Breast Case Scenario - by Rachel Sobel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A journey of using levity and relatability to provide tangible proof of the power of survivorship through early detection and self-advocacy.

When Rachel Sobel finds a lump in her breast, her first instinct isn't courage, grace, or even fear. It's immediate action...followed immediately by rage-cleaning the kitchen and wondering if it's too late to finally start using retinol more consistently.

In Breast Case Scenario, Rachel takes readers inside the terrifying, absurd, and unexpectedly hilarious reality of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment with the kind of honesty most people only share in group chats at 2 a.m. Between awkward mammograms, well-meaning but wildly inappropriate comments, surgical drains dangling like cursed accessories, and the emotional whiplash of trying to stay "positive," she discovers that cancer is not linear. One minute you are an inspirational quote, and the next you're crying in a Target parking lot while eating stale pretzels.

Sharp, vulnerable, and laugh-out-loud funny, this memoir captures the messy middle of survival: marriage and motherhood during medical chaos, friendships that deepen, and the strange sisterhood formed in waiting rooms. Rachel refuses to sugarcoat the experience, but she also refuses to let cancer steal her sense of humor--or her identity.

For anyone who has faced cancer, loved someone who has, or simply needs proof that it's possible to be scared out of your mind and still crack a joke, Breast Case Scenario is a reminder that even in the worst situations, laughter can be a lifeline.

About the Author

Rachel Sobel is an award-winning writer, speaker, podcaster, truth-teller, and survivor. She was awarded Romper's 2020 People's Choice Award at Mom 2.0 and is a two-time finalist for Parenting Blogger of the Year in the South Florida Blogger Awards. Rachel was a nominee for the Nurturing Futures Award from Miami Diaper Bank in 2026. She's the creator and cohost of the lifestyle podcast, Friends Without Benefits, with cohost Dale McLean. She has work published in three anthologies, including Jen Mann's New York Times bestseller, I Just Want to Hang Out with You. Rachel has written for HuffPost, Romper, Today Show Parents, PopSugar, Scary Mommy, Insider, She's Got Issues, and more. She has appeared on NPR, The Doctors, The Tamron Hall Show, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Rachel is the keynote speaker for the last seven years at The Mother of All Baby Showers in three Florida markets. She is a newly minted breast cancer survivor who will never shut up about early detection and self-advocacy. She recently spoke to hundreds of young women at her sorority Zeta Tau Alpha at her alma mater, University of Florida, about advocating for necessary breast cancer screenings and the importance of early detection. She is a patient advocate for Right Scan Right Time and was recently appointed to the organization's Patient Leadership Council (PLC). She also serves as an ambassador and peer supporter for Sharsheret. When she's not writing, Rachel is an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College where she teaches Intro to Speech Communications / Public Speaking. Rachel lives in South Florida with her husband, her two feisty daughters, and her giant labradoodle, Biggie Smalls.