Tumor Me
Ever felt emotionally empty, lonely, or just plain lost?
You’re not alone — and the antidote might be simpler than you think: human connection.
Tumor Me is more than just a collection of stories, poems, and reflections on life, death and everything in between. It’s a wake-up call to live fully, not just coast on autopilot. This book challenges you to have a conversation – not just with others, but with yourself. Ask the big questions: Is the story in my head helping me or holding me back? What can I do today to get unstuck and take a step forward?
Let’s start talking, reflecting, and truly living — together.
Tumor Me delves into the realities faced by many after surviving cancer or a brain tumor. Survival rates for childhood cancers and brain tumors are higher than ever, but we must also focus on the late effects of treatment and life quality post-recovery.
Once a young survivor leaves the hospital’s supportive environment, adapting to “normal” life can be a tough challenge. The young voices in this book were clear: no pity, no clichés, and no topic off-limits. They wanted Tumor Me to be a wake-up call—a catalyst for action and healthy conversations at home and in the workplace. After all, managers today have more impact on an individual’s health than doctors do!
All proceeds from this book go towards young survivor mentoring programmes.
What people are saying about our book...
This book felt like a gift to me from young people who have faced their own mortality . The pain is there but it’s the overwhelming sense of hope and joy in its purest form that ebbs out of this gem of a book. Heartfelt thanks for their bravery, humour and deep insight that they have so generously shared in this book. It was a healthy reminder to me of the joy that is in every moment if only we opened our eyes, pressed pause and allowed ourselves to feel not just get lost in our own thoughts.
Lucy Blakstad
In a world where it seems that resilience is on the wane, Monica and the kids in this book put us to shame: they have buckets of it! I laughed, I cried, I empathised, I despaired, I connected, I learned and I loved what these little golden nuggets of vulnerability teach us about life and death and everything in between! Just read it!
Gaby Maguire
Monica and the “resilienteers” bring to life what post-traumatic growth really feels like. Everyone should read this book and share it with others because it is filled with heartwarming stories showing how a person can handle the painful and bumpy ride toward recovery and the incredible rewards and joy that await anyone who is willing to embrace their innermost values and strengths. As a neuroscience researcher, it has been a great honor to teach young adults new strategies that can quickly help the brain to heal.
Mark Waldman
This book with it’s sunny and bright appearance and fun cover has totally taken me by surprise. It hits you right into your heart with painting an honest, raw and warm picture of what life with a brain tumor is actually like – for everyone involved. Not a one-sided horror story or a toxically positive one, but the real deal. Being a parent myself and being totally unable to even imagine what living through such an ordeal must be like, I already had tears in my eyes when reading the introduction and hugged my daughter just that bit tighter the next time I had her in my arms. This book is a legacy in itself and a must-read for every parent that is eager to understand more of the big human topics: love, kindness, resilience, hope, and freedom of choice.
Vanessa van den Brink
Disappointing to only read such a profound description of what matters to patients after working in healthcare for over 20 years. The grit, wisdom and strength these children and their parents put into their health 24/7, 365 days a year, is enlightening. Equally puzzling is why supporting them in this seems to get such little focus from healthcare compared to what we can do ‘when they’ve ended back up in hospital’. Surely partnering with patients for health must be part of any healthcare system’s ambition.