World Cancer Day 2025: When Breathe Becomes Air To The Test of My Life, 5 Must-Read Books By Cancer Survivors

World Cancer Day 2025: 4th February is observed as the World Cancer Day annually to raise awareness about the kinds of cancer, their prevention, early detection and treatment. 

Cancer is a fatal illness known to take a toll on the physical wellness and mental health of its patients. While physical health during treatment becomes the major concern of many people, mental health is often overlooked. 

In a time where hope and resilience are much needed, these five books by cancer survivors will stand as pillars of strength, solidarity and solace to the one surviving it or the ones standing with the patients in their journey.   

When Breath Becomes Air 

By Paul Kalanithi

We turn to doctors for medical help, but what if a doctor is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. When Breath Becomes Air is the memoir of Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon at Stanford University who learns about his stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 36. The book is his account of his fight with cancer as he went into treatment. He died writing the book, so his wife wrote the epilogue for the book.   

Cancer Vixen 

By Marisa Acocella Marchetto

A vibrantly illustrated graphic memoir of Marchetto as she battled her way through breast cancer, the book is a ground-breaking one with a vivid use of humor and color inspiring the fellow cancer patients to look at disease in the eyes, with a stellar style and charm like the author herself. 

Cancer, You Picked The Wrong Girl 

By Shormishtha Mukherjee 

A memoir of a breast cancer survivor, Shormishtha Mukherjee, Cancer, You Picked The Wrong Girl is a book entailing her journey from detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Taking away the power of the disease with her humor and honesty, Mukherjee shares her experiences of living the mundane life as a cancer patient. 

My Cancer Is Me: The Journey from Illness to Wholeness

By Vijay Bhat and Nilima Bhat

In a person-centered approach Vijay Bhat shares his experiences with cancer diagnosis and the process of healing from it. Bringing the emotional and mental wellness of the patient in center he also offers information on the biological aspects of cancer and its causes with dietary and nutritional needs of cancer patients.

The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back

By Yuvraj Singh, Nishant Jeet Arora and Sharda Ugra

Indian former cricketer Yuvraj Singhs’s detection and diagnosis of cancer is detailed in his debut book where he retells his first reaction, and then acceptance of the disease and how it impacted him and his game.