Cancer: A Personal Challenge

Cancer: A Personal Challenge
Edited by Bob Rich, Ph.D.
Aninas Book Company
ISBN: 1-877053-12-0
Non-Ficiotn, Health, Cancer
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

Cancer: A Personal Challenge is both a guide and an inspirational resource for those dealing with cancer. This book contains four parts: There is Hope, The Facts, Living With It, and Tools For Fighting Back. The first and third parts of this book are composed of stories written by those touched by cancer. These accounts express the frustration, anger, pain, guilt, defensiveness, anxiety, and self-pity that are felt by those suffering from this disease and those that love them. At the same though, these narratives illustrate inner strength, courage, and the healing power of love and hope.
The second and forth part of this book are much more technical and scientific in nature. The second section explains the technical aspects of the various types of cancer and states the statistical survival rates of such. This information reiterates the importance of early detection and the value of stating personal end of life care wishes.
The final portion of this work is also very detailed. This section examines the various alterative and holistic therapies for cancer. In particular, this section looks at the connection between psychological processes and the immune system; the role of stress in reducing and fighting various forms of the disease; and the benefits of meditation, guided visual imagery, and hypnosis in reducing pain and fear associated with cancer.