The Story of My Tits

A landmark work of graphic memoir and a cancer narrative that pulls no punches.

When Jennifer Hayden was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43, she realized that her tits told a story. Across a lifetime, they’d held so many meanings, including hope, fear, pride, embarrassment, life, and death. Then they were gone. Now, their story has become a way of understanding her story. Growing up flat-chested and highly aware of her inadequacies—heading off to college, where she “bloomed” in more ways than one—navigating adulthood between her mother’s mastectomy, her father’s mistress, and her musician boyfriend’s problems of his own—not to mention his sprawling family. Then the kids come along. As cancer strikes three different lives, some relationships crumble while others emerge even stronger, and this sarcastic child of the ‘70s finally finds a goddess she can believe in.

For everyone who’s faced cancer personally or watched a loved one fight that battle, Hayden’s story is a much-needed breath of fresh air, an irresistible blend of sweetness and skepticism. Rich with both symbolism and humor, The Story of My Tits will leave you laughing, weeping, and feeling grateful for every day.