I'd Rather Do Chemo Than Clean Out the Garage:: Choosing Laughter over Tears

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Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring and Cheering for Anyone with Cancer January 9, 2005
31 out of 31 found this review helpful

I'd Rather Do Chemo by Fran Di Giacomo is an amazing approach to living with the big C. The author is writing from her experience of ten surgeries and many years of intermittent chemo-therapy. She says that in trying to come to terms with her perpetual condition of illness she rebelled against the sappy, optimistic, think positively books and videos after so long and continued to be depressed. Then she discovered that laughter is the very best medicine and surrounded herself with anything that made her laugh...her own therapy. When she found how much better she was able to cope with her illness this way, she decided to write this humorous book, which takes every aspect of the traumas a cancer patient faces and gives a whimsical but realistic twist to them, in order to help other patients survive with laughter. Poking fun at the surgery experience she says she had the idea that with so much paraphynalia in the O.R., she might just disappear and hide under the gurney and see if the doctor's noticed. She also arrives in the O.R. with an autograph book for anyone who has had their hands or instruments in her gut to sign. She tickles the funny bone of her readers over the casserole and chocolate scenarios and what to do with the many flowers friends send. From hair loss to memory loss, she bravely laughs through it all. This book provides therapeutic laughter for cancer patients and is a good read to give insight to their care-givers, family and friends. An excellent gift book for anyone whose life is affected by cancer.

3 out of 5 stars

Purchase with caution January 11, 2007
30 out of 30 found this review helpful

I purchased this book for my mother, who is currently undergoing chemo treatments. Unfortunately, she had a very bad experience with her first cycle and is at a point where she sees nothing about chemo as humorous. After I received the book, I read through it and decided that it was not the right time to give my mom the book. In fact, she would much rather clean the garage than go through chemo. I had related a few of the insights to her, and she didn't appreciate any of them. As all caregivers know (now), each person has their own reaction to chemo - I believe my mom just wasn't at the right stage in her chemo to appreciate the intent of the book. I would suggest that persons purchasing the book seriously consider where the intended recipient is at emotionally in their treatment before passing it on.

1 out of 5 stars

Not worth it March 8, 2007
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

I purchased this shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36. After hearing devastating news like, "You have cancer," I bought tons of books - informational, inspirational and this one. With the warning, "Do not read this book in the immediate postoperative period due to risk of popping a suture or staple closer," I thought this would be one of those "pick-me-up" books helping me to add laugh-therapy to my experience.

What I didn't expect was to be so appalled at this "Chemo Prima Donna" and using her chemo experience and cancer to guilt friends into bringing food and gifts to buying her artwork as part of "sympathy sales". Chapter 2, "Milking it for All It's Worth" about said it all. She even states, "You may declare me a shameless hussy and accuse me of abusing my friends..." Yes, that is exactly what I thought.

Were there parts of the book that made me laugh? After chapter 2 I kept reading hoping to find something that would have justified the $16.95 pricetag. After putting up with 3/4 of the book and finding only one or two very small things that were slightly funny, I decided it wasn't worth my time to finish reading it.

This book may be for some, but for many of us it's not. A good, fun, light-hearted book not cancer related is a much better investment.

5 out of 5 stars

Laughter IS good medicine! January 31, 2006
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

Let's face it: chemotherapy is no joke. There are tons (and I mean TONS) of books out there that tell you what to expect when going through chemo, how to eat, how to be an advocate in your care, and a myriad of other related subjects . But there aren't a lot of books that tell you to laugh. Yes, laugh! Laughter is good for the soul. It helps bring energy and zest to life...even when going through chemotherapy. "I'dd Rather Do Chemo" is a great little book that brings a smile to the face and a chuckle (heck, even a guffaw) even on those dark days. The author, who has faced some very dark days herself, has a wonderful philosophy that one can choose to live a sad and depressed life with cancer, or one can live life to the fullest with laughter and looking at the brighter side of life. And yes there are brighter sides. Do yourself a favor--whether you are a cancer fighter, survivor or caregiver--read this gem of a book. It's a winner.

5 out of 5 stars

Very funny and inspiring May 11, 2004
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

I bought this book to give to my aunt when she came down with cancer. It's actually a really inspiring book. It's not sappy like some books, but light hearted and matter of fact. The tone is like, "Let's make the best of this and have a few laughs!" The author has managed to find joy and humor in life, despite all the surgeries and chemotherapy. I really think this is the perfect gift if you know someone who has cancer.

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