Malignant Metaphor
Finding the Hidden Meaning of Cancer, a Memoir
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
“In addition to her clear medical explanations, Mitchell’s compassionate attitude will bring comfort to those readers and their loved ones facing a cancer diagnosis.” — Publishers Weekly
Award-winning science writer Alanna Mitchell confronts cancer myths in this powerful and personal book, as she recounts her family’s experiences with the disease. When her beloved brother-in-law John is diagnosed with malignant melanoma, Mitchell throws herself into the latest clinical research, providing us with a clear description of what scientists know of cancer and its treatments. When John enters the world of alternative treatments, Mitchell does, too, looking for the science in untested waters. She comes face to face with the misconceptions we share about cancer, which are rooted in blame and anxiety, and opens the door to new ways of looking at our most-feared illness.
Beautifully written, at once deeply personal and rigorous, Malignant Metaphor is a compassionate and persuasive book that has the power to change the conversation about cancer.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Award-winning science writer Mitchell (Sea Sick) attempts to make sense of the fearful hold that cancer has on our collective imagination. After her brother-in-law, John, and daughter, Calista, received diagnoses of cancer, Mitchell set out to explore the stigma of cancer and help her family members weigh the treatment options. While oncologists recommended conventional medical treatments for John's prostate cancer and Calista's thyroid cancer, they didn't have one to address John's aggressive melanoma. With no hope offered, John pursued alternative treatment options, which Mitchell itemizes and critiques. Along the way, she analyzes commonly held notions about cancer, namely that it is inevitable, preventable and deserved; people with cancer are seen as guilty of not doing something to maintain good health, and those who die are blamed for not fighting hard enough. Mitchell argues, that, in fact, cancer is common and random. She emphasizes that people should not put another burden on cancer patients by blaming them for their illnesses. In addition to her clear medical explanations, Mitchell's compassionate attitude will bring comfort to those readers and their loved ones facing a cancer diagnosis.
