Malignant Metaphor: Confronting Cancer Myths

Why does cancer have such a deadly hold over our collective imagination? Why do we fear it above all else, even bankruptcy, crime, and sudden death? And why is our dread intensifying, despite the fact that many types of cancer are less common than ever, more curable, and far better understood?

Because cancer has become our malignant metaphor, a billboard for our secret sins. We havent been eating the right food; we have failed to exercise enough; we have buried too much destructive emotion — in short, we have brought the disease upon ourselves. Somehow, we have allowed cancer to represent an irreconcilable trifecta of blame and anxiety: it is inevitable, yet preventable and deserved.

But it is time to rewrite the metaphor.

When her beloved brother-in-law is diagnosed with the disease, award-winning science writer Alanna Mitchell throws herself into the latest research and clinical literature, breaking it down into a clear, understandable description of what doctors and scientists know of cancer and its treatments. Clear-eyed and compassionate, Mitchell opens the door to new ways of looking at our most-feared illness.

"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

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.