“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. Reviews: “We have all been touched by cancer in one form or another. We’ve all crafted our own bespoke way of coping with its impact. I think we’d all do well to approach it with the openness and candour Mitchell brings to the table.” — Globe and Mail “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 “Mitchell does a convincing job sorting fact from fiction, diffusing fear, and challenging the manipulative language of fundraisers who aim for pocketbooks rather than intellectual honesty . . . Mitchell’s research is rooted in science, while her writing remains grippingly personal.” — Quill & Quire “Alanna Mitchell’s admirable Malignant Metaphor: Confronting Cancer Myths joins a series of thoughtful writings about the most reviled disease . . . Interwoven through an elegant and readable account of the biology and history of cancer — frequently citing Mukherjee — is this much more personal and emotional story of terror and the need to take charge of one’s own destiny.” — Literary Review of Canada “Anyone fearing cancer (probably most of us) will find relief in this compelling book; it’s like having a well-informed friend by your side, helping you dodge free radicals. By ‘liberating the facts,’ Mitchell turns the war on cancer into a hopeful dance.” — Plum Johnson, author of They Left Us Everything About the Author: Alanna Mitchell is an award-winning journalist and author who writes about science and social trends. She is a global thinker who specializes in investigative reporting. Her recent book Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis is an international bestseller that won the prestigious Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment. Her one-woman play based on that book was nominated for a Dora Award and she is touring it internationally. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. |