Up for the Fight

How to Advocate for Yourself as You Battle Cancer—from a Five-Time Survivor

By: Bill C. Potts

Narrated by: Bill C. Potts

The essential guide to navigating your cancer journey—from a five-time survivor

Every year, 18 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. If you, or your loved ones, are one of them, you know exactly how overwhelming, scary, and confusing it is to navigate the journey through diagnosis, treatment, prognoses, and all their accompanying emotions.

Entrepreneur, business leader, IRONMAN triathlete, and five-time cancer survivor Bill C. Potts has waged a 20-year battle against the disease. In this valuable patient and caregiver guide, he shares his personal cancer story, and those of others, outlining everything you need to know to take on this fight.

With empathy and honesty, Potts explains exactly what to expect, and shares lessons and important tips you can put into action all the way from diagnosis, to treatment, to remission, to cure—and how to face setbacks on your road to recovery.

You’ll learn how to advocate for yourself, how to pick and manage your care team, and how to care for yourself emotionally and mentally. You’ll find out how to make your treatment days more comfortable, manage side effects, and understand test results. You’ll also find important information on diet, exercise, wellness, and staying active, as well as insights on how treatment and disease affects your immune system.

With special sections for people wanting to support a loved one with cancer, facing and making peace with death, and recalibrating your priorities to get the most out of the life you have now, you’ll gain the knowledge and tools you need to manage this journey—from someone who is walking the path alongside you.

©2022 Bill C. Potts (P)2022 Bill C. Potts

Critic reviews

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a scary and life-altering moment. Due to the ever-increasing complexity of modern medicine, patients are often faced with the challenging task of navigating between multiple doctors, understanding a rapidly changing treatment landscape, and dealing with the physical and emotional burdens that accompany a diagnosis. The right path is not always obvious and taking a wrong turn can sometimes lead to disastrous results. Unfortunately, resources to help guide patients are often scattered, outdated, or, at worst, wrong. Bill C. Potts has created an incredible tool for families, caregivers, and patients to navigate the battle against cancer. By using his years of experience as a guide, Bill provides unique and invaluable insight into what it took to win his own battle. I hope that every new cancer patient has an opportunity to read this incredible book and use it as a resource to beat cancer.” Dr. Nathan Fowler, Professor of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Chief Medical Officer, BostonGene; Co-Founder, Halo House Foundation

“As an oncologist treating many cancer patients, including Bill C. Potts, I am grateful that Bill wrote this book and will recommend it to those dealing with cancer. It provides information that patients and their families will find practical and helpful, from the perspective of a very experienced patient.” Dr. Ernesto Ayala, hematologist and oncologist, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

“I’ve worked closely with multiple myeloma patients for more than a decade, and I have seen firsthand how incredibly difficult it is for patients when they first hear the words, ‘You have cancer.’ Patients and their loved ones then start on a journey to navigate their disease so that they can all become core members of the care team. Up for the Fight provides solid, specific advice to help patients know what to do as they ride this bumpy road. I highly recommend this incredibly useful and easy-to-read book to anyone going through the cancer journey. It provides great insights on how to best manage the diagnosis, and offers tips from the start to finish of treatment. I only wish this book had been written when I started my own cancer journey.” Jane Hoffmann, Senior Director, Events and Partnerships, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation; cancer survivor

Very good , worth any Person who is part of the cancer team !

Thank you for writing this ! My adult 30yr old daughter just diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. I appreciate you , your family and your team for sharing this journey in order to help others !

Must Have Book for those Going through or know someone with cancer.

“Up for the Fight” is a must have resource for anyone with cancer or for anyone who knows someone going through cancer. Great illustrations on what to expect from both the patient, caregiver, and family members. Bill Pott’s transparency and authenticity teaches you how to be an advocate for yourself or your loved one with cancer. Being part of the “cancer club” myself, Bill makes you feel you are not alone. Highly recommend this A++ book for anyone looking to navigate the healthcare system and how to interact with those with cancer.