Choices in Healing : Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer

This text is designed for the cancer patient or health professional who seeks an overview of the available choices, both in treatments and in living with cancer. It offers 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 living fully with the possibility of recurrence. The book explains and evaluates a wide range of complementary therapy programmes, including spiritual and psychological approaches, nutritional therapies, physical therapies, pharmacological therapies and traditional medicines from around the world. There are also sections on prayer and 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 US cancer patients. The author describes his conclusions after 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 from the Commonweal Cancer Help Programmes, the residential support programme depicted by Bill Moyers in the 1993 PBS documentary, "Healing and the Mind". From 1988 to 1990, Michael Lerner served as Special Consultant to the US Congress Office of Technology Assessment for its landmark study "Unconventional Cancer Treatment". In 1983, he received a MacArthur Prize Fellowship for his work in public health. He is the founder and president of Commonweal, a health and environmental research institute. A Comprehensive Guide For Cancer Patient Or Health Professional Who Seeks A Comprehensive Overview Of The Available Choices, Both Treatments And In Living With Cancer. Detailed Explanations And Evalutions Of A Wide Range Of Complementary Therapy Programs, Including Spiritual And Psychological Approaches, Nutritional Therapies, Physical Therapies, Pharmacological Therapies, And Traditional Medicines. On Never Giving Up Hope : Three Stories -- Healing And Curing : The Starting Point For Informed Choice -- The Crucial Difference : International Variations In Conventional Cancer Therapies -- The Debate Over Conventional Cancer Therapies -- American Cultures Of Conventional Cancer Therapy -- Choosing Conventional Physicians, Hospitals And Therapies -- The Debate Over Unconventional Cancer Therapies -- A Framework For Evaluating Unconventional Cancer Therapies -- Spiritual Approaches To Cancer -- Psychological Approaches To Cancer -- What Science Says About Nutrition And Cancer : Macronutriens -- Can Vitamins And Minerals Help? The Scientific View : Macronutriens -- Unconventional Nutritional Approaches To Cancer--an Overview -- The Gerson Diet--a Radical Anticancer Therapy -- Macrobiotics--a Diet And A Way Of Life -- Virginia C. Livingston--integrating Diet, Nutritional Supplements, And Immunotherapy -- Keith Block--intergrating Diet, Fitness, And Psychological Support Into An Oncology Practice -- Physical And Energetic Approaches--exercise, Massage, Therapeutic Touch, And Chiropractic -- Traditional Chinese Medicine--a Favored Adjunctive Therapy For American Cancer Patients -- Unconventional Pharmacological Therapies--an Overview -- Stanislaw Burzynski--antineoplastons On The Edge Of Medical Credibility -- Joseph Gold--does Hydrazine Sulfate Prevent Weight Loss And Extend Life With Cancer? -- Emanuel Revici--will His Unique Therapy Ever Be Scientifically Assessed? -- Living With Cancer -- Controlling Pain -- On Living And Dying -- Making Your Choices -- Choice In Resources -- Professional Training Programs In Spiritual And Psychological Approaches To Cancer. Michael Lerner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 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.