The Cancer Chronicles: A Cartoon Memoir Vol. 1
Stephanie Sahanow, Author and Illustrator
Available on Amazon
In June of 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Being an artist and poet, I decided to Art-my-way-through this experience.
I deliberately chose not to use any combative or hostile language like “fighting cancer,” and instead chose to use this experience to learn about myself and the world, to connect with others and myself, and to move into closer alignment with my authentic self.
I decided to blog about it so all my people could easily get updates. Over time, people told me that my images were very useful to them for their own healing, even if they didn’t have cancer, and many requested that I publish my work so they could have copies for themselves.
This series is a selection of those images, poems and blog posts. I’m creating a series of comic-like books so that people can have access to this work as soon as possible. I am still receiving treatment for cancer at the time of this writing. I am still creating new posts every day. Many will likely end up in future volumes of this series. This is the first book in the series.
Content warning: this is my real life experience. I’m choosing to be face to face with all my feelings. By reading this book, you may encounter feelings of your own. I’ve had a lot of emotional support through my counseling relationships to get through this experience. Please seek support from a professional if it brings up things for you that you need help to handle.
I hope you find this work healing, real, fun, surprising, and/or thought provoking. I hope it contributes in some way to your living your best life.
I put this work into the world with great love and with the intention of promoting healing. I hope the ripples extend outward and that it benefits many people.