The Breast Cancer Diaries

“Cancer Sucks” is the attitude adopted by Ann Murray Paige, only 38 years old when diagnosed with breast cancer. Formerly a news anchor, Ann turns the camera on herself to document the struggle of facing a potentially fatal illness at such a young age. Armed with humor and with her family at her side, Ann faces cancer head-on, gracefully dealing with the realities of her disease, from the harrowing effects of chemotherapy to the choice of the appropriate wig and proper prosthetic breasts. Ann's video diaries are intertwined with real time footage, both filmed over a 12 month period; the two intermix to create a film that manages to encompass the role of breasts in American society and the difficulties of being a four-year old boy whose Mom has cancer. A remarkably fresh and honest documentary, it deals equally with both the gravity of a life-threatening illness and the inconvenience of having that illness while trying to re-start a career and raise two children. – J.B.H.