The Invisible Hand of Cancer by author, Carola Schmidt, could be labeled a handbook on cancer’s far-reaching influences in personal, medical, pharmaceutical, financial, cultural, and familial ways. This deep dive into the topic doesn’t rehash symptoms, prognosis, and treatment, though these topics are couched within firsthand stories shared in the book. Instead, it puts the influence of cancer under the microscope. The result is information designed to equip people to navigate beyond a cancer diagnosis where these influences prevail.
About the book: The Invisible Hand of Cancer
The author’s passion for distilling scientific information into simpler terms for non-scientific readers works. Yes, medical terms are used but are then explained in everyday English. For instance, when talking about how the invisible hand of cancer has influenced research, she explains the role of epigenetics in the life of and fight against cancer. She doesn’t leave readers scratching their heads wondering what epigenetics means but clarifies that it is the study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence. She strips down scientific techno babble even more to a form most readers will understand. Epigenetics are factors beyond the genetic code.
The Invisible Hand of Cancer book review
The impact cancer leaves in its wake includes a wide range of topics. This book offers insights into different sides of off-label treatments and looks at cancer’s effect on the development of drugs used to treat various types of this prolific disease. One of the sections I found most useful was on palliative care and how one person cannot do everything but everyone can do something. It also stresses the importance of palliative care being provided during anticipatory grief, grief around the time of death, and grief after death. It also pinpoints some of the most common and troubling symptoms at the end of life but also shares positive ways to build a legacy that results in tangible keepsakes that have proven beneficial for caregivers and families during the grieving process.
I could go on about the helpful nature of this book; how it addresses the culture of avoiding the subject of death and how it brings anxiety. The good and bad sides of the pharmaceutical industry, affordability issues, the differences in costs from one country to another, but also discusses the hope of hematopoietic stem cells and regenerative medicine.
I recommend this book to patients with cancer or cancer history, families of those diagnosed with cancer, advocates, oncology professionals, and people on the fringe of the lives of people dealing with the emotional stress of this dreaded disease. The science aspect of this book does lean heavily on evolution, for those who dismiss evolution as fact, this book still offers much useful information. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
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About the Author: Carola Schmidt
Pediatric Oncology Pharmacist & Writer.
Author of “Chubby’s Tale: The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer,” which is listed on BookAuthorithy’s “81 Best Leukemia Books of All Time.”
Best-selling author of children’s books about cancer, including “Bald is Beautiful: A letter for a fabulous girl,” and “Cancer Daily Life.”
Springer Nature author of the books “Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Pharmacists: The Gold Standard to Practice,” “Pediatric Oncologic Pharmacy―A Complete Guide to Practice,” “Chemotherapy in Neonates and Infants―Pharmacological Oncology for Children Under 1 Year Old,” and “Drug Therapy and Interactions in Pediatric Oncology―A Pocket Guide.” Editor of the book “Chemotherapy and Pharmacology for Leukemia in Pregnancy: Guidelines and Strategies for Best Practices,” published by Springer.
Post-Graduation in Pediatric Oncologic Pharmacy; MBA in Planning and Business Management.
After a career in hospitals and classrooms, she has been linking her two passions: writing and oncology. She can be found on Twitter @_CarolaSchmidt
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