I had two main weapons to fight off the assaults on my body, mind and emotions when I went on my wild cancer adventure. First of all, an eye for absurdity, based on a British upbringing filled with the razor-sharp wit of Monty Python. Secondly, I had an investigative journalist’s anal attention to detail, researching everything to the nth degree, taking nothing for granted and asking plenty of questions. I refused to be a victim. Instead, I was going to be a victor. I would keep assessing and evaluating the best ways to get healthy, both conventional and alternative. Nothing would be off the table.

As part of my research for both my own treatment options and my cancer memoir, I read more than sixty books, as well as looking at numerous peer-reviewed studies. I don’t recommend you do that much reading as that might drive you nuts. However, I’m listing some of the books that you might find useful. Their viewpoints are all over the map and some contradict each other.  There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the cancer conundrum. What resonates with you will be a very personal thing. And yes, of course I’ve put my own cancer book at the top of the list!

Cancer Memoirs

Grace, C. J., My Wild Ride: How to Thrive After Breast Cancer and Infidelity. Fairfax, CA: CJ Grace Media, 2022.

Wilson Woods, Andrea, Better off Bald: A Life in 147 Days. Birmingham, AL: Build Your BLISS, 2019, 2020.

Schimmel, Robert, and Eisenstock, Alan, Cancer on Five Dollars a Day (chemo not included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2008.

Lunden, Joan, and Morton, Laura, Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival. New York: Harper, 2015.

Silver, Marc, Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment, and Beyond. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Inc., 2004.

Edwards Elizabeth, Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life’s Adversities. New York: Broadway Books, 2010.

Accocella Marchetto, Marisa, Cancer Vixen: A True Story. New York: Pantheon Books, 2006.

Brodnick, Caitlin, Dangerous Boobies: Breaking Up with My Time-Bomb Breasts. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2017.

Strang, Florence, and Gonzalez, Susan, 100 Perks of Having Cancer plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It! Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications Inc., 2013.

Spirituality and Mindfulness

Allione, Tsultrim, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

Green, Glenda, Love Without End…Jesus Speaks. Aransas Pass, TX: Spiritis Publishing, 1999, 2019.

Green, Glenda, The Keys of Jeshua. Sedona, AZ: Spiritis Publishing, 2003, 2007.

Hanson, Rick, Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence. New York: Harmony Books, 2013, 2016.

Siegel, Daniel J., Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation. New York: Bantam Books, 2010.

Lakhiani, Vishen, The Code of the Extraordinary Mind. New York: Rodale, 2016.

Huffington, Arianna, Thrive. New York: Harmony Books, 2014, 2015.

McTaggart, Lynne, The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World. New York: Free Press, 2007.

Lipton, Bruce H., The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles. Fulton, California: Mountain of Love Productions and Elite Press, 2005.

Carlson, Richard, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff. New York: Hyperion, 1997.

Gilbert, Elizabeth, Eat Pray Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything. London: Bloomsbury, 2006, 2007.

Ehrenreich, Barbara, Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World. London, UK: Granta, 2010.

Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche, The Power of Mind: A Tibetan Monk’s Guide to Finding Freedom in Every Challenge. Boulder, CO: Shambhala, 2022.

Death and Dying

Albery, Nicholas, and Weinrich, Stephanie, Editors, The New Natural Death Handbook, 3rd Edition. London: Rider, 2009.

Clements, Alan, Facing Death: A Conversation with Reverend Bodhi Be. Vancouver, Canada: World Dharma Publications, 2022.

Davidson, Sara, The December Project: An Extraordinary Rabbi and a Skeptical Seeker Confront Life’s Greatest Mystery. New York: HarperOne, 2015.

Humphry, Derek, Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying. New York: Delta, 1991, 2010.

Mitford, Jessica, The American Way of Death Revisited. New York: Vintage, Reprint Edition, 2000.

Roach, Mary, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. New York: W. W. Norton, 2003.

Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.

Tisdale, Sallie, Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them): A Practical Perspective on Death and Dying. New York: Gallery Books, 2018.

Allopathic and Alternative Health

Love, Susan M., Lindsey, Karen, and Love, Elizabeth, Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book, 6th ed. Boston, MA: Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2015.

Bollinger, Ty, The Truth about Cancer: What You Need to Know about Cancer’s History, Treatment, and Prevention. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2018.

Singer, Sydney Ross, Grismaijer, Soma, Dressed to Kill―Second Edition: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras. New York: Square One Publishers, 2017.

Breggin, MD, Peter R., The Antidepressant Fact Book: What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa and Luvox. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press, 2001.

Davis, Devra, The Secret History of the War on Cancer. New York: Basic Books, 2007.

Davis, William, Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health. New York: Rodale, 2011.

Buettner, Dan, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Washington D. C: National Geographic, 2008.

Elsegood, Linda, The LDN Book: How a Little-Known Generic Drug ― Low Dose Naltrexone ― Could Revolutionize Treatment for Autoimmune Diseases, Cancer, Autism, Depression, and More. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016.

Sapolsky, Robert M. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1994, 1998, 2004.

Huffington, Arianna, The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time. New York: Harmony Books, 2016.

Kendrick, Dr. Malcolm, Doctoring Data: How to sort out medical advice from medical nonsense. Cwmbran, United Kingdom: Columbus Publishing, 2014.

PLEASE NOTE: CJ Grace is not a doctor and thus would never presume to tell anyone else how they should deal with their cancer. The information on this webpage is not intended in any way to be a substitute for medical, psychological or emotional counseling with a licensed physician or health care provider. Use these resources at your own discretion and at your own risk.
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