Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical System

by Kathryn Giusti

An empowering, soul-baring personal account and guide from a two-time cancer survivor and healthcare disrupter that shows anyone how to deal with a frightening medical diagnosis in America today, providing the knowledge necessary to take ownership of personal wellbeing and maximize the chances for survival. More than twenty-five years ago, Kathryn Giusti was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age thirty-seven and given three years to live. With a young child, a happy marriage, and a successful career, Giusti had too much to live for. An “impatient patient,” she overcame her fear and got to work, learning to advocate for her own care. This book is the result of all she’s learned about how to get the best outcome from America’s opaque and sometimes impossible-to-navigate healthcare system. Fatal to Fearless  tells the story of how Giusti took on the system and turned it to her advantage not once but twice when she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. It is a crash course in surviving a grim diagnosis, organized around twelve simple steps, with practical tips for everything from how to build your healthcare team and learning which online sources to trust, to understanding the science and identifying which tests to ask for in the new genomic era and how to access the treatments and studies that could save your life. At its center is a gripping personal story that reveals difficult, yet honest truths about illness, family, friendship, marriage, and the business of medicine. Giusti lays bare her soul as she walks you through the steps for handling any diagnosis and includes insights from medicine’s top insiders on the frontlines of physical and emotional healing and care. Sick people deserve a fighting chance. Giusti’s mission to democratize medicine—and healthcare—has never been more imperative, or more urgent. Hopeful, wise, and packed with hard-won knowledge, this book gives you the concrete tools and inspiration to fear less and live more .

Genres: Health, Memoir, Self Help, Medical, Nonfiction, Medicine

288 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2024

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a smart book, part-memoir and part-resource guide. As someone who works within the cancer center world, I found Kathy’s story inspiring and her how-to sections very clear and knowledgeable. Plus, Q&As from top cancer experts/leaders! I’ve already bought this for someone else, but imagine almost anyone would benefit from reading this, as we unfortunately all know a friend, family member or colleague who’s been touched by cancer.

[Lee Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy Giusti was a successful business woman who had just started a family when she was given three years to live with a cancer diagnosis that wasn’t “one of the good ones.” That led Giusti on an incredible journey, not just to heal herself, but to help millions who face this life changing diagnosis. Giusti went on to found the MMRF, becoming a warrior for patients and using her knowledge of the pharma industry to help fast track new medications. This book is two things – a personal memoir that walks us through the heartbreaks and triumphs with family, friendships, children and marriage, and it is also a playbook and a crash course on how to survive a difficult diagnosis in twelve-steps. Accompanying each step is practical advice from experts and hard-fought wisdom about the medical system, in all its broken glory. Giusti pulls from 30 years of journals, for each of the years she was NOT supposed to live, and that makes this book the best food for the soul as well as the head.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the personal story of Kathy Giusti's fights with multiple myeloma and breast cancer. She's quite amazing. She was diagnosed at 37 years old with a cancer, that at the time, had a life expectancy of about 3 years. She throws herself into the research and starts a foundation and ultimately benefits from advances in treatment. The breast cancer was a much more recent diagnosis. Giusti's discussion of the effects on family, caregivers and friends was really great and she's really honest. I didn't love the 12 steps, to be honest. I found them to be a bit surface. They're not wrong, in any way, just a bit obvious maybe. Nevertheless, when she talks about finding the right medical team and relates a couple of meetings with doctors who don't seem to have done any homework in her case at all, you sort of get the point of spelling out what seems like an obvious step; it's really easy to just get sucked into the expertise of the doctor especially when it's hard to find one specialist nevermind needing a second opinion from another one.

[Lisa Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy Giusti's book, Fatal to Fearless, is just what I needed to read at this time. Having just been thrust into the world of cancer, as my husband was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, her book provided me with insight, inspiration, and hope. Reading it from the point of view of a caretaker, I took away a wealth of information to assist my husband and I on this journey, and I now feel empowered to take on the medical establishment and fight for what he needs if necessary. Thank you Kathy for your raw and honest portrayal of your own battle, and for everything you have done to help others battling cancer. This book is a must read for anyone whose life has been touched by cancer, whether it be yourself, or someone you love.

[Polina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written memoir on how to deal with a cancer diagnosis particularly - multiple myeloma and breast cancer. Her book is inspiring with a wealth of knowledge if you are a cancer patient or someone who is supporting someone else with cancer, however, it is also appropriate to read for those who want to understand what to do to prevent Cancer. At times I found the book to be heavy to read but ultimately it gave me a good overall base knowledge of what it is like to live with a cancer diagnosis while treating it and what to do before and after. I recommend reading this book as it shares knowledge that few may provide even if they are oncologist treating this disease.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not feeling fearless, but I very much appreciate Ms. Guisti's work with the Multiple Myeloma Foundation to deliver options to patients. Thank you for your work.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal to Fearless is a great resource book delivered as a wonderful story. Thank you Kathy Giusti for this motivating story and all the work you have done for so many cancer patients.

[Indra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives new ideas, I would recommend to anyone who is going through cancer or anyone who is attached to someone who is.

[tisasday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breaks down a lot of key concepts for the layperson who might otherwise be overwhelmed by a devastating diagnosis.