Inspiring Books
All of the books listed below are available through good bookshops or the Amazon website unless stated otherwise.
Living with Timmy, by Paul Korhonen
The writer’s personal story, who on the threshold of retirement, is diagnosed with a rare brain tumour. How will he cope as he uncovers more and more detail about the tumour? Does he opt for risky brain surgery or for a “watch and wait” strategy? And will his life ever be the same again?
‘Anticancer: A New Way of Life’ by David Servan-Schreiber. Author David-Servan Schreiber is an academic physician with a wealth of experience in the field of integrative medicine, who has been living with a brain tumour for a number of years. He will show you how, through simple alterations in diet, lifestyle and attitude, you can use your own resources alongside conventional treatments to tackle your brain tumour using the same methods that he has done.
‘Brain Tumors, Fast Facts’ by Lauren Abrey & Warren Mason, pub.Health Press Ltd.
‘Living Time: Faith and Facts to Transform your Cancer Journey’ by Bernadine Healy M.D. Bernadine was diagnosed with brain cancer on Valentine’s Day 1999, and was given 3 months to live if she refused treatment. With chemotherapy, her chances increased to 2 years. Eight years later, she is still thriving!
The book is written from two perspectives – that of the physician and that of the patient.
‘Living With a Brain Tumour: Dr Peter Black’s Guide to Taking Control of your Treatment’. Peter M Black is an eminent neurosurgeon based in Boston (Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital).
‘Infinity & Beyond: A Love Story Without End’ by Lynette Leitch tells of her and her husband’s experience of losing their son Matt to a brain tumour when he was just 13 years old. An inspiring read, showing how hope and faith can be found in the darkest of places, and how lives can become enriched through the greatest of challenges. Lynette and Mark now run respite retreat centres in France and England which they welcome you to visit. The book can be purchased via Amazon
‘It’s Not About The Bike’ by Lance Armstrong, pub.Yellow Jersey Press. An inspiring book about surviving a metastatic brain tumour. You may have worn his yellow wristband in the past!
‘Plant a Geranium in Your Cranium’ by Barbara Johnson, the biggest selling female Christian Author in the world, provides an inspiring account of her high-grade brain tumour experience, filled with amusing anecdotes, jokes, cartoons and thoughts.
‘True’ is the autobiography of musician & actor Martin Kemp, whose high-grade brain tumour was successfully treated in 1995.
‘Like a Hole in the Head’. Another inspiring autobiography written by Ivan Noble who had a high-grade brain tumour. Ivan was a journalist whose diary style columns enabled millions to share his brain tumour journey. Although his story did not have a happy ending, his gradual acceptance of his situation has helped some people with low-grade gliomas to explore some of the emotions that they too are experiencing, and find ways to cope.
‘Navigating Through a Strange Land: A Book for Brain Tumour Patients and Their Families’ by Tricia Ann Roloff comes highly recommended.
‘That’s Unacceptable’ by Rebecca L. Libutti follows her life with a high-grade brain tumour, still going strong 5 years after diagnosis.
Books not directly linked to the Brain Tumour Experience
‘Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow’ by Elizabeth Lesser, pub.Rider & Co, comes highly recommended. Psychiatrist Dr.Brian Weiss (who has a background based at Yale and Mount Sinai Medical Center) has written a series of best selling books about his patients’ experiences during past life regression therapy. The books chart his fascinating journey from sceptic to believer in past lives and reincarnation, and his use of recall using hypnotherapy as a way to heal issues in patients’ current lives. The concept of our soul surviving and transcending life’s challenges has been a key belief to help many people come to terms with a low-grade glioma diagnosis.
‘A Course in Miracles’ is a universal, self-study spiritual thought system that teaches the way to Love and Inner Peace through forgiveness. Based on interpretations of Christ’s teachings (rather than Christianity itself), it has revolutionised the lives of those touched by this incredible way of interpreting the “meaning of life”. The official website accompanying the Course is at www.acim.org.
‘Love, Medicine and Miracles’ by Bernie Segal, pub.Arrow tells of the inspiring achievements of the US surgeon Bernie Segal as he discovers how to use outstanding support services to help his patients to heal.
‘A Time To Heal’ by Beata Bishop, pub. Penguin, tells of one woman’s experience of beating her skin cancer by using Gerson Therapy; but do talk to the Gerson Support Network if you are considering Gerson Therapy to help you if you have a brain tumour, as in some cases the fast and extreme detoxification which lies at the heart of this controversial therapy may put some people at greater risk of seizures, according to their London office www.gerson.org
‘When Bad Things Happen to Good People’ by Harold Kushner has helped many people come to terms with questions such as “why me, why my family?”
‘You Can Conquer Cancer’ by Ian Gawler, pub. Hill Of Content.
‘The Coming Cancer Cure’ by Francisco Contreras M.D., pub. Siloam Press.
‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all Small Stuff’, by Richard Carlson, pub.Hodder & Stoughton. Simple ways to keep the little things from overtaking your life, but also a great help with the big things!
‘Stop Thinking, Start Living: Discover Lifelong Happiness’ by Richard Carlson is the book that Paul Merton says changed his life and brought him out of depression.
‘Embracing Uncertainty – Achieving peace of mind as we face the unknown’ is another bestselling book by Susan Jeffers PhD, author of ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ and ‘End the Struggle & Dance with Life’.
‘Options – The Alternative Cancer Therapy Book’ by Richard Walters, pub.Avery, reviews just about every complementary therapy that exists at the moment, including some controversial “alternative” therapies which are not yet clinically proven to be of benefit.
‘The Journey’ by Brandon Bays, pub by Thorsons, tells of one woman’s healing journey, and how she has used her experience to help thousands of others. The therapy based on her experience is now practised throughout the world and may help with issues of forgiveness.
‘You Can Heal Your Life’ by Louise L.Hay, pub. Hay House, is a classic self-help book which has inspired millions of people.
‘Say No To Cancer’ is a book about Nutritional Therapy by Patrick Holford, who founded the Institute for Optimum Nutrition and the Brain Bio Centre in the UK (pub.Piatkus Books) www.patrickholford.com
‘Health Defence’ (2nd edition, 2004) by Dr.Paul Clayton, pub. Accelerated Learning Systems, is another well respected book about Nutritional Therapy.
‘The Selfish Pig’s Guide to Caring’ by Hugh Marriott. This is a must-read for anyone involved in caring.
‘The Carer’s Handbook: Essential Information and Support for All Those in a Caring Role’ by Jane Matthews. This indispensible guide aims to be a one-stop-shop for the huge percentage of the population that find themselves in a caring role.
Penny Brohn Cancer Care has an online shop which has many recommended reads related to nutrition and all aspects of living with cancer.
The ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ series of books are all full of inspiring stories to uplift the soul; there are numerous titles to choose from, so you should be able to find at least one which feels right for you at the moment.
‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’ by Sogyal Rinpoche, pub.Rider, a spiritual classic from one of the foremost interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism to the West.
‘Conversations with God Book One’ by Neale Donald Walsh has allowed millions to discover a new relationship with God, especially if they have not found such a relationship through organised religious movements.
‘The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success’ by Deepak Chopra, pub.Bantam Press, subtitled ‘A practical guide to the fulfilment of your dreams.’ Deepak Chopra is another well known author who has inspired many, many people.