Shortly after reading Fables, I read another Eisner award-winning graphic novel: Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies.
In case you’re not into graphic novels, Eisner awards are like the Oscars of graphic novels. More formally known as the Will Eisner Comic Industry award, these awards are given in honor of comic artist and writer William Eisner to recognize exemplary works in the comics industry.I’ve recently finished some Eisner-award winning graphic novels — Eisner awards are like, the Oscars of graphic novels. More formally known as the Will Eisner Comic Industry award, these awards are given in honor of comic artist and writer William Eisner to recognize exemplary works in the comics industry.
Mom’s Cancer, originally published online, won the Eisner for Best Digital Comic in 2005, the first ever awardee for that category.
Mom’s Cancer is the autobiographical story of Brian Fies’ mom and her battle with metastatic lung cancer. It also shows how the whole family — the patient and her children: Brian and his two sisters, Nurse Sis and Kid Sis– copes with her health condition. Originally a web comic, it was published as a book in 2005 to make it more accessible to more people.
It starts in 2002, when a small seizure reveals a more serious condition: lung cancer that has spread to the brain.
They explore treatment options…
and the treatment process begins.
The process takes its toll on the whole family.
But on the whole, it gives a positive outlook on coping with cancer.
I was poking around the bargain bins (where else?) when this book caught my eye. I’m no stranger to cancer — I was only ten when I lost my dad to metastatic colon cancer. My uncle (dad’s brother) died one year later from pancreatic cancer. Currently, my mom’s sister is undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer as well; her husband died of lymphoma two years earlier. Another aunt is undergoing treatment for breast cancer that has spread to her lungs and spine. A friend’s mom recently passed away due to lung cancer, and another friend’s mom is currently battling ovarian cancer.
The World Health Organization paints some grim figures:
- Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide: it accounted for 7.9 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2007.
- Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most cancer deaths each year.
- The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women.
- About 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented.
- Tobacco use is the single most important risk factor for cancer.
- Cancer arises from a change in one single cell. The change may be started by external agents and inherited genetic factors.
- About 72% of all cancer deaths in 2007 occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
- Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 12 million deaths in 2030
It’s depressing, all right, but it’s something we all have to live with, especially when it hits home.
I liked Mom’s Cancer because it’s not, as Fies puts it “a nuts and bolts medical manual.” It shows how cancer affects not only the patient but the family as well, capturing all the aspects not covered by the medical reports. I also like how it shows the importance of pulling together as a family in coping with the disease, through all the good days, the bad days, and the i-just-want-it-to-end days.
At the end of the book, “Mom” is cancer free and preparing for the move to Hollywood with Kid Sis, and she imparts the following words of wisdom in her afterword,”Cherish rest, laughter, friends, and prayers. Trust in yourself and make a peace treaty with your Higher Power. Have a Hero to never let go of and help you through the terrifying nights. Take frequent baths to get rid of the scent of toxins. Watch a lot of comedies. Keep you mind and hands busy. Then just breathe for as long as you can, knowing that others are helping to hold you up.”
It’s a great book for families who have experienced, or are experiencing a struggle with cancer, and is both an inspiring and healing read.
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Postscript: Sadly, just before the book was released in 2005, “Mom” passed away. “She took steroids to control brain inflammation caused by the brain tumor and its radiation treatment. Administered in high doses over a long time, they were as damaging to her body as cancer would have been. The steroids had to be reduced, renewed inflammation put pressure on unexpected parts of her brain, and the end came quickly,” Brian narrates in his mom’s blog.
“The publication of ‘Mom’s Cancer’ will go ahead. Mom always sought purpose in her life and, in recent months, her suffering. She shared in the production of ‘Mom’s Cancer’: the drafts, proofs, correspondence with my publisher and the public. She wrote the book’s Afterword. Nothing made Mom more proud or happy than hearing from readers who said her story had helped them or that they’d quit smoking because of her. She told me she thought she’d found her purpose after all. I didn’t disagree.
She lived and died well. I will miss making new memories with her.”
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Mom’s Cancer, hardcover, 5/5 stars
Book #21 for 2010
Borrow!
Yup ok…