Malignant Metaphor: Confronting Cancer Myths
$14.99-
An unprecedented take on cancer and recovery
Winner of the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing
“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 explores the facts and myths about cancer in this powerful book, as she recounts her family’s experiences with the disease. When her beloved brother-in-law John is diagnosed with malignant melanoma, Alanna 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, Alanna 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, Malignant Metaphor is a touching and persuasive book that has the power to change the conversation about cancer. Clear-eyed and compassionate, Mitchell opens the door to new ways of looking at our most-feared illness.
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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 most recent full-length 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 toured across Canada. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
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Published: September 2015
ISBN: 9781770412682
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 in.
Pages: 208
Reviews
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“Combining societal and behavioural trends with highly personal interaction with a close relative’s situation (the author) has shone a whole new light on our obsessive fear of, and reaction to this dreaded disease.” — Judges for the Lane Anderson Award for Excellence in Canadian Science Writing