Synopses & Reviews
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, almost 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor this year alone.
If you or someone you care for shares the tragic reality of the above statement, Defy and Conquer will shed valuable light on contemporary cancer care, what to expect, and how to cope--physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Mindy Elwell offers a captivating memoir, describing three years living with Anaplastic Astrocytoma (Grade III), from initial symptoms to early diagnosis, needle biopsy, adopting the Ketogenic Diet, a lifetime's worth of radiation, chemotherapy, and a craniotomy to finally remove the tumor, located deep within the thalamus.
This first-person view of brain cancer spans traditional and adjuvant therapies, and is both educational and informative, with diagnostic and surgical notes disclosing pathology reports, the biopsy procedure, and the tumor resection surgery, which was performed utilizing state-of-the-art, intra-operative brain mapping.
Learn about the metabolism of cancer cells and details on how to adopt the Ketogenic Diet through contributions from Ms. Elwell's professional team at the renowned Barrow Neurological Institute: Dr. Adrienne C. Scheck, brain tumor researcher, and Leonora Renda, RDN.
Publisher's Disclaimer: As Ms. Elwell states in her Introduction, not all cancer patients will experience cancer the way she did, nor will they respond the same to her treatment regimen or diet. If you are diagnosed with cancer, there is no more important source of information and guidance than your health professional. Defy and Conquer is not a replacement for professional medical care or advice, nor is it intended to be a How To in dealing with cancer. It is merely one brave woman's account against a deadly disease, shared with the public in the hopes of helping others cope and endure a similar situation.
Review
In this book, Mindy Elwell has chronicled her journey from brain tumor diagnosis, through her decision to use a ketogenic diet as an adjuvant therapy and its integration into her lifestyle...She includes detailed information, including hints and recipes [she has] discovered and created.
Defy and Conquer is an excellent resource for brain tumor patients...written from the point of view of a brain tumor patient and, therefore, providing information in a manner more suited to individuals dealing with the unique issues presented by this diagnosis.
Mindy not only provides insights from her own point of view but she also provides information about resources available to help empower brain tumor patients to pursue the use of this metabolic therapy in addition to the standard of care. We highly recommend this book for cancer patients interested in exploring the use of this diet as part of their treatment regimen.
Adrienne C. Scheck, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Neuro-Oncology Research, Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Leonora Renda, RDN
University of Arizona Cancer Center
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ
As a patient liaison at Barrow Neurological Institute, I often see patients that feel powerless when it comes to playing a part in both their treatment plan and the decision-making process. Mindy refused to give in to fear. Instead, she put together a team of incredible doctors, engaged whatever resources she could find and educated herself, her team, and her family.
Through her faith, her positive attitude, and her willingness to expose the tender moments, she has shown us all that we can overcome the seemingly impossible. This book, and the life lessons it teaches, is a gift from a woman I admire greatly and am blessed to call a friend. I am thankful that she has shared her heart and her powerful story with us all.
Lisa Soeby, Patient Liaison
Barrow Neurological Institute
Mindy shares her powerful story with dignity and humor. Not even the insidious 'C-Club' can stop her from soaking up every fierce, faithful, frightening moment of her beautiful life. Her story of strength and endurance serves as a reminder that life's fleeting moments are valuable treasures to be cherished.
She shares her struggle with candor and wit. Although cancer patients and their caregivers will find valuable support and guidance in this book, readers from all walks of life will be impressed by Mindy's strength and humility.
Shelly Hornback Arizona philanthropist and community leader
Publisher's Editorial:
What started out as a book of survival became a testament to hope. Defy and Conquer began as a book of promise: for state-of-the-art surgery that successfully removed a once-inoperable brain tumor; for the Ketogenic Diet, an adjuvant therapy used to help stem the growth of cancer cells. But cancer is a formidable foe and Defy and Conquer, in the end, defines a state of mind against terminal brain cancer---the refusal of surrendering the soul to disease.
Why publish yet another cancer book? Because cancer is experienced differently with every iteration of medical advances. And because some stories offer so much educational value to the hundreds of thousands of Americans living with cancer, they deserve to be published.
Defy and Conquer offers first-hand candor, numerous tips, excerpts of medical records rarely seen, inspiration that is both endearing and spot-on, and a whole section of diet, nutrition and personal food choices, menus and recipes, from a cancer patient who discovered them, tried them all, and chooses to share their benefits with others. What Mindy Elwell offers in Defy and Conquer is validation to offset the overwhelming gravity of a malignant brain cancer diagnosis---for patient, family and caregiver.
Ms. Elwell's belief in God is also inspiring, and flies in the face of the recently lauded alternative, assisted suicide. With three children and a loving husband supporting her and willing her to live, this was not an option. As she so eloquently states in her book, "Just as a first impression is important for strangers, I believe the last impression is important for the children you leave behind."
Synopsis
Defy and Conquer is an eye-opening testament to bravery in the face of malignant brain cancer; a candid memoir that offers offers hope, validation and inspiration. Choosing to live every day with hope and defiance led to the discovery of state-of-the-art brain-mapping surgery and the Ketogenic Diet -- two options that deserve greater awareness and helped Ms. Elwell outlive her eighteen-month diagnosis, which ended October 2013.
Synopsis
Rather than give in to fear and give up on life, Mindy Elwell chose to Defy and Conquer. Her enemy?
Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Grade 3 -- a malignant tumor lodged deep within her brain. Her life expectancy of eighteen months ended October 2013.
Defy and Conquer is a cancer patient's best friend: part confidante and part teacher. For anyone currently touched by cancer's ominous reach, here is a book that presents hope and strength, yet refrains from sugar-coating the imminent difficulties.
In her two-year journey, Ms. Elwell survived a lifetime's worth of radiation treatments, several rounds of chemotherapy and two brain surgeries, the last of which was performed by Dr. Nader Sanai, who used proprietary brain-mapping technology to navigate the successful removal of her tumor.
An important part of her recovery stems from her decision to go beyond traditional treatments and adopt the Ketogenic Diet, under the supervision of health professionals. Treating cancer as a metabolic disease is an important adjuvant therapy, especially for brain cancer patients and those suffering from neurological abnormalities in the brain.
Ms. Elwell's book is rich on insight, intimate and candid, and includes poignant contributions from her husband and three children. Informative contributions from her team of professionals at the Barrow Neurological Institute/b> in Phoenix, Arizona, also educate readers about the brain-mapping technique used by Dr. Sanai and the Ketogenic Diet, researched by tumor scientist Dr. Adrienne Scheck, and administered by registered dietician Leonora Renda.
Synopsis
Television Appearances Pending
Speaking Engagements Pending for Keto Diet
National Media Coverage, Radio, Print, Online
Radio Giveaways and Author Interviews
Continuous Social Media Campaigns
Dedicated Book Website and Promos
Goodreads Giveaways
Book Club Participation
Global Trade Shows and ALA Showcase
Translations and Literary Rights In Development
Synopsis
In this courageous, candid, and often humorous, memoir, Mindy Elwell recounts a long journey to battle anaplastic astrocytoma, grade 3; a malignant tumor, in this case, inoperable. Through sheer resolve she endured massive amounts of radiation, chemotherapy and over a year of speech and physical therapy to offset the debilitating side-effects of her aggressive disease. Rather than give in, she and her stalwart husband found Dr. Nader Sanai, who successfully removed her tumor. Ms. Elwell's adoption of the Ketogenic Diet is also notable and now a recommended adjuvant therapy targeting the metabolism of cancer cells. Informative contributions are included from Ms. Elwell's surgeon and the Ketogenic researchers and dietitians from Barrow Neurological Institute, as are tender accounts from her three children, addressing cancer's affects on the younger members of the family. Also included are Ms. Elwell's personal tips and ketogenic recipes.
Synopsis
Defy and Conquer offers a contemporary, first-person view of cancer treatment and recovery against a malignant brain tumor: Anaplastic Astrocytoma (Grade III). This captivating memoir offers tips, surgical notes for the biopsy and tumor removal surgeries, both utilizing intra-operating brain mapping, as well as pathology reports, and professional contributions regarding the Ketogenic Diet, its scientific relevance to the metabolism of tumor cells, the adoption of the diet, and food choices, menus and recipes from both a registered dietician and the author. Ms. Elwell has outlived her prognosis of 18 months, which ended October 2013.
About the Author
Mindy Elwell has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts and is a former counselor to troubled teens and their families, who face drug addiction and abuse, as well as those disadvantaged. Her terminal diagnosis of brain cancer set off a courageous battle of survival, leading to a brave surgery to remove the once-inoperable tumor and adopt the Ketogenic Diet, a breakthrough adjuvant therapy that helps stem the growth of cancer cells. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three children.JZ Bingham is a published author and ghost writer, vice president of acquisitions and editor-in-chief of Balcony 7 Media and Publishing and its online magazine, Saucy Jaw. She resides in Pasadena ,California.