Cancer Schmancer

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
"Whatever I do, I do with gusto," writes Fran Drescher in the introduction to Cancer Schmancer, and the book itself is no exception. Drescher's subject matter is weighty -- her battle with uterine cancer -- but as the vivacious television star candidly recounts this health crisis (as well as her divorce, the cancellation of her series, and her difficult journey back to both good health and the dating scene), her sense of humor is a constant buoy. The result is a riveting, and often hilarious, read.

Her story is infused with her charming yet brash personality. One-liners abound, and her tales -- such as the one about fending off the advances of an Italian Stallion with a penchant for biting -- reflect her irrepressible spirit and enchanting brio. But the entertainment value of Drescher's story is ultimately eclipsed by her greater goal, which is to encourage and empower women to take control of their gynecological health. It took two years and numerous doctors' visits for Drescher to receive an accurate diagnosis of her condition. Through sheer determination and an unshakable belief in her own intuition she persevered, in spite of doctors who tried to convince her that her symptoms could be chalked up to perimenopause. In the end, a simple D&C test offered the conclusive evidence of uterine cancer -- a test that could have been performed in her doctor's office two years earlier, if only she had known what to insist upon. She knows now, and she wants the rest of us to benefit from her experience. Drescher's story will make readers laugh and cry, but most important, it will convince them to "never be passive when it comes to your health." (Karen Burns)

Entertainment Weekly

...the actress infuses her writing with humor and honesty...

People Magazine

Laughs-and inspiration...Drescher writes with unforced humor and plenty of gusto. She informs, comforts and movingly entertains.

Vanity Fair

...irrepressible Fran Drescher's frank and sassy account of coping with the big C.

Publishers Weekly

Drescher, most famous for her loud, nasal voice and her role on the 1990s TV series The Nanny, advises readers to "open a mouth" when dealing with their doctors in this down-to-earth account of her experience with uterine cancer. In the book which serves as an unexpected follow-up to her 1995 memoir, Enter Whining, the actress describes living with symptoms for more than two years while shuttling from doctor to doctor without a diagnosis. She then depicts the hysterectomy that followed as well as her recovery, focusing mostly on the support she received from her friends and family and her first post-divorce boyfriend, who is 16 years her junior. She also devotes a chapter to the loss of her beloved dog, Chester Drescher. Consistently frank about her emotional ups and downs, Drescher addresses important quality-of-life issues such as fatigue and sex. Yet it is her storytelling skills and humor that make this uncomplicated book a good read. Although Drescher sometimes lapses into therapy-speak, tracing everything back to childhood, her one-liners can be priceless. Readers will warm to this straight-talking Queens native, even if they do tire of her celebrity woes (such as facing the paparazzi too soon after surgery). Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Television star (The Nanny) and author (Enter Whining) Drescher details the two-year, eight-plus-doctor ordeal she endured to diagnose her uterine cancer. She goes from gynecologist (two) and internist to hematologist to oncologist/breast specialist, back to gynecologist, then to vascular specialist, neurologist, and finally gynecologist (the third) before discovering the cause of her bleeding, cramping, and painful sex. She underwent surgery, refused radiation, and continues to play in the fields of celebrity. Drescher also discusses the mechanics of putting out a weekly TV series, the breakup of her longtime marriage, and meeting a new man. If only the writing were not so pedestrian and the trivia so trivial (do we need to read about her trip to Paris?), we might have cheered for the actress, who claims that fame didn't get her better treatment (in truth, it probably did). Even Drescher's trademark humor isn't all that funny here. Fans of Drescher and her now-defunct series will want to read this; others who might pick it up will only respond, "Oy vey." For extensive patient health collections and comprehensive television collections only. Bette-Lee Fox, "Library Journal" Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.