Suzanne Dalton has accomplished much in her life—she is an artist, writer, actor, web designer, and program manager. The one undertaking for which she did not sign up was breast cancer. In her new memoir, humor guides Suzanne through difficult decisions about treatments, surgeries, and reconstruction. Her story, told through witty letters to friends, includes a party before surgery, a zany poodle, and refusal to let cancer define her. A Year Lost, A Life Gained: Fighting Breast Cancer With Wit, Humor, Friends and a Perky Poodle is at its heart a beautifully-told story and a guide intended to aid anyone diagnosed with cancer whether they've completed the journey or are just embarking upon the path.