Before I Say Goodbye

A short and quickly read book, and perhaps not one which you could cope with at all stages in your life, this is the brief account (kind of parallels the brief life) of the last year of life of a 32 year old London journalist who discovers she has cancer - and the news rapidly gets worse and worse. A collection of her emails (sent and received), some pieces she wrote for the newspaper, and text from her husband, this really tells it how it is (or was) for them. Few euphemisms, and the heart-breaking fact for any parent reading the book that she left behind her twin children (conceived through IVF), who celebrated their 2nd birthday just a few weeks before her death. Good for gaining a basic understanding of what she went through and some empathy for any friends or family you may want to support at such times in the future.

I've had this book on my bookshelf for at least 6 months before I decided to finally read it; I'm just wondering what took me so long, now that I have! Ruth Picardie was a Journalist writing for the Observer in London, who discovered that she had breast cancer and decided to share her story with her readers. She received a lot of touching and encouraging letters and emails from the public which are published in the book. Emails she wrote to and received from her friends are also contained. Ruth had a very humorous way of dealing with her situation and I did find myself laughing out loud a few times, even though I knew how the story was going to end. Her husband wrote the last chapter of the book, explaining how he felt during her illness, the change their relationship went through and finally Ruth's last hours. If I was laughing a hundred pages back I now couldn't help but cry for this very gifted and courageous Journalist, Woman, Mother and Wife.

I was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, Grade IV, and given a prognosis that was not exceptionally good. This book helped me put my feelings and emotions into perspective and better understanding, and it has helped family members who have read the book do the same. I enjoyed the book so much that I have ordered an extra copy to give to my Neurosurgeon in the hopes that he will find it worthy of having residents and medical students do required reading of it, in the hopes that they too can benefit from the patient's perspective. An excellent book of great value, but not an easy read for those diagnosed, or their families, with life threatening illness and disease.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 and in November of 1998 she died, aged 44. I watched her becoming helpless, obedient, clildlike and frequently found myself wondering "Who is this woman and where did my mother disappear to?" Reading this book helped me understand what happened to her and that it was not unusual for a cancer patient to become that way. In other words: She did not become a freak, and obviously that is a great comfort to know. My mother was still in there somewhere.This book will make you laugh and cry. It will break your heart and increase your understanding of loss and death.This book should be required reading everywhere!

How can I describe a book that made me laugh and cry and appreciate my life and loved ones more intensely? The story of Ruth's last days is so real, so beautifully written. I feel as if I know her and I can't help believing that she lives on. Ruth was a very literate and contemporary person. Readers unfamiliar with that frame of reference might be a bit confused by some of her allusions. In my opinion, this is a perfect book. I'm buying it and forcing all of my friends to read it.