Virginia M. Soffa : The Journey Beyond Breast Cancer: From the Personal to the Political--Taking an Active Role in Prevention, Diagnosis, and Your Own Healing
Diagnosed at the age of 38 with early stage breast cancer, Virginia Soffa takes a critical look at breast cancer treatments--both conventional and alternative therapies--and outlines a strategy to help women with the disease make informed choices about individual treatments and to help all women prevent breast cancer in the first place. She discusses surgery and its options, life after mastectomy, treatment alternatives--including diet, herbs, acupuncture, manual lymph drainage, and yoga--as well as spiritual and emotional rehabilitation. She stresses the connection between the destruction of the environment and our deteriorating health. To cure the breast cancer epidemic, she insists, we must look beyond the disease and beyond our selves to heal our planet. Currently, one out of every nine American women will hear the dreaded diagnosis of breast cancer at some time in her life--every twelve minutes this year a woman will die of breast cancer. Despite advanced technology and early detection, incidence of the disease is actually rising while long-term survival rates are not. The author points out the need to focus on prevention and political action. She shows how to start a grassroots organization, and offers advice for supporting loved ones with the disease. A collection of fine art created by women recovering from breast cancer, accompanied by their own poignant commentary, highlights the text.
