When Cancer Came Knocking; How One Family Answered, by Reverend Stephen Garrett, 2019, FriesenPress

Stephen Garrett writes a very personal account of his beloved brother’s six-year battle with cancer, from 2008 to 2015. This book was lent to my husband and I from friends who, like us, are also going through a cancer journey with a family member.

We found it helpful to read about the course of the journey for the Garrett family and in particular for Peter, the one who had the cancer. He led a healthy lifestyle and so was surprised to be diagnosed with cancer in his late 50s. It appeared as a lump in his groin, which at first he thought was probably fat because he had a similar fatty lump previously in the other leg. This one was cancerous and they treated it with radiation.

The radiation appeared to be successful and the cancer in remission, however Peter wasn’t bouncing back to his normal energy level. Stephen takes readers through the series of battles chronologically as the cancer re-emerges in different places and forms over the next six years. Peter tries various treatments from naturopathic to chemotherapy but sadly the cancer keeps progressing.

Each chapter ends with comments from family members and nurses about how they are feeling at that particular faze of the journey. They love Peter dearly but do not always agree with his decisions. Yet they come on board with him to support him right up to the end. The last two chapters tell about the way this family dealt with Peter’s death and cremation and later memorial service.

My husband having been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, he was very grateful to read about how it went for Peter and his family. It helps to know how the treatments affected Peter. Is it better to go through harsh treatments and endure horrible side effects with hopes of a lengthy remission or to just alleviate symptoms and let nature take its course? It was also helpful to read about the end of life arrangements for the cremation and memorial service and prompted my husband to consider what he wants for himself when the time comes and to discuss it with me.