Page 52 - Reader's House Magazine Issue 53

Transforming Challenges into Aha! Moments
Ruth Fein discusses her inspiring journey with chronic cancer, blending journalism and advocacy, her book The Big C2, and her mission to empower patients through storytelling and education.
“Each story is intended to leave the reader with an aha! moment.”
RUTH FEIN
REFLECTS ON TURNING LIFE WITH CHRONIC CANCER INTO INSPIRING STORIES
AND PATIENT ADVOCACY
Editor’s Desk I London
but also inspires readers through moments
of wit, wisdom, and poignancy. In this interview, Ruth shares her motivations, her unique methodology of blending journalism with advocacy, and her mission to demystify complex medical topics for diverse audiences. Her work resonates deeply, offering not only information but also hope and validation to cancer “thrivers” and their loved ones. It is an absolute privilege to share her wisdom and the incredible impact of her writing with you in this edition.
In your book “The Big C2 - stories
from the chronic side of cancer,” you weave together your own story with the experiences and insights of others. Could you discuss how your life with
a chronic cancer shaped the narratives within the book?
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been personally touched by cancer. Living with a rare, invisible blood cancer for 30 years fills my head and heart with experiences others could benefit from reading – people living with cancer, their family and friends, their medical teams. I combined my own essays and life stories with interviews I conducted with
52 II Reader’s House
Ruth Fein’s remarkable literary jour- ney is one of resilience, empathy, and purpose, and it is with great pleasure that we spotlight her in this issue of Reader’s House. With a distinguished 40-year career gracing the pages of esteemed publications like The New York Times and a globe-spanning dedication to patient advocacy, Ruth stands as a luminary in health and life science writing. For more than three decades, she has lived with a rare chronic blood can- cer—a deeply personal experience that has shaped her advocacy and writing, empowering countless individuals facing similar challeng- es.
Her profoundly moving book, The Big C2 – Stories from the Chronic Side of Cancer, is a masterful tapestry of personal narratives and interviews with patients, caregivers, and renowned specialists. It not only offers vivid insights into the realities of chronic cancer