Too Young for Cancer

A stage IV cancer survivor reflects on treatment and recovery in this inspiring memoir that reveals the biases of the healthcare system-and the power of community.A stage IV cancer survivor reflects on treatment and recovery in this inspiring memoir that reveals the biases of the healthcare system-and the power of community.New Year's Eve 2020 was supposed to be a turning point to better days for twenty-nine-year-old Katie Coleman. Instead, she found herself in the ER processing the earth-shattering news of a stage IV cancer diagnosis, one that had come after years of being assured she was "too young for cancer" and a repeated misdiagnosis of anxiety.Too Young for Cancer tells the story of Katie's journey from diagnosis with an ultrarare cancer through treatment, recovery, and a life-altering shift in perspective. Katie starts her journey shy, timid, and frightened of an intimidating medical world, but as she learns how to advocate for herself, she faces her own mortality with bravery and finds herself at top cancer institutions arguing her case for a radical and high-risk surgery that could change her life forever.With support from her husband, innovative doctors, and a diverse community of cancer survivors, Katie finds her life's purpose to advocate not only for herself but also for others who are fighting just as hard for their lives.Too Young for Cancer highlights the absolute best and worst in healthcare and uncovers the silver linings and beauty of humanity filling the space in between.

Praise for Too Young for Cancer:
“This book is more than just a narrative of one young person's battle with cancer. It is a testament to the power of self-advocacy and the incredible strength found within a supportive community . . . [It] beautifully captures how interconnected we all are and how collective support can make a profound difference in the face of adversity . . . Katie’s story not only sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of living with a rare cancer but also serves as a beacon of hope for anyone facing their own battles.”
—Gretchen E. Vaughan, president and chief executive officer of the Kidney Cancer Association

“In sharing her journey and memoir, Katie takes us through the ups and downs of being diagnosed with cancer and what patients go through. She teaches us resilience, tenacity, and perseverance. We learn from Katie how to stay humbled, grounded, and become better listeners. An eye-opener book and a must read for all.”
—Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA Hematologist/Oncologist, podcaster of “Healthcare Unfiltered,” and author of The Cancer Journey and Toxic Exposure

“Let Katie’s memoir stand, ensconced in blunt truth, as a beacon of inspiration to patient advocates and a call to healthcare systems. This is a must read for patients suffering from diseases of all sorts and for patient-facing physicians across all disciplines.”
—Jonathan M. Hernandez, MD, Investigator, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health 

“Through this sometimes harrowing, ultimately hopeful account of her experience with a rare cancer, Katie Coleman makes an important contribution to the humane genre of narrative medicine. Having been diagnosed at an improbably young age and given an unfavorable prognosis, she turns one-in-a-million odds on their head and proves that, while statistics have their place, each patient is an n of 1 whose experience is entirely their own.”
—Mark A. Lewis, MD, director, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Intermountain Health

“Too Young for Cancer is a powerful and eye-opening read. It’s more than a book for cancer patients and their families—it is for anyone who is looking for proof of the human spirit's capacity to defy the odds and navigate through dark moments of uncertainty and risk. Katie Coleman bravely did exactly that, and the way she tells her story with such vulnerability, courage and moments of humor, it keeps you turning every page in anticipation and awe of how she made it through everything that she did. Filled also with insights about what being close to dying has taught her about living to the fullest, Katie’s story will leave an impact on you in more ways than one.”
—Kate Gladdin, international resilience speaker, podcast host, and author of Okay, Now What?

“Self-doubt and deference left Katie's rare cancer dismissed inside a medical system designed for routine ailments. The courage and tenacity she learned to survive are also a recipe for all of us to thrive.”
—Brian Ghidinelli, founder of MotorsportReg and racecar driver

Katie Coleman is a software engineer at the Rare Cancer Research Foundation, the founder of the nonprofit Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance, and the host of the podcast Oncology Unscripted. Katie has built a robust social media presence by sharing her experience with cancer since she was diagnosed in January 2020. Her story has been shared by NBC, Today, CBS, Cure, and many others. Find out more about Katie at katiekickscancer.com.

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