Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker – Book Review

Feb 24, 2011
Marie Cauley

Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker - Eleanor Goodman

Nancy made a promise to her sister Susan G. Komen, as she died of breast cancer. Learn about these remarkable sisters & how that promise changed the world.

Have you ever had this thought: "I'm only one person...I can't make that much difference in the world."

Nancy Brinker can prove to you that this statement is simply not true. As her sister, Suzy, lay dying of breast cancer, she made Nancy promise that women and their doctors would learn more about breast cancer so they wouldn't have to go through what she did. Nancy has kept that promise more than a million times over...and in the process challenged the notion that an individual can't make a major change in the way things are done. Once you read Promise Me, you will never be the same.

Growing Up Susan and Nancy Goodman

This memoir begins with the story of the Goodman sisters growing up, from childhood and dating, through a memorable European journey and Suzy's marriage and motherhood. It's a wonderful look into the life of someone we never knew much about, even though her name is well known...Susan G. Komen. Nancy does an incredible job of showing us the real person behind the name, as only a loving sister could. Suzy was also a model and homecoming queen who loved the color pink...and her favorite color would come to symbolize hope around the world.

Illness and Death of Susan G. Komen

Nancy chronicles everything that Suzy went through as she battled breast cancer, along with how it affected her, their parents and Suzy's husband and young children. Anyone who reads Promise Me will clearly be able to see why Nancy's oath to her sister was so important, not only for her family but for the sake of women everywhere. Because of Susan and Nancy, great strides have been made in breast cancer research, detection and treatment options. The medical world has come a long way since August 4, 1980...the day Suzy passed away and left behind a grieving family and an extremely determined sister.

Other Women's Stories

At the end of each chapter, Nancy focuses the spotlight on others. Some are stories of women who battled breast cancer and some are about the people who are working hard to rid the world of this awful disease. Often, they are one in the same...women who have been through it all and have the battle scars to prove it. They are the ones who know what this cancer does and like Suzy, don't want other women to have to go through so much heartache themselves.

Nancy's Life...and Susan G. Komen For The Cure

There is a lot of information in this book about Nancy's life as well, since so much of it is dedicated to Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few years after her sister died, which only made her promise stronger and her efforts more focused. She tells us how SGK got off the ground, gained more support, and began to thrive. A major component to this support system was Nancy's husband, Norman Brinker. His first wife was Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly, the professional tennis star who died of cancer in 1969, so he knew a lot about dealing with the disease. He also knew business...and helped Nancy with her fundraising efforts and other issues that came up along the way.

Included in the back of the book is a timeline of events in the history of breast cancer and SGK, plus a list of resources for women (and men) who are going through it and their families who need to support them. In Promise Me, Nancy reveals just how special her promise is...not only to Suzy, but to everyone affected by cancer now and in the future.

Nancy states that the majority of her royalties from this book go directly to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.