What would you do if you or someone you love received a diagnosis of cancer? How would you cope? Where would you find support while your loved one underwent treatment? Would you face caregiver burnout?
Mom's Cancer: The Graphic Novel
Writer and cartoonist Brian Fies faced this very situation when his mother was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. His way to cope? Brian created Mom’s Cancer [Abrams Image, 2006], a graphic novel depicting how he and his family met this health challenge head on. This book looks at the cancer diagnosis and the cancer patient, gives caregiver coping strategies and offers caregiver support.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case, perhaps more. Anyone who faces cancer has read the myriad of articles, books and websites in the hope of understanding the new foreign landscape and medical “language” that is spoken there. Terms like symptoms of cancer, stages of cancer, chemotherapy and radiation are visible in every cancer support book and article. One quickly becomes an expert on types of cancer, treatments and cures.
Mom’s Cancer, in a simple yet poignant way, cuts through a lot of the jargon and presents, in honest and approachable terms, one family’s attempt to make sense of the situation in which they find themselves.
Once one becomes accustomed to reading the graphic novel format, many more nuances are revealed through the pictures, dialog, and inner thoughts of the characters than might be found in a straight-text book.
Cancer and Caregivers
Mom’s Cancer shows family reactions through a unique “superhero” sequence called "Rx Kryptonite", in which Brian and his two siblings each take on “superpowers” in their attempts to understand the process and help their mom through her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The “medicalese” is made understandable through visual representations of the chemotherapy process and a great explanation of how X-rays are used to show the effects of that chemo on the size of the tumor.
Mom’s Cancer deals with many things – from chemo gut, to the loss of hair and dignity, to eventual hope in the form of Hero, the small dog that Brian’s mom receives as a birthday gift. Named Hero, as Mom says, “…because he’s going to save my life.”
But the most profound is the sense of commonality that this story portrays. Anyone who has walked this path with a loved one will find a common thread in this book. Says Brian on his website, Mom’s Cancer, “The story describes how a serious illness affects patient and family, both practically and emotionally, in ways that I've discovered are very common. Many readers wrote to tell me how surprised and relieved they were to learn they weren't alone.” What a great gift to be able to give his readers!
Awards for Brian Fies
This story was originally serialized in the Internet starting in 2004, and soon caught they eye of the comic book industry. In 2005 the original web version received the Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic, and in 2006 it was published in hardcover by Harry N. Abrams publishers in their first project for their new imprint, Abrams Imprints.
This book is a “must read” for anyone facing cancer of a loved one. Make no mistake – this graphic novel isn’t a child’s comic book. It is a serious, often humorous, always honest guide on how families can cope with a cancer diagnosis and survive the difficult road ahead.
Kudos to Brian Fies for creating a wonderful resource for cancer patients, their families and caregivers.
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