I grabbed "In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens" from the new nonfiction shelf at my local library. The description – "compelling stories from a surgeon and his patients fighting cancer" – totally hooked me. I'm a sucker for real-life stories about people overcoming tough stuff. It was a pretty quick read, and honestly, if I or someone in my family were battling cancer right now, I probably would have devoured every single word. Since that's not the case, I focused on the human...

This nonfiction book, written by a cancer surgeon about his life and his encounters with cancer patients, will have you both crying and smiling. It’s just that powerful and captivating. *In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens*, by Steven A. Curley MD FACS, is structured into chapters, each beginning with a quote that sums up the story within. These quotes come from remarkable figures, from Samuel Johnson to Henry David Thoreau to Maya Angelou. The book opens with Curley describin...

I found "In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens" a fascinating insight into the behind-the-scenes, everyday work life of an oncology surgeon. It's really well-written, with compassion, dignity, and a clear focus on the patients themselves. Steven A. Curley MD FACS doesn’t seem at all conceited about the fact that he has saved lives. He admits that he feels he has failed and that cancer has won on occasion. He has humility, something you don't always see. Patients and relatives co...

Emotional, inspiring, and full of hope, 'In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens,' Dr. Steven Curley draws on his most memorable experiences from his 25-year career as a surgical oncologist. While he dedicates his life to helping those with cancer live longer and more fulfilling lives, he has found his own life profoundly affected by his patients. He's woven the lessons learned from them into stories with motivating themes like Empathy, Determination, Perseverance, Courage, and Wi...

You might have certain expectations when picking up a book like *In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens*, but it delivers so much more. Sure, the medical details are there, but Dr. Curley's writing is anything but jargon-filled and exclusive. He explains things in enough detail to make sure you understand, without ever talking down to you. It’s a balancing act he’s clearly mastered. It's obvious that communication is incredibly important to Curley and central to his medical pract...

This book absolutely delivers on its promise! "Compelling stories from a surgeon and his patients fighting cancer" is exactly what you get with *In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens*. Steven A. Curley MD FACS clearly sees his patients' stories as invaluable gifts, and he's learned so much from them. The stories he's collected and presented here resonate with hope, respect, and raw honesty. Curley's sensitive approach provides an incredibly rich context, going far beyond just th...

I just finished reading *In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens* by Steven A. Curley MD FACS. What impressed me the most is his incredible compassion for his patients. When told he cares *too* much, he refuses to change. He makes an effort to truly know each patient, never reducing them to just the body part affected by cancer. When a patient's future looks bleak, he walks alongside them through the struggle, never distancing himself like some doctors do. His stories reveal a de...

I just finished reading *In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens* by Steven A. Curley MD FACS. What impressed me most is his compassion for his patients. When told he cares too much, he refuses to change. He gets to know each patient and never reduces them to just the body part with cancer. When a patient's future looks bleak, he walks with them through the struggle, never distancing himself like some doctors do. This is a must read if you're looking for inspirational books about ...

This book, In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens, is truly incredible. The struggle and unwavering spirit of Dr. Steven A. Curley MD FACS, and his patients, is something I believe everyone should experience through reading at least once. This collection of stories serves as an inspiration to those battling cancer, and it offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into the remarkable strength of the human spirit when confronted with the fear and hopelessness that cancer brings. I'll admit...

In *In My Hands: Cancer, Hope, and the Surgeon Who Listens*, Dr. Steven Curley delivers a powerful collection of stories about his patients' battles with cancer. As a compassionate physician, Curley shares these real-life experiences, highlighting the importance of hope, dignity, and empathy in the face of such a challenging diagnosis and the often grueling treatments that follow, from chemotherapy to surgery. With over twenty years of experience as Chief of Surgical Oncology at Baylor College o...