An honest, unflinching, and sometimes humorous look at the practical and emotional effect that serious illness can have on patients and their families, Mom’s Cancer is a story of hope—uniquely told in words and illustrations.
Mom's Cancer was the first webcomic to win an Eisner Award, and this graphic novel edition won a Harvey Award. Mom's Cancer has become a word-of-mouth solace for many readers, as well as a touchstone for medical professionals.
"Fies’ book is not a discussion about the science of cancer, it is not a guidebook to the troubles one may face with this disease, and it is not your standard story with a predictable plot," wrote reviewer Samantha Estevez in Graphic Medicine. "Through this graphic novel, Fies simply tries to make sense of and document the reality of the course of his mother’s illness and how it affected his family. This case study not only gets to the heart of a powerful disease but also exemplifies how graphic novels can reach beyond what words strive to achieve."
Brian Fies is a freelance journalist whose mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. As he and his two sisters struggled with the effects of her illness and her ongoing recovery from treatment, Brian processed the experience in his journal, which took the form of words and pictures.
The story that came to be known as “Mom’s Cancer” first gained notice on the internet. It was posted anonymously, with the intention of sharing information and insights gained from his family’s experience.
Each year, approximately 1.5 million people in the United States and Canada are diagnosed with cancer. This is one family’s story.
