Book Reviews
Mom's Cancer
Brian Fies
ISBN: 978-0-810958-40-1 2006 128 pages Abrams Image, New York
Elizabeth Pascoe
A picture can say a thousand words.
As a society, we are now beginning to understand that coping with cancer does not lie solely within the domain of health care professionals – it is a matter for society too. Roughly, one in four people succumb to cancer and it is likely therefore, during our life - time: that we or someone close to us will be diagnosed with cancer. Coping with cancer therefore needs to be undertaken at a level that all of us can understand. Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies, is a unique and original effort to bring lung cancer in all its aspects to the wider community. The author; through pictures and a virtual child’s eye view, allows lung cancer to be talked about in a manner which most people can understand.
The need to bring cancer into the full view of society is clearly acknowledged by Brian Fies, himself, in the preface subtitle: 'you are not alone’, and he shares that he wrote Mom’s Cancer because he wished that someone had created it for him.
Mom’s Cancer is a graphic novel about one family’s journey with metastatic lung cancer: as seen through the eyes of the author – Brian - Mom’s son. The mastery of this book, without doubt, lies in the manner in which the author shares the physical and emotional journey of living with lung cancer.
I first came across Mom’s Cancer in 2004, when searching the internet for stories posted by people living with lung cancer. The work at that time – anonymously posted – was a work in progress, and I remember being moved by this original method of story- telling. Such was the success of the story, that little more than a year later - in 2005 – Brian Fies was presented with an Eisner Award at the San Diego Comic – Con.
Books written for health professionals are – in the main – written by other health professionals and there is a tendency for illnesses such as cancer to be viewed through a specific set of ‘lenses’. The uniqueness of Mom’s Cancer is that it has something to say to everyone who is dealing with cancer. The use of comic style graphics excludes no –one from the opportunity to ‘walk’ – be they lay or professional - with the characters as they make sense of and deal with Mom’s metastatic lung cancer. The graphic style of presentation gives the reader – uncluttered by words - a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of each of the characters.
One of Brian’s drawings shows him driving – yet again – to the hospital for another round of investigations. The picture shows everyone looking out of the window, avoiding eye contact and with expressions of tiredness and frustration. When I look at the picture, I see myself sitting in the car with them and feeling the same.
Rather than containing chapters; the book cleverly punctuates significant and poignant points in the journey of Mom’s cancer through the use of relevant titles. For example; the book begins with: 'How to diagnose cancer – Step one.’
Mom’s Cancer contains so many messages and I find it hard to not to talk about them all. Probably the most powerful of these is made by Brian himself; when he says that we are the expert when it comes to charting the course of our life. There are many insightful points made in Mom’s Cancer and I would like to share two significant ones with you. The first one highlights the confusion that patient’s and family’s experience when trying to make sense of a diagnosis of cancer. This is beautifully illustrated by Mom when – in her attempt to make sense of what is happening – confusedly asks, 'but what if I speed up my blood flow and it moves brain tumour cells to some other parts of my body?'
The second one focuses on the sub-plot surrounding the issue of smoking. The stigma associated with smoking is powerfully portrayed by Brian; and by Mom herself when she expresses, that smoking – the thing that she is least proud of - is what she is going to be recognised for.
Mom’s Cancer is an easy read and I finished it in approximately an hour. The portrayal of the characters and their behaviour was so realistically presented, that it seemed that I was reading a 3D ‘pop–up’ picture book. The brilliance of Mom’s Cancer is that it tells things as they are – there is no blame - and the straightforward honesty of this book enables the reader to transcend barriers and roles.
This book is a must read for all health care professionals who are treating and caring for people living with cancer.
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