In this collection of first-person accounts, doctor and author Siegel (Love, Medicine, and Miracles) brings together almost three dozen cancer patients (or close relations of) to share their stories and the lessons they've learned. Many entries tackle the moment of diagnosis (the first, from survivor Angela Passidomo Trafford, opens with the line, "How many times do I have to have cancer?!"), while others pick up at the moment the diagnosis first hits home; still others focus on the end, like Ann Martin Bowler, whose sick brother passed days after a reinvigorating near-death experience. Lynn Zeller contributes a list of the "eight practices" she discovered through cancer that have led to a "wonderfully expanded experience of life" (including a focus on gratitude, mindfulness, and the idea that the universe "is in a conspiracy for my good"); Edwina Ford focuses on her afflicted husband's admiration, and efforts on behalf, of Lance Armstrong's post-surgery Tour de France comeback. For each piece, Siegel provides a reflection and a moral ("Life's difficulties are what teach us to grow") that clarify and encourage. Anyone struggling with cancer will find many relatable voices and, in Siegel, a compassionate expert commentator. (Apr.) (Publishers Weekly, April 20, 2009)

Bernie Siegel, M.D., speaks and runs workshops across the country and is devoted to humanizing medical care and medical education. His books Love, Medicine, and Miracles; Peace, Love, and Healing; and How to Live between Office Visits are classics in the field of healing. Jennifer Sander and her writing have been featured on CNBC, CNN, The View, USA Today, Fortune Small Business, and Fox News, among other media outlets.

Acknowledgments. Introduction. Part One: FAITH. God Handed Me a Gift. A Snowy Quest. My Healing Journey. Baby Jamie: A Survivor's Story. Learning to Let Go. What We Could Do Together. Making My Own Music. Love Heals. Wildflowers. To Be Alive Is a Gift. Amazing Final Days. Part Two: HOPE. A Joyous Occasion Is a Joyous Occasion. A New Autumn. Riding Uphill. Phases of the Moon. Opening Up to Life. Lemon Meringue. The Touch. Another Kind of Miracle. The Art of Living. Part Three: HEALING. Animals as Healers. Grayed Waters. Chinese Finger Trap. Checkmate. Halcyon Days. Finding My Voice. My Tree of Life. The Visitor. Standing Up for My Body and Soul. Write It Down, Pass It On. Thumz Up. Conclusion: Love, Medicine, and Miracles Today. Index.