covered the Olympics! Such an amazing person, with a strong message . . . just because you don't have a family history of breast cancer doesn't mean you shouldn't get checked out. There always has to be the first one.
Even if it wasn't breast cancer awareness month, I would recommend this book. It was an engaging, easy read . . . I didn't want to put it down.
For more book reviews, go to www.barriesummy.blogspot.com.
