The Exception and The Rule: On Being Stage IV

by Sarah Kugler Powers

You are weak; you are weary, and your spirit is broken. Your opponent is stronger than you, more resilient, and more clever. You face overwhelming odds of defeat. In a wager for your life, would you bet on you? And as you turn to face your opponent, are you the exception or are you the rule?
Stage IV cancer does not come with a safety net. There are no do-over's or second chances, and for those of us diagnosed with stage IV cancer, we enter the most crucial phase of our lives, where nearly every second and decision made becomes one of life and death. In this inspirational, heart-wrenching, and unbridled work, Sarah Kugler Powers in The Exception and The Rule: On Being Stage IV, shares the experiences and the lessons she learned during the years she underwent cancer treatment. Sarah discusses in-depth topics such as: having difficult conversations with family and friends, working with doctors, dealing with depression and anxiety, and facing death. In taking the reader with her through her own grief, anger, and constant struggles, Sarah's story affords the reader a first-hand look at the conversations, the heartbreak, and the circumstances surrounding some of the greatest questions patients must face and ask of themselves and their medical teams.

10% of all lifetime profits are donated directly to the non-profit cancer organization The Half Fund.

250 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book, a searingly honest account of what Sarah Kugler Powers experienced during treatment for refractory stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma. No difficult topics are set aside; she shares her thoughts about being prepared for death, the limits of love, unexpected loss, the importance of taking charge of your medical decision making, and learning to live again. This is a valuable book for all persons dealing with terminal disease, both patients and caregivers - a wide audience that includes nearly everyone sooner or later. Kudos and a big wish for continued health to the gutsy woman who wrote it!

[Courtney Sermone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Kugler Powers "The Exception and the Rule" will make you laugh and cry all at the same time as you follow her on her journey through stage iv cancer and watch her claw her way back from the brink of death. Sarah's book is a great book for new cancer patients, their friends, and their caregivers.

[Dan Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very few books take you to a place where you actually feel like you were there, sometimes like you were not just a bystander, but a participant. The Exception and the Rule: On Being Stage IV is one of these rare few gems. When many of us say, "Oh I couldn't imagine," this book breaks that wall. It's a book that I will read multiple times throughout my life.