Glossary of Awkward: A modern lexicon of all the uncomfortable moments that arise from cancer

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Glossary of Awkward is a Laugh Out Loud guide to talking about cancer - with cartoons!

Cancer sucks, and so does talking about it. Telling someone you have cancer almost always leads to a) awkward silence, b) a well-meaning yet irritating response, or c) some combination of the two. There are tons of reasons why this happens, but it comes down to this.

“I have cancer” are heavy words that carry a ton of emotions and anxieties. And when people hear it, they know they should say something, but they just don’t know what. Sometimes, without knowing it, they end up saying something really hurtful .

Glossary of Awkward is the guide you wish you had to surviving the “I have cancer” conversation - whether with friends, partners, colleagues, or even your doctor. It’s like an Urban Dictionary of cancer, with hilarious cartoons. Each page cleverly gives new terminology to those moments that make people say awkward things, accompanied by an irreverently humorous cartoon. Guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, it’s the kind of book you can use to start that uncomfortable conversation about cancer and the type of support you really need.

This is the kind of book that should be in every oncologist’s office and hospital gift shop. It’s a bold, graphic guide to having a conversation about cancer that makes someone feel supported and listened to.

About the Authors

Written by newly-weds Brendan McDonald and Corinne Gray, the book is a tongue-in-cheek ode to every response the couple received to revealing Brendan’s cancer diagnosis. They teamed up with Australian cartoonist, Simon Kneebone to bring their experiences to life with a touch of dark humor.