Choices in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer: Amazon.co.uk: Michael Lerner: Books

Review

"Here we have a truly remarkable book. Unlike anything in thealternative literature, Choices in Healing gives ascrupulously nonjudgemental review of the world of alternativetreatments for cancer. Michael Lerner is a talented, scientificallyastute and well-educated individual... His compilation of bothorthodox and alternative approaches to cancer is superb...This is essential reading." Karol Sikora , New Scientist "A bridge that many skeptics can at least approach. The textis both critical and hopeful toward both conventional andcomplementary methods of therapy. Physicans will certainly findthis book, with its in-depth index and extensive appendixed resourceguide, the best single available source if they are willingto explore this area." John M. Merrill , M.D., Journal of the American Medical Association "I urge anyone dealing with cancer to read Michael Lerner"s excellent book." Andrew Weil M.D., author of Spontaneous Healing and Natural Health, Natural Medicine, and many other books.

Product Description

Written by one of the country's leading authorities on alternative and complementary cancer treatments, Choices in Healing is designed for the cancer patient or health professional who seeks a comprehensive overview of the available choices, both in treatments and in living with cancer.Choices in Healing offers valuable information and guidance for the whole life cycle of cancer -- from the initial shock of diagnosis to decisions about choosing a physician and conventional therapies, selecting complementary therapies, coping with treatment, and the art of living fully with the possibility of recurrence.There are detailed explanations and evaluations of a wide range of complementary therapy programs, including spiritual and psychological approaches, nutritional therapies, physical therapies, pharmacological therapies, and traditional medicines from around the world. There are sections on prayer and other forms of spiritual healing; psychotherapy, support groups, visual imagery and hypnosis; massage, therapeutic touch, yoga, and Qi Gong; macrobiotic diet and other cancer diets; acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines; and numerous other unconventional therapies used by American cancer patients.With an unusual combination of compassion and objectivity, Michael Lerner describes his conclusions following more than a decade of study of unconventional cancer treatments in North America, Europe, India, and Japan. He also draws extensively on his work with hundreds of cancer patients who have participated in the Commonweal Cancer Help Programs, the residential support program depicted by Bill Moyers in his 1993 PBS documentary "Healing and the Mind."

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Deep, excellent. 29 Aug 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Now in paperback, this is the book to send your friends with cancer. Its wide-ranging, patiently and caringly written, scholarly but accessible, and chocked with interesting references and good insights. Michael Lerner has taken it upon himself to do a thorough 'work-up' on the best of that heterogeneous lot of hearsay cures and popular supplemental treatments that cancer patients will start hearing about from friends, relatives and distant acquaintaces practically as soon as they are diagnosed. Choices in Healing gives one a way to start sorting it out.

Lerner strives for, and I feel achieves, an excellent balance between optimism and skepticism as he covers (a) the different "cultures" of conventional treatment - aggressive, gentle, U.S., European, Japanese, (b) spiritual approaches, (c) nutritional approaches, (d) physical and energetic approaches, (e) non-conventional herbal and pharmacological approaches. Stanislaw Burzynski, Virginia Livingston, Joseph Gold and Emanuel Revici, are some of the famous off-range cure inventors that he dignifies with his patient research.

I also found his chapters on the spiritual and psychological dimensions of the cancer journey especially strong. He takes the reader up to death's door. And beyond. The chapter on pain is a revelation.

Highly recommended for anyone.

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An excellen, balanced and compassionate book 26 April 1999

As a pediatric oncologist with a special interest in the use of complementary medicine in cancer, I've read many books on this topic; and I must say this is the best so far. Dr Lerner is objective, knowledgeable, and writes well. His passion for the field, and his compassion for cancer patients show through. I would recommend anyone who intends to explore the use complementary medicine in cancer to start off with this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

The book among cancer books! 11 Dec 1998

Everyone touched by cancer should have this book in their library. Dr. Lerner's feelings come through in this book, as he takes the reader objectively through the variety of treatment modalities available, from alternative to standard medical treatment. However, his presentation is supportive of the reader's individuality, and intelligence. There were many opportunities for me to 'mark' the pages, and return to them later. In fact, one quotation by a physican-cancer-patient impacted me so much, I tried for days to relocate the lines. Never did (if you do, let me know!).

I found this book especially helpful right after my metastasis report came in. Now, after chemotherapy, it's probably time to go back to it. This book is a keeper!