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

David Bognar (Author), Walter Cronkite (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 13, 1998

A thorough, state-of-the-art overview of all current mainstream, alternative, and complementary methods of fighting cancer, this book is the companion to the four-part series of the same name, hosted by Walter Cronkite, airing on PBS-TV in September 1998.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hunter House; 1 edition (August 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897932471
• ISBN-13: 978-0897932479
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,442,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good beginning, April 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cancer : Increasing Your Odds for Survival - A Resource Guide for Integrating Mainstream, Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Paperback)

David Bogner (and Walter Cronkite in the accompanying 4 hr. PBS videotape special) present a balanced introduction that allows someone recently diagnosed with cancer to get an overview of their treatment options. Without favoring a single approach, Bogner covers conventioal treatments, alternative treatments, psychoimmunity and spiritual approaches. Each of these sections presents a wealth of references where additional information can be obtained. Bogner points out that cancer and its course is a very individual matter and that those who do best are often those most informed about their options. Rather than advocating a particular approach, Bogner suggests that different approaches work best together. The book contains all the information presented in the video tape and then some, but the video tapes done by Walter Cronkite are very warm and reassuring. When Bogner's wife got cancer it took him some time to learn about the options. He wrote this book and produced the PBS special so that others faced with cancer could obtain this information more quickly and easily. He has succeeded in providing an excellent generic overview of treatment options. I can't think of a better, non-partisan basic source of information on cancer treatment than this very inexpensive book. It will not give you all the details about your type of cancer, but it will show you in broad outline the various approaches that are available and where to get more information on them.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, a good resource., August 20, 2000

By 

Raphael Mendoza (Pasadena) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cancer : Increasing Your Odds for Survival - A Resource Guide for Integrating Mainstream, Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Paperback)

In my opinion, a combo approach is the best bet at increasing your survival if you have been diagnosed with cancer. The information given here gives you a number of ways you can go about getting that combination therapy. When family members were researching alternative treatments for my grandmother's cancer, we explored this book along with a number of others. This one gave some good information that wasn't presented in other books. We also found a site, iHerb, that offered a variety of cancer fighting supplements along with additional documentation of their abilities. iHerb is a good source if you are seeking the alternatives Bognar mentions in this book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Advice, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cancer : Increasing Your Odds for Survival - A Resource Guide for Integrating Mainstream, Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Paperback)

This book is a current, objective, and informative source of information on conventional and alternative cancer treatment. I came across this book as my sister and I desperatly tried to find helpful information about treating cancer. This book impressed me as being the perfect book for anyone who is suddenly confronted with the disease for the first time and needs to get informed. They couldn't have picked a more fitting title.