Books & E-books

Inspirational cancer victors' first-person accounts in book format

Cured by natural, dietary and/or holistic approaches

Complementing the many impressive (but of course not book-length) cancer survivorship testimonials found on Healing Cancer Naturally, here is a list of more detailed accounts, i.e. books on the same subject.

This list is doubtless far from exhaustive since there are likely many similar reports in book format available, written by people who successfully overcame their respective cancer challenge in their own way either after unsuccessfully using conventional approaches (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery), only using natural, non-toxic and/or holistic modalities from the start, or sometimes by combining the two.

In fact, a number of the below-listed books contain entire collections of such cancer cure testimonials including so-called spontaneous remissions.

Notes

1 I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to amazon.com, see my Amazon affiliate links (US, UK, Canada, France, Spain, Brazil & Italy). Doing your Amazon shopping via one of my links is the easiest way for you to support the work of this humanitarian site at not extra cost to you.

2 Please also note that books on cancer remissions achieved via macrobiotics are listed on their own page since there are so many of them.

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds

by Kelly A. Turner, PhD

In many years of ground-breaking research and travel, Dr. Turner interviewed over one hundred and studied over a thousand additional cancer patients who experienced what is labelled as "spontaneous remission" to discover what they had in common that enabled them to recover from even terminal diagnoses. She found 9 key healing factors they all shared.

In addition to being a fascinating and inspiring read, this book is full of practical suggestions and guidelines backed by science-based evidence which are invaluable not just for those diagnosed with cancer but for patients with other chronic diseases as well as for preventing cancer in the first place. Having this book "is like having your own wellness coach", as one reader commented.

Maria Treben's Cures

by Maria Treben

This book is a follow-up volume to "Health Through God's Pharmacy" and "Health From God's Garden" by the same author, famed Austrian herbalist Maria Treben.

Maria Treben's Cures features hundreds of miraculous-seeming (and often extremely rapid) cures, many of which concerned people afflicted with cancer who owed their recovery to various herbal approaches as taught by Maria Treben.

This book as well as Treben's other books on natural healing with herbs are must-reads and must-haves in my eyes. They have a "herbal answer" to hundreds if not thousands of minor and major health problems nearly all of which can be self-applied.

While frequently viciously attacked for her work on the part of established medical circles, unbeknownst to most, Maria Treben's cures were fully endorsed by eminent German physician and cancer researcher Prof. Dr. Dr. Paul G. Seeger who authored several books on the subject of cancer.

Healing Cancer Peacefully

by Dr. Nancy W Offenhauser

Chiropractor Dr. Offenhauser's beautiful "memoir" or rather personal cancer cure story plus well organized action guide for other cancer patients full of practical information and advice on how to "not fight" but gently heal cancer using natural and holistic "medicines" incl. herbs, diet, avoidance of toxins, self-exploration etc.

This is the unique report of a woman with the courage, intelligence and wisdom to listen to and "hear" her own body (as well as those of her patients) and its inbuilt natural healing ability and to uncover the root causes of her previous dis-ease.

Diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2002, Dr. Offenhauser finds herself cancer-free in 2004 thanks to following her intuition and an extensive range of natural and spiritual medicines and approaches and foregoing all conventional cancer treatment.

Heal Breast Cancer Naturally: 7 Essential Steps to Beating Breast Cancer

by Dr. Veronique Desaulniers

A chiropractor living an apparently very healthy lifestyle who to her consternation and apparently against all odds found herself faced with a breast cancer diagnosis. Many months of research, soul-searching and prayer later, it all gelled for her in the form of the "Seven Essentials" – seven essential steps she found to be required for both preventing and healing cancer.

Cured My Cancer: How I Cured My Stage 4 Multi Organ Cancer at Home

by William Trucks

Dying from terminal (end-stage) liver cancer that had metastasized into his pancreas and kidney, William used a most dramatic but basically simple approach — cancer salves. Unforgettable pictures of his body shedding the tumor, plus photos of other cancer extractions incl. breast cancer.

I Beat Cancer: 50 People Tell You How They Did It

by Awareness Publishing (June 2003)
ISBN-10: 0972167803
ISBN-13: 978-0972167802

“Nearly all the stories involve ‘hopeless’ late-stage cancers, incl. multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma. Real people who beat real cancers.

Each story is different. A number of different diets, supplements, mind-body approaches and clinics were utilized. However, you'll soon pick up on commonality of certain aspects: a tenacious desire to live, dietary changes, a ‘taking control’ of the healing process, and spiritual renewal.

For those struggling against the odds, this book offers tremendous inspiration and hope. An added plus is that these patients are available to speak with others.”

"The diagnosis of cancer has to be the best thing to ever happen to me in this life, although it sure didn't seem like it..."

Compare Inspirational quotes for cancer patients.

God's Healing Word

by Felicity Corbin-Wheeler

When diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2003, Felicity started researching the importance of nutrition in cancer and decided to trust what the Bible tells us to eat in Genesis 1:29 and 30.

She changed her diet to one based on living foods, fresh vegetable juices incl. wheat and barley grass and cut our animal protein, dairy, fats and flour.

Additionally, her treatment included large doses of laetrile (vitamin B17) both intravenous, via food and in tablet form, vitamin C and DMSO. She also used daily coffee enemas as recommended ny Dr. Max Gerson. One year into this regime, scans showed that all that was left of the tumors was a scar.

She believes that we are what we drink, eat, breathe and think.

In August 2004, Felicity's remarkable story was reported by the BBC

Rabbits Don't Get Lymphoma. Kissing my cancer goodbye

by Cathie Grout

13 five star reviews so far on Amazon.co.uk for this "little gem of a book" which imparts a lot of helpful information in a light-hearted way based on the author's first-hand experience of healing herself from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma using a multi-pronged approach (diet, juicing, meditation, reflexology, walks in nature, and emotional healing mainly in the form of learning to forgive others and herself). Review and book excerpt

Curing Cancer With Carrots

by Ann Cameron

Unlikely as it may appear (although we do know that juicing-based cancer treatments such as the Gerson diet heavily rely on freshly squeezed carrot juices), the author healed her "terminal" (stage 4) colon cancer by drinking carrot juice (after refusing the conventionally offered options of chemotherapy and radiotherapy).

She went on a quest to discover the reasons why and did find scientific evidence to help explain why the "lowly" carrot can assist in restoring the body's ability to kill defective cells (as can, in fact, a number of humble herbs, see the Supplements & Herbs section of this site).

Some studies indeed show a cancer-protective effect of carrots such as against stomach and lung cancer.^[1]

They Said Months I Chose Years (mesothelioma)

by Rhio O'Connor

Rhio O'Connor is another (over seven years) survivor against the “medical odds”*. Refusing the mainstream options of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, he opted for a holistic approach, including a radical diet change, numerous supplements and practicing "mind-body medicine" techniques such as meditation). His book recommends a number of alternatives to conventional medical treatments.

* Other names of mesothelioma survivors are Paul Kraus (see his book entry further below), Belle McGuckin and Willard Dahl.

ALIVE AT 75! AND CANCER FREE DUE TO ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES: And Feeding The Body Properly To Heal Itself And Rebuild The Immune System

by Mercedes A. LaPine
ISBN-10: 1425990800

"Given" only three months to live, the author tells her inspirational and informative story thirty years after her diagnosis.

Following a simple concept (rejected, however, by the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society) rather than the recommended chemotherapy and radiation, Mercedes A. LaPine used the body's own healing mechanisms to restore her body back to health and eliminate the cancer via organic raw juices and raw and cooked organic vegetarian foods. Incl. many alternative resources.

A Cancer Battle Plan

by Anne Frahm and David Frahm

Anne Frahm was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, with tumors covering her shoulder, ribs, skull, and perforating her pelvic bones and every vertebra in her spine. She underwent a mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy, hormone therapy and even a bone marrow transplant. She nearly died of the treatment — with her kidneys and lungs shutting down, pneumonia developing, fungus rashes covering her entire body and her fingernails and toenails falling off. With all of the treatment received, her cancer kept growing and her doctors basically sent her home to die.

But rather than giving up, Anne devised and followed a comprehensive nutrition-based "battle plan" and the miracle happened: five weeks after starting on her new regimen, her cancer could no longer be found! This book relates the story and details of how she achieved this astounding victory over cancer.

Anne did die 10 years later, very likely due to the conventional treatments damaging her liver and impairing her immune system. Had she followed the ideas in her book AT THE OUTSET she might still be with us.

A Time to Heal

by Beata Bishop

In December 1979, Beata Bishop was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of cancer considered particularly lethal. In spite of surgery, the cancer had spread into her groin within a year and she was given weeks or months to live.

As coincidence would have it, a friend told her about the Gerson Institute and having received a death sentence and no other options, she chose to follow the Gerson diet. She went to spend two months at the Gerson clinic in Mexico and further pursued the treatment another eighteen months in London.

Beata Bishop fully recovered after two years on the Gerson therapy, which transformed her both physically and emotionally, .

To my knowledge, some forty years after her diagnosis, Beata is still alive and free of cancer (she turned 95 in November[?] 2020). Her amazing story (see my book review) is found in this book, originally titled "My Triumph Over Cancer" and first published in 1985.

How I Conquered Cancer Naturally

by Eydie Mae

Within about three months of her raw foods regimen with wheatgrass juice and enemas, her breast cancer significantly reduced in size, and the cancer eventually healed naturally.

More on healing cancer naturally with raw foods under Nutrition.

How to Starve Cancer: Without Starving Yourself

by Jane McLelland

Professor Thomas Seyfried (see On the anti-cancer effects of a low-calorie and/or ketogenic diet) called this book a "monumental accomplishment" and a "strategy for surviving advanced cancer regardless of the tissue involved".

Cancer Winner: How I Purged Myself of Melanoma

by Jaquie Davison (1977, 2000, 2009)

A detailed and very dramatic account of how Jaquie healed herself of terminal malignant melanoma applying the Gerson therapy at home (which she slightly adapted) including the exact protocol she followed (and a recent update if you buy a newer edition).

ISBN 0911094040

Cancer: A Personal Challenge

Publisher: Anina's Book Company (August 2, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1877053112

Quotes: “...if she wanted to permanently 'heal her cancer, she had to heal her soul and live a happy, healthy life.' This book shows how to do that.”

...”a valuable tool to help one understand the disease and its roots more clearly, while providing healing options and inspiration to both sufferer, family, friends and those in the health profession.”

Living Proof: A Medical Mutiny

by Michael Gearin-Tosh

See the book review Stanford University professor heals himself of myeloma (bone marrow cancer), one of the most lethal cancers known to man.

Anything Can Be Healed

by Martin Brofman Ph.D.

“This healer’s tutorial and reference book looks at the physical body as a mirror of the consciousness within, with specific tensions on the physical level being reflected in the mind.”

Martin Brofman, Ph.D., healed himself of “terminal” cancer through a consciousness shift. He now teaches his healing “system through four-day residential Healing Intensive Seminars in various countries, including Germany, France, Switzerland, the United States, Italy, Denmark and Portugal.”

Paperback: 216 pages

Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide

by Paul Kraus

Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997 and given a death sentence of under a year to live. He is still alive in 2019. After declining the standard chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery he was offered, he embarked on a holistic path of nutritional therapy combined with immune boosting modalities and mind-body medicine.

“A unique, inspirational book by a fellow sufferer & dedicated author & educator. Written from the heart &. with understanding there are guidelines to help enhance your body's own immune system.“ (a reader’s review)

How I Overcame Inoperable Cancer

by Wong Hon Sun, ND (Exposition Press, 1975)

The true account of a man who conquered "terminal" throat cancer by using the principles of natural healing

At the age of 32, the author was diagnosed with throat cancer, more precisely an inoperable anaplastic epidermoid carcinoma of the throat and was given just weeks to live. His tumor being inoperable and as a last-ditch effort, he received deep radiation treatments several times a week in an attempt to prevent the tumor from spreading.

"Side effects" of the radiotherapy included facial inflammation and bloatedness, tender skin which later turned black, and due to the serious damage inflicted on his salivary glands, constant thirst which water drinking did not alleviate.

As he reflected on his seemingly hopeless situation, he recalled how his boyhood dog had developed cancer and was put to sleep. He wondered why his domestic pet should have fallen seriously ill when wild animals did not. He realized — his dog having been mostly fed leftovers from the same dishes he had eaten — that the basic cause of the disease must involve diet.

He then proceeded to adopt a natural diet and lifestyle by first undergoing a 14 day cleansing fast on coconut water, followed by a number of measures aimed at optimising the health of his body. In this manner, he overcame his "terminal" disease, fully regained the function of his salivary glands and healed multiple other chronic conditions he had been suffering from.

For a throat cancer remission achieved by taking a powerful herbal supplement, see Apán medicinal mushroom in complementary cancer care: superior herbal formula — many cancer remission testimonials.

I Won't Survive … I'll Thrive!: How I Overcame Domestic Violence, Cancer, and Much More

by Aurea McGarry

The story of a woman who overcame strong odds through her relationship with God.

From Medicine to Miracle: How My Faith Overcame Cancer

by Dr. Mary Self and Rod Chaytor

The unbelievable but true “miracle brought about through prayer” story of a 34 year old doctor who after suffering from bone cancer at age 17, was diagnosed with terminal cancer 17 years later.

10,000 prayers later, her symptoms simply disappeared, the tumour had vanished! (And remarkably, she herself seemed to have believed to be dying, so it is not a “simple” matter of power of belief or placebo ...)

My Experiences With Living Food — Raw Vegetables, Fruits and Nuts

by Kirstine Nolfi MD

Also published under the title "The Miracle Of Living Foods: My Experience With Living Food And Raw Food Treatment of Cancer and Other Diseases", this book describes Danish physician Dr Nolfi's (1881–1957) cancer healing journey. (Dr. Nolfi eventually did die of cancer at the age of 75 or 76.)

Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy: A True Story of Discovery, Acting, Health, Illness, Recovery, and Life

Killing Your Cancer Without Killing Yourself

by Allen S. Chips, DCH, Ph.D.

“Follow the author’s true medically documented account of how he cured himself of cancer with this approach. Learn about the roles of the immune system with herbal medicines, the anticancer diet and alkalinity, nutriceuticals and other recently discovered natural cures.

Explore the oldest and most reputable alternative medicine cancer clinic the world—in Tijuana, Mexico, which uses the Hoxsey formula claiming an 80% success rate. Includes information from the Cayce readings as well, especially as related to the healing properties of the alkaline diet.”

Messages from the Heart, Learning to love cancer

by Annabelle Bondar (breast cancer survivor)

Paperback: 124 pages

A Light in the Midst of Darkness

by Erik Loebl

Publisher: Xulon Press (May 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1602663939

In September of 2005, the author had a tumor removed from the back of his head. He was diagnosed with medulla blastoma (malignant), and later the diagnosis was changed to JPA, or juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (benign).

Also compare Brain cancer healing testimonials.

Celebrating with the Angels: My Life Transformed

by Carole Sfekas Ph. D.

Brain tumor healing, for more details see Spiritual healing books.

Also compare Brain cancer healing testimonials.

The Cancer Conqueror: An Incredible Journey to Wellness

by Greg Anderson

ISBN-13 9780836224153 & ISBN 0836224159

The Triumphant Patient

by Greg Anderson

Cancer 50 Essential Things to Do

by Greg Anderson
ISBN-10 0452280745
ISBN-13 978-0452280748

I am very hesitant to include the above three books by Greg Anderson. I feature them since while they only seem to discuss conventional treatment options (as if they were the gold standard rather than the inhumane and mostly deadly and ineffective cancer business they truly are, with some or many patients apparently being “cured” but soon succumbing to a relapse or another disease connected to the toxic and/or mutilating treatment previously received*), this book apparently has empowered “cancer patients and their loved ones to move beyond their disease”.

Written by another cancer survivor, for those who do choose the conventional treatment path this book seems to be a valuable “roadmap to recovery ... Filled with practical, healing ‘action steps’ that have been used by thousands of cancer survivors”. It has received accolades from personalities like Bernie Siegel MD to “normal” people directly or indirectly affected by cancer.

Update October 2009: after visiting Greg Anderson's website, I am happy to report that while previous books of his were not embracing the stance adopted by Healing Cancer Naturally, his more recent work IS based on a much more compatible approach.

Greg Anderson is the founder of the non-profit organization Cancer Recovery Foundation to help people prevent and survive cancer, and nutrition is one of its pillars while not underwriting cancer research or medical treatments but emphasizing a holistic or whole-person approach.

* Compare Potential Serious Side Effects of Orthodox Cancer Treatment Doctors Might Not Have Told You About (these include death and intractable pain).

Also see Lung cancer healing testimonials which lists testimonials of various nonconventional and/or natural ways people have healed from lung cancer.

The Path of Practice: A Woman's Book of Ayurvedic Healing

by Bri Maya Tiwari

Last but far from least, here is a holistic healing story: the beautiful account of a woman who healed herself of ”terminal” ovarian cancer after allopathic doctors had had ample time to practice their art (surgery etc.) on her hapless body.

“Written as part memoir, part how-to guide, The Path of Practice is a conversational, self-described ‘course in healing and in living.’ Bri Maya maintains that ‘all pain is a reminder that we have strayed from the natural rhythms of life,’ and this book acts as a guiding light to bring us back. ...

[Having] retreated to the wintry woods of Vermont to die alone... Bri Maya reconnected with her Indian roots of self-sustainment by baking Indian breads, sifting grains and grinding masalas. She spent six months immersed in journaling, meditation and prayers, and when she emerged from her retreat, the cancer that had pervaded her vital organs had gone into remission.

Bri Maya continued learning about the Vedas, reconnecting with Divine Mother, and disseminating her knowledge. She founded and runs the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda, and a charity, called Mother Om Mission, to reunite at-risk communities with the universe's natural rhythms.

Bri Maya has delved into a lifetime of experience and boiled it down into The Path of Practice, briefly but precisely explaining the key principles of sadhana, mantra, mudra, meditation, pranayama, chakras, ancestral legacies, cosmic sound and silence, doshas and cycles of the moon.

Peppered with personal examples and appropriately chosen quotes from Vedic lore, this book is an excellent primer or reference book for those who feel drawn to reconnect with innate natural rhythms in their daily lives.

The chapters on ‘Sound medicine and spirit healing’ and ‘The inner sound of the human voice’ were of particular interest to me. Tejas, or soul vibration, ‘makes cosmic sound audible and produces our inner powers of transformation, our inner voice and intuition.’ She explains chanting exercises, prayers and mantras, and stresses the power of vibration and periods of silence. ...

This book is a valuable cross-section of practices that facilitate a deeper connection with universal rhythms. Bri Maya's prose is lulling, accessible and entirely readable for the Ayurvedic novice, with enough comprehensive content to satisfy seasoned practitioners.”

We Want to Live: The Primal Diet

by Aajonus Vonderplanitz

Over 40 years ago, Aajonus Vonderplanitz was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood and bone) and given less than six months to live. The conventional treatments he received resulted in three new diseases considered incurable. Taking his health finally into his own hands, he started living outdoors and studying natural healing. (The diet he found to be healing for his body includes raw meat.)

Three Months to Life

by Gerald W. White

Scientist Gerald White healed himself of massive "terminal" kidney cancer using guided imagery and prayer, more at Books & E-Books on Mind Power, Cancer, Illness & Healing.

There's More To Life Than Just Living: A Personal Story About Cancer Survival

by Dr. Bruce Guilmette PhD

The story of a complete terminal kidney cancer remission achieved "alternatively" within the space of 5–6 months (tumors necrotic, cancer inactive). The author was advised to have both kidneys removed and then go on to dialysis and/or kidney transplant for what would remain of his life.

Slam The Door On Cancer: And Lock It Out of Your Life

by Jacquie Woodward

A physician's wife, given up on by her doctors, found healing from pancreatic cancer "with science and biblical scripture".

Footnotes

1 Effect of Carrot Intake in the Prevention of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
This study showed an inverse relationship between carrot consumption and stomach cancer risk.

Is carrot consumption associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer? A meta-analysis of observational studies
This study involving some 200,000 individuals found that eating carrots may lower lung cancer risk.

Carrots, green vegetables and lung cancer: a case-control study.
Smokers who ate no carrots had a three-fold risk of developing lung cancer compared with those who consumed carrots more than once a week.

Is there a cure for cancer? After 20 years of research

discover what this German expert thinks.