Breast Cancer at 35

by Amy Burns

Using a candid, raw, and humorous voice, Amy Burns wraps the reader in the intimacy and upheaval of her emotions as she struggles through her breast-cancer diagnosis. Her memoir offers unmatched insight into an experience that, unfortunately, has become far too prevalent and common among women. While sharing the news of her cancer diagnosis with her husband while still on the phone with the nurse, she writes, "I mouth it to you--the hard C of it choking my confidence and/ catching on my tonsils./ After the news,/ I see your eyelids like wet newsprint." Later, she admits that her “prayers are more fervent now,/ dogged like spring leaves,/ warm and sticky with a baited question." The language she carefully selects encapsulates the hopes and fears of any woman hearing the words, "This might be cancer," as well as anyone who's there to hold her hand. This is an honest story of hope, lightheartedness, and frankness for women who either have breast cancer or know someone who does.

Genres: Poetry, Memoir, Nonfiction, Health, Medical

74 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2015

About the author

Amy Burns holds a master's degree in humanities and teaches English at the high school level. Her cancer is in remission. She lives in Golden, Colorado with her husband and three year-old son.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for your interest in my book. Your review is much appreciated!

[Sabrina Pacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Amy Burns gives incredible insight on our human lives, how to appreciate them when times get rough and we venture into unexplored and foreign territories. I am so thankful to the author for sharing the personal and intimate moments of the painful process of cancer. The simple words that are put so carefully together tell the story of a real women overcoming real cancer in real life, which proves to be a story of the pain, the lows, the highs, and everything in between that makes life so beautifully inspiring. A huge thanks to Ms. Burns for reminding us of the beauty in all the life has to offer.

[Christine (Queen of Books)]

Thank you to the author for providing a copy, won via a GoodReads giveaway. (Thanks also to GoodReads!)

"Memoir" here threw me off (perhaps because I don't do enough research prior to adding books to my TBR...). I expected something similar to Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. I did not expect a series of poems (hence no star rating - sorry, but I'm just not well-versed enough in the genre to feel comfortable rating them).

I was drawn to this book because of the breast cancer bent but found it adeptly addressed change in general. To be sure, these poems are saturated with emotion, but there's even more here to relate to than a cancer diagnosis and treatment plan.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have been one of the lucky winners in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

I must admit that I don't usually read poetry, but this book did hold my attention. My wife is a cancer survivor and reading this book certainly brought back quite a few memories. Beautifully written and so heartfelt. I would recommend to anyone who has had or survived cancer and their friends and family to read this book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathartic and artistically soothing from cover to cover. I'd forgotten a poem could be so powerful, comforting, and ...useful. The author has truly bared her soul in this compilation, and readers only stand to gain from her say-it-like-it-is story.

[Chris Gardinier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I was hesitant to even enter to win this book but I am glad I did. I have a very close friend just diagnosed with breast cancer. She's now well over three months into her treatment. This book gave me insight on what she is going through plus what she is feeling. As the author stated, each person diagnosed handles things differently. Their body reacts differently. I am thrilled for the author being in remission. I pray my friend has the same results. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and I am so glad that I did. I really recommend it to others.
I read this book in one sitting, from cover to cover. So many parts of it hit home in a BIG way, and even spots that didn't I would still find myself fighting back tears that threatened to spill. It was as if I was right there going through it all.
I could feel every emotion throughout.
Thank you, Amy, for sharing this with us! I hope that all is well on your end. K.O.F. and K.C.A.

[Babajaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had it not been for a Goodreads giveaway, I would have never picked up this book because I shy away from poetry. Luckily, I won a Kindle version of this book, and discovered that poetry can be accessible even to me. These poems beautifully capture what was going on in the author's life after she discovered a lump in her breast, including all the emotions, fears, hopes. I am very thankful to the author for sharing this with us. I absolutely loved this book.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick and almost notebook worthy, Breast Cancer at 35 was honest and raw about her journey.
Since I won this book in a giveaway, I had no preconceived notions on it and found myself pleasantly surprised at a series of poems and excerpts- a great way to detail her emotions.

[David Folz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was Good

I liked this e-read book. I liked the story and thought it was intriguing having the schedule of all of the things. Would recommend for someone who wants a quick read.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story worth reading. Thanks for sharing your story.

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this via a Goodreads giveaway but all words are my own.

This book mainly surprised me. Firstly, it was thinner than expected. Secondly, it is a collection of poems as opposed to a traditional memoir.

Poetry isn't my preference of book to be perfectly honest. However, this poetry is beautifully written and conveys immense emotion. It wouldn't be my choice of book in hindsight but I have a lot of respect for the author for sharing her experiences and feel that the poetry is very well written.

Just personal preference, I'd have loved more memoir with poems interspersed.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book written in poetic form, did a really nice job of presenting the picture of the spectrum of dealing with breast cancer...from the discovery of a lump to after treatment. I was surprised to find it in poetic form, so it is kind of 'sparse' of words, & then a faster read.......but each word has real meaning. Some poetry I find hard to understand, but this was very clear. I thought the author did a very good job of describing the path she had to take. I'd recommend this to anyone....
I received this e-book from Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program, in return for my own fair & honest review/opinion.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. My mother had Stage 2 Breast Cancer with a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation. She is now 5 years post remission and doing fine. My grandmother's breast cancer had already metastasized when she found her lump. She suffered years of treatment-- mastectomy, removal of 23 lymph nodes, chemo and radiation the first time; further chemo and radiation the second time; palliative radiation on her bone cancer at the end. So although I have not had cancer myself (yet) I know this disease-- the fatigue and fear and pain, and the grace with which its sufferers endure, day by day. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads and the author for a copy of this book.
I don't typically read poetry, but I really enjoyed this. (Enjoyed seems like an odd word given the topic.) It was relatable in a way I hadn't anticipated; I've never thought before about everyday life during a diagnosis like this.
Thankfully, this author had a happy ending. Amy, I wish you the best and hope that continues.

[Lisa Stadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodread giveaway. It is a very well written easy read. I liked how it was a collection of poems that easily and eloquently described her journey through her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. This is probably the first time in life when I enjoyed poems.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Burns was my freshman English teacher in 2006, so of course, I had to read her novel. These poems are breath catching, raw, and beautiful, and her strength emanates from the pages. "Enjoy" isn't the right word for this book, but I greatly appreciated it.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!!!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times, I felt like I was reading my own story.

[Jessica Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. She so eloquently touched on several of the emotions I’ve experienced the past few months. Not what I was expecting but better.

[Tony Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful

Interesting read of one person's journey through breast cancer at an early age. Not a deep dive with medical terms but heartfelt.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting it to be all poetry. It was good poetry, but I was hoping for more story telling about her day to day life going through this.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and so helpful for dealing with any struggle that's out of our control, loved it.

[LaVonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and comforting.

[Melinda M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breast Cancer at 35 by Amy Burns is a collection of poems that she wrote as she was going thru breast cancer. It is interesting to read and a different type of memoir. Amy Burns shows how to find good no matter how bad things are.

I received a copy thru a Goodreads giveaway.

[Maria Freeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably a 2.5. Interesting read, but the religious inclusions were a bit off putting. Still, glad to read this perspective.

[Nathaniel Kregar · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know a poet knows what they're doing when they can make you feel something. I mean sure anyone could right a poem, to some extent, but only a true master of poetry can do something to you-- they make you feel, whether those feelings are joy, despair, or something else that makes us human. And Ms. Amy Burns is prove of this!!! Her poems are full of feelings of her own that easily transfer through her beautiful use of the English language, into the reader. Through her words, she creates a picture of the life she has lived, and her experiences within it. Even if you haven't experienced what this amazing and talent author has, her poems are worth reading!!!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite bits:
"This cannot be the end
because it is so obviously the middle." (30)



"But "exciting" has nothing to do with climax.
We often miss the point.
We think we understand,
But we move
too fast
think too fast
and die
too
fast.

"The definition of climax is not the-most-exciting-part,
it's the turning point."

This changes everything.
There is no restoring of innocence.
Nothing can be the same.
The point of no return.
The story
must change. (56)

[Elena Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Amy for sharing your journey with us.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of poetry about a rather intense moment in a woman's life.