Cancer: Increasing Your Odds for Survival : A Resource Guide for Integrating Mainstream, Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Offers current information on all of the traditional and nontraditonal cancer treatments, and tells patients what questions to ask their doctors and how to evaluate their treatment

When Bognar's girlfriend, Cindy, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 he began investigating cancer treatments. After her death in 1990, Bognar (an independent video and TV producer) stepped up his research, and the result is this book and a four-part public television documentary of the same title, narrated by Walter Cronkite. After a brief discussion of dealing with a cancer diagnosis, getting second opinions and gathering information, Bognar explains treatment options. He considers conventional therapies first, but when these fail, or offer extremely low odds of success, Bognar sees little downside risk in trying unconventional therapiesAas long as an independent testing agency is available to monitor one's progress. Options range from herbs and diets to acupuncture and detoxification regimens, even medical astrology and channeling. Bognar breaks down the treatments in such categories as alternative, mind/body complementary/ supplemental, interventions and spiritual healing. He also includes interviews with such relevant individuals as Dr. Bernie Siegel. Although this guidebook (which lists additional sources of information such as research services, organizations, Web sites, phone numbers and books) helps users make their own therapy decisions in a bewildering world of choices, readers who have been newly diagnosed may want to turn to more traditional books written for their specific type of cancer.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Devastated by the 1990 death of his partner from breast cancer, Bognar spent the next eight years doing research on the subject. The result is this resource guide (and a companion four-hour video) for cancer patients and their families, covering the emotional shock and disorientation at diagnosis, the choice of a healing program, and the emotional, spiritual, and psychological issues of a life-threatening and often terminal disease. Eight of nine thematic chapters end with in-depth interviews with leaders in conventional and alternative healing approaches (e.g., Bernie Siegel, Lawrence LeShan, and Bruce Chabner of the National Cancer Institute). Bognar looks at all research and therapies with a balanced, critical eye. Short discussions of tests and treatments are clearly written and immediately followed by lists of resources, including books, institutions, telephone numbers, and Web sites. Appendixes include lists of cancer-care centers, organizations and support groups, and cancer-related seminars. A balanced, highly recommended guide to help the cancer patient be a well-informed consumer. Penny Spokes