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Cross Everything

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Cross Everything

By: Henry Scowcroft
Narrated by: Finlay Robertson
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A heart-wrenching, fascinating and deeply moving take on a disease that half of us will experience at some point in our lives.

When Henry Scowcroft's partner Zarah was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer in 2016, their world fell apart. An award-winning science writer for Cancer Research UK, Henry had spent 14 years at the coal-face of cancer research, but now the disease had infiltrated his personal life too. In Cross Everything - his first book - Henry uses this unique perspective to tell the story of Zarah's illness, how he tried in vain to use everything he'd learnt in his professional career to try to save her, and in doing so, how he realised that even a career writing about cancer daily isn't enough preparation for what comes next. Along the way, Cross Everything brings the listener up to speed with the latest understanding of cancer - a complex disease with a Darwinian capacity to outsmart its host.

“A moving, compelling and vital book, that sheds much needed light on the very latest understanding of cancer.” SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE, author of The Emperor of All Maladies

'Sensitive and informed. Essential for anyone supporting a loved one through cancer.' Deborah James, writer and broadcaster Cancer Medical Medicine & Health Care Industry Physical Illness & Disease Professionals & Academics
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A truly personal story of how an amazing lady fought with everything she had to overcome cancer. The book details her journey through every step and every battle, to the desperately sad ending where the battle is finally lost. Alongside this tragic story is the hugely informative account of the science of cancer, with the timeline of the tumour and the timeline of personal tragedy come together, explaining what happened but also (so far as is possible) why it happened, explaining in a forensic, detailed and structured manner that is (relatively) easy to follow.
A tragic but truly inspired personal account that I could personally relate to, never losing hope, always looking for the next solution or treatment to the latest problem, never ever losing hope, even when everyone else can ultimately see the battle isn’t to be won.
It shares the raw experience of the NHS, the good, the amazing and the shortcomings. It sets out in stark clarity the impact and power of good care, but the hugely painful impact of poor care and clumsy language.
Thank you to the author for allowing the reader the privilege of getting to know how special a person Zarah was, the tremendous spirit and fight she put up and then the heartache of losing her. But then given his unique position and role within Cancer Research, to shed light on the amazing work being done to understand and beat cancer, which one day will come, sadly too late for Zarah but the science is more informed for her journey and we are more informed thanks to Henry sharing the experience and the science. Thank you Henry. An amazing book and fitting tribute. Highly recommend this book.

The tragedy of losing someone to cancer with an amazing explanation of the science of cancer.

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A subject I thought I couldn’t bear to listen to but so much better than that. Constructive suggestions for a better cancer future.

Personal Tragedy used Positively

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But also honest, funny and tender. Henry Scowcroft takes us on the rollercoaster ride of his fiancée’s late stage cancer diagnosis. He brings his professional experience as a senior communications professional for one of the largest cancer charities in the world to delve into and explain what was really going on, and to consider how we can make care better for those who need it most. I was gripped even as it made me cry.

Heartbreaking, fascinating, terrifying

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