Hell & Back: Wife & Mother, Doctor & Patient, Dragon Slayer

The book details the story of Dr. Tali Lando Aronoff as she is diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after the premature birth and NICU stay of her youngest daughter and finding out that her father has incurable brain cancer. She takes the reader along on her intimate and personal journey from diagnosis, to surgery and most importantly the reality of living day to day with breast cancer. Dr. Lando Aronoff writes with the precision and detail of a physician, the love and warmth of a mother and the humor, whit and strength of a dragon slayer.This book is a must read for anyone who has been personally diagnosed or loves someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a tribute to life, love, strength, humor, reality, and getting through tough times. Anyone moving through life and dealing with unexpected life changing events will find strength and guidance and relate to this book . It is a book about conquering fears and dealing with all the obstacles that prevent us from getting there. By sharing her experience, Dr. Lando Aronoff allows us into the secret chambers and depths of the mind and offers the reader sources of strength to deal with crisis and fear.

Don’t hesitate and BUY THIS BOOK! The author will take you on a journey that she has so unselfishly shared with her readers. It rings true and real and chapter to chapter will move you from straight-up laughter to tears. This is a book for cancer patients, family of cancer patients, or anyone who just wants a good book to curl up to and they will come out knowing more than the average person will know about breast cancer. You will close the book after reading the last page feeling that you have changed from when you first opened it. It is clear that the author intended this book to help others with this disease and as a physician and surgeon herself, she can provide a perspective that is both unique, comical and informative.Thank you Dr. Aronoff for giving us this gem of a book and for opening your life to others. Your children will have this very special gift and memoir and I will have something to give to my own friends and family. We all know someone that has had cancer impact his/her life. Buy this book for yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors. You WON’T be disappointed.

So this is a first - have never written a "Product Review" before.But this is a rare book - humility, humor (ok - hilarious), and a message.And there is more here than just a roadmap for those with breast cancer - it is an uplifting journey of hope through adversity - applicable to all of us in at least some aspects of our lives.And even if not on the "receiving end", there is also a strong message for all of us as a "community" - the little things that can matter when one of our friends or acquaintances (or frankly even a perfect stranger) is in need. And despite the unfortunate role models we witness in the current political milieu, surely what defines the health of a society is the word "Compassion".And the little anecdotes are pure gold. I have personally never felt a strong need to get nipple tattoos. But if I ever so feel the need in the future...well....now I know!

This book is so absorbing and so moving that I barely put it down from the moment I picked it up until I’d read it entirely. Somehow, despite enduring so heavy and awful a burden as discovering she has advanced breast cancer, just after learning that her beloved father is diagnosed with advanced brain cancer and while managing the stresses that come with raising three small children - the youngest newly born - with her devoted husband, all while maintaining her own career as a busy surgeon, the author is able to tell her story in a voice that is as lucid as it is genuine. She generously places no filter between the reader and the real experiences one can expect in dealing with breast cancer. Her unique combination of tragedy and humor had me laughing and crying through her book. It is a powerful and inspiring story and it has so much to give to anyone who’s had to live with cancer close to home.

I could not put this book down! Every chapter of this book brought me closer to the author’s story and her insights changed my perspective! She shares her journey in such a brave and candid way. I found myself laughing out loud and crying at so many parts of this book. Get this book and read it, its a page turner that will leave you with a needed understanding of cancer and most importantly, of what those dealing with cancer go through. I found myself learning so much and yet every piece of information was explained in the precise context that allowed me to understand it fully just as part of the story. As a physician herself, the author detailed situations in an eye opening way and her honesty is moving. This is a surprisingly hilarious book for such a difficult topic and I am so thankful to Tali for writing this!

This is a hilariously funny and emotional account of how a surgeon and mother-of-3 copes with her beast cancer diagnosis and the wild adventures of her treatment. This book taught me about the importance of resilience and grit, but also how to navigate the US healthcare system as a patient. Like the author, I am a physician. I was surprised by how much I learned from this memoir! This book should be required reading for anyone in any field of practice who is touched by this diagnosis. I highly recommend this book to all physicians caring for oncology patients, all breast cancer patients and survivors, and their families and friends. This would make a fantastic dropoff gift for a female friend with a new diagnosis of any type of cancer- that moment when no one is sure how to be most helpful. Thank you for sharing your story with us Dr. Tali Aranoff!

Dr. Tali Aronoff's book is incredible. Thank you for sharing your story! This is incredible for everyone, and I think medical students, researchers, physicians can also benefit from reading her experience, as well. Candid, poignant and truly inspiring!

Absolutely loved this book, it completely sumed up every emotion you go though when battling the big C. It was beautifully written with humour to get you through the heart wrenching moments. It's an absolute must read. What an amazing woman, a true inspiration.