Then Came Life

June 16, 2014
Television producer and women’s health advocate Lucas (Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy) was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and treatment at age 27. Now 45, the survivor and mother of two reassesses life after cancer and discusses the challenges it entails, including fear of the cancer returning, uncertainty about the future, parenting struggles, marriage woes, and struggles with her identity as a stay-at-home mom. In addition to telling her story, Lucas explores the dangers and warnings associated with pregnancy after cancer. She also weighs in on political issues such as a bill that requires mammographers in New York to give patients with dense breasts the heads-up that additional screening methods may be needed; in the course of the book, the author’s cousin falls victim to breast cancer after being misdiagnosed for this very reason. Lucas also deftly mines the topic of mother/daughter relationships, discussing her “enmeshment” with her teenage daughter and her sometimes-rocky connection with her own mom. Prone to self-criticism and with an affinity for Botox, Spanx, and antidepressants (as well as the red lipstick gives her courage), Lucas doesn’t hold back as she confronts aging, negativity, and living fearlessly. This forthright tale of a woman facing her future after cancer will resonate with survivors as well as others caught in the throes of midlife. Agent: Joelle Delbourgo, Joelle Delbourgo Associates.