Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips
By Kris Carr
skirt!, 2008

At 31, Kris Carr, a New York actress and photographer, was floored when she was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer found in her lungs and liver. Not content with merely accepting her new title as a cancer survivor, Carr filmed a documentary of her cancer experience, as well as four newly found friends also dealing with cancer. The film quickly became a movement, reaching patients and survivors via the Internet and TV network TLC.

The next step was the book, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, which builds on the documentary, including the moments she wasn’t able to share during the film, such as diagnosis and dating tales, diet, her “cancer posse,” which includes other cancer survivors and advocates, and coping strategies.  

While most of her diet tips are extreme—cutting out dairy and meat products and consuming mostly raw foods, the best part of the book is when Carr goes into more detail about her journey through cancer and the addition of several young survivor interviews, including Lindsey Nohr Beck, the founder of Fertile Hope, and Diem Brown, ovarian cancer survivor known for MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Other chapters explore how to look good during cancer and how to feel better by using makeup, clothing, and attitude; dating and sexuality after a diagnosis; and recipes and resources.

Full-color photos and a scrapbook-like feel make the book a fun and helpful guide for young cancer survivors. The book is more than a memoir, Carr writes. “It’s a collection of facts, hints, hell-yeahs, how-tos, and know-hows for all you glorious Cancer Babes out there.”