Amanda Lourens’ ‘The Sum of the Parts’ is self-described as ‘not just another cancer story’. However, it adds up to so much more than that. Hope, disappointment, small victories and a pursuit of knowledge are just some of what the informative memoir entails:
South Africa (21 April 2024) — When I first cracked open Amanda Lourens memoir, ‘The Sum of the Parts’, I prepared myself purely for heavy emotions. Although Amanda makes it very clear on the cover of the book that it is ‘not just another cancer story’, I—as the kind of reader who can get very emotionally invested—did not want to be caught off guard or without a tissue, writes Good Things Guy’s Ashleigh Nefdt.
If I had told myself when I first started reading a book about someone’s personal cancer journey, that by the end I would also feel an array of positive emotions, I’m not sure I would’ve believed myself. But, this is exactly how ‘The Sum of The Parts’ left me feeling.
This is because Amanda’s story is greater than the sum of the parts. It is a telling of great and real moments of friendship and love, of self-discovery, of questioning, of the human experience, of health, of unimaginable fear, of resilience and of honesty that, when you add them all up, they do not result in one emotion for you as the reader, but many. And many laced with gratitude at that—for each has its own lesson.
‘The Sum of the Parts’, takes us, in impressive detail, along on the ride that was Amanda’s cancer journey (triple-negative breast cancer) as diagnosed in 2019 when she was a hairdresser. As a health-conscious person who ate organic, avoided refined sugar and was mindful of her body, the news was a striking shock. But, instead of being the end of her, it marked the beginning of a new Amanda—one who turned her situation into an opportunity for incredible inner growth, an endless pursuit of knowledge and eventually, put her in the position to help others as a wellness coach and holistic cancer coach.
The detail of her story is noteworthy on two accounts: both for how she recounts her thoughts and emotions during each stage (alongside retrospective takes on so many of them), and for the wealth of information and insight she provides that focus on the many, many topics related to her cancer journey, from the medical to the mental.
Amanda showcases explicit awareness that we live in an age of great misinformation, where sadly, the most desperate people are also the most susceptible. And so, her story does not just take us from appointment to milestone (though there are a lot of these), or from fear to bravery, but also a great conclusion that we must question what we are told to be true.
In a three-part telling, we smile at the small victories and root for Amanda through the pitfalls. Chemo, surgery and radiation have never been accused of being easy (not least when the latter is done during COVID-19). But what makes Amanda’s telling a hopeful one (beyond her almost always eager to try attitude) are the sparks of joy she includes that often take the form of others. From surgeons to adopted kittens, dedicated family members and chemo-buddies, Amanda reminds us that even if it cannot come from ourselves, strength has a way of finding us through the joys in life.
Indeed, it is not just ‘another cancer story’, because the only one-size-fits-all cancer stories are the ones that were not written by someone who has actually had cancer. It is beautifully transparent, educational, well-rounded and the kind of book that is guaranteed to make you think.
The back of the book
This informative memoir unveils Amanda’s journey through the challenging landscape of treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, which concluded during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Faced with the daunting task of navigating a healthcare system overwhelmed by misinformation and noise on social media. Amanda bravely seeks out accurate information and shares her invaluable insights.
Social media has become a double-edged sword for cancer patients seeking information and support. Through the digital world, these patients are inundated with abarrage of opinions, stories, and conflicting advice about their treatment journey, making it dificult to make sound decisions for their health. Join Amanda as she defies the odds—finding hope, resilience and, ultimately, a renewed perspective on life. This is a compelling anecdote that sheds light on the power of evidence-based knowledge in the face of adversity.
The Sum of the Parts serves as a powerful narrative that intertwines with Amanda’s own cancer journey, and offers invaluable guidance to navigating social media’s information maze. In this heartfelt and insightful story, readers will find solace, inspiration, and practical strategies to make informed decisions to become active participants in their own treatments.
Amanda’s book was published in 2024, and it is available as both a hard copy and an e-book. You can find out more about Amanda and the book here!
Interested in more proudly South African books? You can find more of our book reviews here.
Sources: GTG
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