A LIGHTER SIDE TO CANCER

A holistic mental-health counselor describes how she pursued natural, alternative treatments after receiving a cancer diagnosis in this debut memoir and self-help guide.

In 2000, two weeks after Sandra Miniere completed a strenuous trek up Mission Peak in Fremont, Calif., she noticed two small lumps in her left breast. She was diagnosed with Stage I invasive tubular breast cancer. Although she took her oncologist’s recommendation and underwent a left-breast mastectomy with reconstruction, her recovery of choice centered on an array of alternative, pricey treatments, including a radical 10-day internal-cleansing program in Hawaii, as well as herbs, teas, supplements, digestive enzymes and acupuncture. She concentrated on eliminating inflammation-causing foods, while also looking into the psychological components that might contribute to cancer. After surviving a relapse, Miniere is now cancer-free. This book describes her proactive wellness mission, providing an array of resources on nearly every page, including scholarly articles, bulleted chapter summaries and statistics. Her account is part memoir, part support manual and resource guide, and a valuable resource—not only for cancer sufferers, but also for those looking to embrace a healthier lifestyle. While some of the advice has a slight New Age bent, particularly in its encouragement of spiritual practices, readers less inclined toward spirituality will still find a hefty arsenal of information here. The book offers detailed appendices on acidic and alkaline foods, raw food recipes and a how-to on a method called “Emotional Freedom Technique,” and closes with remarkable stories from 12 cancer survivors, many of whom adopted alternative treatment methods.

A valuable look at alternative approaches to cancer recovery.