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

Michael Lerner

1 THE Book on Alternatives in Cancer Treatment
Until something better is written, this is THE book on the subject. Those who have reviewed this book before me have said it all, but I would add that Lerner is a writer of exceptional talent. At times reading this book is liking reading poetry or great inspirational prose and it is often quite moving.

2 Scepticism and optimism combined
First a word about me: I'm one of those cancer patients who doctors either love or hate. I read up on everything, and I am openminded about the benefits and risks of both conventional and alternative cancer therapies. I question everything and want to understand where the limits of our current understanding lie. I want references!

If you are anything like me, you'll appreciate the exceptionally fine balance that Michael Lerner draws. He honestly investigates the extent to which various cancer therapies work, mostly by reviewing "serious" research which examines cancer treatment from different angles. In areas where scientific studies contradict each other, he doesn't draw unfounded conclusions. He manages to give specific guidelines for dealing with cancer without advocating any one therapy too much.

Of the many books I've read on cancer, this is the one I appreciate the most. The tone of the book is honest, warm and caring; personal without being sentimental. And best of all, it inspires hope.

The one caveat I have is that I'd love to see a revised edition with all the newest research reviewed! If you're considering a purchase, do a websearch for "Lerner" and "Choices in Healing", this should provide you with a reference to an online version of the whole book. Once you're convinced, buy the book!

3 Deep, excellent.
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.

4 An excellen, balanced and compassionate book
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.

5 The book among cancer books!
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!

6 An invaluable resource
This book was recommended to me about a month after I was diagnosed with cancer. I had plenty else to read and think about at the time but I finished this book in just one afternoon at a cafe. Michael Lerner provided well-documented evidence for all his recommendations and gives you all of the information you could ever want about complementary health care. I highly recommend this book to people struggling with a new - or old - diagnosis of cancer!