TOUGH: Women Who Survived Cancer

by Marquina Iliev-Piselli

No Woman Should Have To Experience Cancer Alone . . .

Women Who Survived Cancer is the ultimate recovery companion for women facing any type of cancer.

This book is for newly-diagnosed women, survivors, thrivers, & the people who love them. It makes a great gift!

Working from interviews with 37 women with a variety of cancer types, Iliev-Piselli, a survivor herself, has created honest and triumphant essays that will lift readers up like a conversation with good friends (if all your friends had survived cancer!).

During life's most difficult moments, these women found joy in creative pursuits as diverse as they are, including writing, stand up comedy, drawing, air guitar, and many more.

Get ready for honest, inspiring, uplifting, rock-n-rolling, gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, chemo-brain-fueled tales about cancer and its aftermath.

Order your copy now!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

209 pages, paperback

Published September 9, 2019

Reviews

[Kendah El-Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

While TOUGH is a collection of stories deliberately collected about cancer, the message is much deeper. They are tales of women going through deep, often traumatic transformation. To read their stories of pain, victory, fear, and acceptance of the twists and turns their lives take– that are well beyond their control– is a reminder of our own human condition. The stories will make you laugh, they will make you cry, and they will remind you that we are all human and somehow in this together. I applaud each woman's strength and Marquina Iiliev-Piselli's ability to have turned her diagnosis into a creative outlet that can uplift everyone-- touched by cancer, or otherwise. A truly universally relevant and touching series of stories.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and poignant

I’m also living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer and I see myself and my experience in so many of these stories. It is important that women living with various types of cancer are able to know and hear that they are not alone.

[Valya Urm · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories turn on the light in the dark rooms, we are scary looking at.

It can be hard and complicated, but after reading that you understand - nobody alone here. The life does always here until we are.

“Medicine Men & the Cultural Barriers to Good Care” by Ardith Tom -this story about two brave women and their family inspiring me a lot. Being brave and honest and being freaking out, but going forward even it scary or hard that’s mean to been alive and have feelings and being ok with that.

That’s really healing for my inner child afraid of life - and life is different, crazy, painful and messy- but it’s all we have. Thank you to share those stories and remind us- we alive.

Thank you so much for opportunity to read the stories you, girls shared with us, that’s big thing, I’m grateful for that.

[Kennedy Soong Bouchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful book, and a testament to the strength and resilience of all the women who share their stories within the pages of this book.

I picked this book up whilst working on my fourth year thesis project, sharing my own personal story and battle with cancer. I picked up this book every time I needed the strength to continue working towards sharing my story, a bright light in those moments of darkness.

The “best advice” within each story was the highlight of this book for me. My best advice is to not let cancer continue to take more from you than it already has! Live your life! Celebrate!

[Michael Alber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by this book. I don't read a lot of non-fiction, usually preferring the plot and characters of a good novel, but this book may have changed all that. The women featured in TOUGH form an incredible -- and incredibly engaging -- ensemble cast. Moving from one to the next, it was like these perfect little character sketches of people I really wanted to know. Each new survivor was an uplifting gust of fresh air, reminding me of how resilient we humans can be. These women have gone through so much, but have come out the other side even stronger. I loved it, and it made me genuinely reassess how I was approaching my own life, making me appreciate the community I have around me. And I gotta say: a novel's never done that! Highly recommend, whether you've gone through cancer or not!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOUGH reveals the stories of women experiencing the shock of cancer with refreshing honesty. From cover to cover, women share details about their battle which leave you crying, laughing and ultimately feeling part of their family.

[Dena A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend for everyone—cancer not required: raw, insightful, real

These personal accounts from people who’ve had cancer were an honor to read. It gives a snapshot of the variety of cancers at work at any given time, how they can be found in people of all ages and health status, and the hardship that treatment demands. As someone who has had cancer and written about it, I identified with so many of these stories, from diagnosis to infusion, reconstruction to post-treatment. There were many meaningful themes and new insights that I’m grateful for as well. I was struck and moved by the different ways in which these women responded to their diagnosis, and how cancer is around us all of the time, whether by someone we know personally or someone we see around the neighborhood. You never know what someone may be going through. This book is a bridge to awareness and empathy. Highly recommend. Thank you Marquina for putting it into the world and to all who shared their stories—especially those who have since passed, and whose light still shines.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful and difficult read. It’s a gift for any woman diagnosed with any type of cancer. I resonated with so many things written by these incredible, normal, every day women. I loved the diversity and vulnerability. I’m grateful someone gifted it to me when I was diagnosed and though I don’t want to have to gift this book to anyone, I’ll make sure I pay it forward.

[Jenna Putala · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone actively going through cancer treatment, it was both comforting and inspiring to read the stories of these women. They talked about the good and the bad, which often we are told to just talk about the positive. The essays were short, which I liked, and I flew through this book. Highly recommend for anyone going through active treatment or after!

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a collection of interviews with 37 American women who've faced and beaten cancer, be it breast throat lung brain thyroid colorectal melanoma lymphoma leukemia et al. Divided into geographical sections, these stories are testimony to the strength and power of women and community.

[Emily Lukasek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is certainly a hard and emotional read. But I feel like we all should read and learn these women’s stories and be more educated on the true cancer journey. Thank you for writing this story and featuring one of our family members within.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly edited book about the difficult, astounding stories of cancer survivors.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a gift as I’m going through my own cancer. Some of the stories were inspiring and others just seemed like a marketing pitch to read their blog, Instagram, etc.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this.

[Nikole Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very resourceful

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle unlimited freebie

[Christina Baranczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very poignant book with a deep message. This booked touched me on so many levels.

[Brock McRock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough: Women Who Survived Cancer, A deep dive into the personal trials of women across the nation who have been diagnosed with cancer and left with questions they never thought they would ask themselves. This book breaks a sort of 4th wall into the human experience of anxiety, grief, fear, the uncertainty of a scary situation that often has insurmountable odds. What do you do? Who do you tell? How do you deal with what has to be such a rush of emotions? This book expertly details many women’s first hand journeys from diagnosis, to finding their tribe, to finding their inner peace, to growing stronger as a person post diagnosis. The tears you will shed while reading this book will be vicarious, the love found is this book is tangible.

[B H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a loved one gone through cancer years ago, this would have been a wonderful resource for myself. A great collection of stories from all walks of life. This book provides great support for those going through cancer and their families. People feel less alone while they are going through cancer and treatment. It is well written and an excellent book!

[Penny L · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t know the support you need until you are faced with family or friends who are living with a cancer diagnosis and you’re not quite sure how to help. This book hits on all the points, told from the point of view of many beautiful survivors, it’s like a supportive toolkit for family and friends.

[Tessa Morehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so empowering to hear these women speak their truth as they share their stories of struggle and perseverance. Truly inspiring and touching! A must read for anyone who is battling cancer or knows someone who is.

[Theresa Zahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read! This book is women coming together sharing the biggest fight of their lives. Read this if you're going through this, read this if you're not. Everyone should know this is how TOUGH women are!