Healing Essence: A Cancer Doctor's Practical Program for Hope and Recovery

In this remarkable book, one of the nation's top oncologists presents sixteen powerfully inspirational stories of his patients, whose battles with cancer, AIDS and other devastating illnesses formed the basis for a unique 28-day meditation program that has helped hundreds face their doubts, find strength and regain inner peace. Through a "guided imagery process" called ESSENCE, an acronym for "Experience, See, Surrender, Empower, Nurture, Create and Embody", the program focuses on healing the mind as well as the body, and is designed to work alongside regular clinical treatments. The complexion of medicine today has changed: -- According to a Harvard Medical School study, 69% of Americans used some form of alternative or complementary medicine in the previous year. -- They spend close to $30 billion annually on alternative therapies. -- Prominent hospitals are incorporating alternative medicine into their clinical practice, or establishing alternative medicine divisions. -- Insurance companies now reimburse customers for such alternative therapies as acupuncture and herbal treatments.

Here are two books on coping with cancer in the long term. Written by the director of the largest cancer program devoted to providing free psychological/social support to patients and their families, The Wellness Community Guide to Fighting for Recovery from Cancer aims to reach some of the more than one million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year. In this revised version of From Victim to Victor (LJ 10/15/87), Benjamin takes a relentlessly cheerful, upbeat, and positive approach, emphasizing stress reduction, visualization techniques, immune system maximization, improved diet, exercise, and use of the Patient Active concept, which blends psychology and psychoneuroimmunology in an effort to convince patients that they can counter their disease. He argues that in fighting to recover, patients will improve the quality of their lives and, by following specific suggestions, will gain hope, control, and the ability to take advantage of partnerships with their healthcare providers, support groups, family, and friends. This energizing book has valuable appendixes to aid in this process and is enthusiastically recommended. Gaynor is associate director at New York's Strang-Cornell Cancer Prevention Center and a professor at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. His Healing Essence, which addresses many of the same concerns as Benjamin's book, offers a seven-step technique called ESSENCE that stresses mind/body connections. An acronym for experience, see, surrender, empower, nurture, create, and embody, ESSENCE is recommended as a means of handling fear, going beyond suffering, ending melancholy, and creating hope. While both these books focus on empowerment and self-work, Benjamin's book has the edge with its energetic message and gentle yet firm guidance through the processes of taking control while working within a medical framework. Recommended for consumer health and patient education collections.?Janet M. Coggan, Univ. of Florida Libs., Gainesville
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.