Lump in My Throat: What Cancer Taught Me about Communication

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, navigating the maze of emotions and decisions can be overwhelming. In this inspiring and deeply personal memoir, Michael Handford – a professor of intercultural communication – shares his experience of a stage-4 throat cancer diagnosis at the age of 42 while living and working in Japan and the UK. Weaving together his professional insights and personal experiences, and through vivid storytelling, Handford examines how communication – whether with doctors, loved ones, or oneself – can shape the cancer experience. He shows that creating meaning and agency in the face of illness can provide a sense of control amidst the chaos. This book is not just about surviving cancer but about reframing it as part of a quest for connection, resilience, and understanding. Poignant, and at times brutally funny, Lump in My Throat offers guidance, hope, and tools to navigate the toughest of times with dignity and strength.

Michael Handford is an internationally renowned academic, having held professorships and honorary fellowships at the Universities of Tokyo, Cardiff and Birmingham. His research explores the relationship between communication and culture, often in professional settings. In 2011–12, he was treated for stage-4 throat cancer in Tokyo and Birmingham. This work interprets his cancer experiences through cultural and communication lenses.