The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist's Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person [Hardcover]

Jeremy R. Geffen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2000

The Journey Through Cancer is an essential guide for all cancer patients, their families, and their loved ones. As a board-certified oncologist, with more than ten years of experience serving as physician, guide, mentor, coach, and friend to thousands of cancer patients and their families, Dr. Jeremy Geffen has learned how cancer often challenges the mind, heart, and spirit of patients and their families as deeply --- if not more deeply --- than it challenges the physical body. Yet this simple truth is often overlooked by Western medicine as it aggressively pursues the best ways to diagnose and treat cancer. Too often physicians focus almost exclusively on the physical dimensions of the disease, rather than caring for the whole person who has the disease. Dr. Geffen presents a groundbreaking seven-level program, used at his cancer center in Florida, that addresses every dimension of the person with cancer--physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual:

Education and Information, giving patients answers to questions about their disease and their treatment options.
Psychosocial Support, focusing on the need for and benefits of a strong support network.
The Body as Garden, exploring the vast array of alternative and complementary therapies.
Emotional Healing, helping patients and families deal with the often overwhelming emotional challenges of cancer.
The Nature of Mind, exploring how patients' thoughts and beliefs profoundly influence their journey.
Life Assessment, showing patients how to discover their life's deepest meaning and purpose.
The Nature of Spirit, connecting patients to the profoundly healing spiritual aspect of life we all share.
In The Journey Through Cancer, Dr. Geffen presents a revolutionary model of healing based on the best treatments available from every culture and paradigm of medicine, one that respects and explores every possible avenue and resource for healing and transformation, blending East and West, body and mind, heart and technology, science and spirit.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An oncologist and founder of the Geffen Cancer Center and Research Institute in Vero Beach, Fla., Geffen has studied alternative healing systems and practices yoga and meditation. Here he describes an inspirational yet common-sense program for addressing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of cancer patients. The premise of Geffen's program is that repressed emotions are often barriers to healing; because patients get caught up in the daily challenges of decision making and treatment, they are often unable to deal with the fear, anger and resentment that emerge after a cancer diagnosis. Whether patients choose traditional, alternative or a combination of treatments, the most profound level of healing is achieved by releasing negative energies and taking a spiritual perspective on illness. From basic education about treatments and nutrition to an understanding of thoughts and spiritual yearnings, Geffen's program touches on a multitude of concerns for people with cancer. Although many patients may never reach what Geffen sees as the ultimate goal--a loving awareness of the unity of all creation--most (as well as their friends and family members) will find some comfort in his many suggestions for making the journey bearable. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Dr. Jeremy Geffen is an oncologist of the future, one who integrates the best of traditional and nontraditional approaches. It is unfortunate that all people who are concerned with cancer can’t have Dr. Geffen as their doctor; this book is the next best thing.” —Dean Ornish, MD, author of Love and Survival

“Dr. Geffen’s vast knowledge, experience, insight, and compassion in the treatment of cancer patients shine radiantly through in The Journey Through Cancer. This is a useful book for anyone facing this serious challenge.” —Deepak Chopra, MD, author of Peace Is the Way

“The single best book ever written for those with cancer and the people who love them.” —Joan Borysenko, PhD, author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind


From the Trade Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1st edition (February 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609604503
• ISBN-13: 978-0609604502
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #992,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help Is Here!, March 2, 2000

By 

Penni Leonard (suburban Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist's Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person (Hardcover)

Dr. Geffen's powerful book was like magic sprinkled onto our family as we began to face my father's diagnosis of a rare and fatal form of cancer. The author's unique approach to the whole person, physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually helped us to make decisions about treatment, conventional and complementary as well as to better understand the complex range of emotions we were all feeling. "The Journey Through Cancer" is beautifully written and easily read with anecdotal and personal stories. I devoured it in two days! It outlines seven steps that will give you the courage to embrace the present and prepare for the future. Cancer does not just happen to the patient, it happens to everyone who loves the patient. I heartly recommend this book to anyone facing cancer and to all those who face it with them. It would make a great gift for cancer patients, their families, care givers, ministers and physicians. Dr. Geffen is dynamic--I expect to see him on the talk show circuit soon.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Journey Through Cancer, February 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist's Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person (Hardcover)

Cancer can be such a harrowing experience! Addressing the deeper underlying issues - especially the emotional and spiritual levels of the disease - is a realm that most physicians choose not to explore. Dr. Geffen's technical brilliance as an oncologist is obvious; what is truly extraordinary is his incredible patience and compassion for not only the individual(s) with cancer but the families and friends who are also impacted by this disease. "Journey" is the perfect description of the process of coping with cancer and Dr. Geffen is the perfect guide. Anyone with cancer or anyone who knows someone with cancer, will benefit greatly by reading this book and sharing it with others.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you for this amazing gift!, March 10, 2000

By 

"somagail" (Sebastian, Fl United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist's Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person (Hardcover)

Finally, a book on cancer written by an obviously skilled, knowledgeable, and practicing medical oncologist, from the perspective of the BIG picture! It is truly a breakthrough to find such an inspired and revolutionary book on this important subject. Dr. Geffen has managed to embrace virtually all aspects of this immensely challenging journey from a perspective of both medical skill and heartfelt wisdom. Furthermore, his insights and guidance are absolutely reliable and responsible. Dr. Geffen does not offer any overnight "miracle cures," the promise of which is not only irresponsible but potentially harmful. Rather, he masterfully illustrates the spectrum of opportunities that we all have to participate in our own healing. The all-encompasing and embracing overview of the value of virtually every leading-edge approach to healing and transformation, presented in such a clear, readable, and easy-to-understand style, makes this book uniquely compelling and powerful. This disease will touch virtually all of us in one way or another and this book has not arrived one second too soon! Thank you, Dr. Geffen, for this amazing gift!