“You are a side effect," Van Houten continued, "of an evolutionary process that cares little for individual lives. You are a failed experiment in mutation.”

“Throughout the book, she refers to herself as "the side effect," which is just totally correct. Cancer kids are essentially side effects of the relentless mutation that made the diversity of life on earth possible.”

“I want to leave a mark.But Van Houten: The marks humans leave are too often scars.”

“His memory is compromised,' Lidewij said. 'If only my memory would compromise,' Van Houten responded.”

“Peter Van Houten was the only person I’d ever come across who seemed to (a) understand what it’slike to be dying, and (b) not have died.”

“Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying.”

“The Side Effects of Dying in Your Pants isn't really funny… Alright, it's a little funny.”