The Cancer Channel: One Year. Two Cancers. Three Miracles.

Sarah E. McDonald

A Story of Hope

If you’re a cancer patient or know and love someone who is on this difficult journey, this book was written for you. In a voice that will make you feel you’ve met a new, fun friend, Sarah shares in vivid detail the events surrounding her year of cancer treatments. She touches on both the terror and the humor that can be found in the little moments that are part of fighting this awful disease. As a survivor and a champion determined to foster better understanding of the dos and don’ts with cancer patients, Sarah provides a story of hope to all who read this very personal memoir.

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Praise for the Cancer Channel

"Sarah McDonald is one of the most inspiring people I know. This book captures what I had the opportunity to see in person when I was CEO of eBay—how her authenticity, positive mindset and true courage helped transform everyone around her."
John Donahoe
John DonahoeCEO, Nike
The Cancer Channel offers us a front passenger seat on the journey to fight cancer. Whether you are battling it yourself, know someone who is, or want to read an incredible story of raw and real resilience—this book is for you.
Kate Berardo
Kate BerardoVP Leader Development, Meta
This is the book you hope you or a loved one will never need to read. The Cancer Channel is Sarah’s personal and unvarnished experience with the belief that cancer becomes less scary when we can talk openly about it. With humility and humor, she brilliantly shares her personal struggle to help bring hope and courage to anyone in their fight against cancer.
Eric Ryan
Eric Ryanco-founder of method and OLLY
Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, this is a wonderful story of perseverance amidst an improbable battle with not one but two cancers. Sarah brings this to life in a witty and engaging way that gives you real insight into what it is really like to go toe-to-toe with this terrible disease—and come out on the other side.
Rob Fauber
Rob FauberPresident & Chief Executive Officer, Moody’s Corporation
I highly recommend this book for patients, caregivers, and their family and friends. Sarah provides an intimate and honest view of her cancer journey, while at the same time providing hope that better days lay ahead for anyone facing a health challenge.
Dave Linn
Dave Linnco-founder of Cycle for Survival
Visceral, hilarious, devastating, and hopeful, Sarah McDonald has opened an intimate window to the lived experience of cancer and survivorship. I’d recommend this read to anyone in health care to remember why we do the work. I am a better clinician for it.
Lyra B. Olson, PhD
Lyra B. Olson, PhDDoctor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
Sarah’s memoir not only captures her powerful journey, lessons learned, and tremendous fortitude, but it is a strong call to action for employers everywhere to take a hard look at how they can better support their employees struggling with life-threatening diseases. She is living proof that providing the time and space to fully heal leads to better outcomes for the employee and greater loyalty to the company.
Jennifer Brown
Jennifer Brownfounder of Jennifer Brown Consulting, speaker, and author of Inclusion, How to be an Inclusive leader, and Beyond Diversity
This book is critical for those of us who have friends battling cancer, but also for those of us who have teammates who are fighting the same battle. Sarah gives us insight into how we can best show up for both.
Robby Swinnen
Robby Swinnenexecutive mentor and coach, former Fortune 25 corporate officer
Sarah’s book is a call to arms to physicians, patients, and to friends, family, and employers to be more reachable, to take ownership of their medical records and decision-making, and to be even more in-the-moment and listening. It’s a brave, honest, often humorous voice to the physical and emotional pain of incurable cancer, and the hope that, if we can silence its voice from time to time, we can focus on the positives and, with the help of a strong collective effort, survive if not thrive in its wake.
Richard Burroughs
Richard BurroughsMD
This honest, and at times raw memoir brings the reader along on the journey to face their fears with grace, passion, and humor. Each enlightening and inspiring lesson is an excellent reminder of specifically how to support a friend in need.
Kristin Yetto
Kristin Yettoformer Chief People Officer at eBay, Inc.
Not only does Sarah delve into the unknowns of a rare cancer diagnosis, but her journey resonates with every person impacted by cancer. It’s a story about the fragility of life, human resilience, and the power of turning gratitude into action. We are grateful to Sarah reminding us that ‘extraordinary moments do happen on ordinary days.’
Pascale Reich
Pascale Reichpresident of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Organization International (ACCOI)
I laughed. I cried. I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t put the book down. Sarah’s humanity and humor kept me talking about her story long after I put the book down.
Amy Norman
Amy Normanfounder and CEO of Little Passports
Sarah has a special way of pulling you into her personal triumph over cancer(s) through very honest, emotional, and engaging storytelling.
Michael Jones
Michael JonesCEO of Spoonflower
Battling two cancers while trying to get pregnant for the first time, Sarah takes us through her journey with a positive perspective. Her heart, humor, and humanity shine through in this book which is a must read for anyone navigating cancer care.
Chris Tsakalakis
Chris Tsakalakisformer president of StubHub
This book is a window into the mind of a 40-year-old woman fighting two cancers simultaneously, while handling the pressures of a career and marriage. Not only does it include the elements of fear, bravery, and triumph you’d expect from a book like this, but it’s also filled with a metrics-based process and humor that are unexpected and will make you laugh out loud.
Rob Chesnut
Rob Chesnutformer general counsel at Airbnb and author of the bestselling book Intentional Integrity: How Smart Companies Can Lead An Ethical Revolution
Sarah’s survival story through more than one cancer and infertility is an incredible journey that will leave the reader feeling inspired and hopeful. Consider gifting this book to loved ones seeking encouragement, direct talk, and humor.
Lora Shahine, MD
Lora Shahine, MDreproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility; Author of best-selling Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss; Host of Baby or Bust podcast
Many people and families, including ours, have faced the intense fear and sadness of cancer. And, as Sarah so eloquently and authentically shares, there can also be humor and hope in the midst of the pain and adversity.
Mike Robbins
Mike Robbinsauthor of Bring Your Whole Self to Work
Only Sarah McDonald can write a book that makes you feel like you have a new friend and an old friend by your side all at the same time. She guides you personally through how to handle a crisis with humor, humility and grace. She also teaches us as leaders how to handle these very hard, delicate situations with humor, humility and grace.
Kristie Grinnell
Kristie GrinnellSVP and CIO of DXC Technology
The Cancer Channel is a powerful, moving, and raw read. Sarah's writing is emotive, beautifully descriptive, and flat out funny. Through her story telling of the most intimate and vulnerable moments of her "cancers" journey, she inspires and demonstrates incredible resilience and courage. Sarah's “voice" is acutely authentic and I felt all her highs and her lows. THANK YOU Sarah for broadcasting The Cancer Channel to the world.
Alan H. Le MD
Alan H. Le MD
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Summary

At 44, Sarah McDonald was newly married, newly promoted, and planning pregnancy. It felt like a time of new beginnings in her life when suddenly she was diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer. Two months later she was diagnosed with another, unrelated cancer. During this struggle, her father’s cancer, ten years in remission, returned and added new challenges but also a cancer buddy to her world. Told in an honest and oftentimes vulnerable voice, Sarah recounts a year of difficult stories in lighthearted and humorous ways. Readers of this book will laugh and cry – and find it very difficult to set down.

 

Excerpts from The Cancer Channel

close up headshot Sarah E. McDonald with her daughter Rory

Prologue

Sarah E. McDonald

“Mommy. I keep all of my magic in my heart. Is that where you keep yours?”

I am sitting with my girl across my lap on the dense, cozy rug in front of our couch. It is mid-afternoon and I have picked her up early from her after school program so that she can have the just-Mommy-and-Rory time she had asked for this morning on our drive to school…

Read more and watch Sarah read this excerpt »

About the author

photo by Patti Lorin

Sarah E. McDonald is a two-time cancer survivor and one-time mother of daughter, Rory. She has spent the majority of her 30-year career in the technology industry, 14 years of which were at eBay, including the period while she was battling cancer. Sarah received her MBA from Cornell University and her BA from Occidental College. Beyond cancer, Sarah is interested in all things people-related – especially when paired with food, wine, the outdoors, and/or music. Sarah lives in Mill Valley, CA with her husband, Geoff, and daughter, Rory. The Cancer Channel is her first book.

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