Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors

by Carolyn Rubenstein

Book Overview

Can you imagine being in high school or college and suddenly learning you have cancer? You thought you had a lifetime ahead of you and the whole world at your feet, but suddenly you're told... maybe... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765317788
• ISBN13: 9780765317780
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

PESEVERANCE: A MUST READ

Every once in a while we run across little gems that are so special that they change our lives forever. Carolyn Rubenstein's Perseverance is one of those rare and special jewels. I can't remember the last time I have felt so passionate about a book. The stories are bright, funny, inspirational and most of all full of life. I love each and every person I met in Perseverance. Their stories dance off the pages daring you to walk in their shoes, go through what they went through, and find the joy in life. Put down your coffee and pick up this book. You will never be the same

Amazing book. Life changing.

This book is not to be missed. It provides the reader with a new perspective on life that is forever impacting. The stories within the pages will definitely stay ingrained within me. The stories, along with Carolyn's life lessons learned are on the mark, and are gentle reminders that we need to start living our lives with vigor and with purpose -- NOW. I highly recommend this book to everyone. This is also a fantastic book for those who need a little wake-up call and inspiration in their lives. Carolyn is to be applauded for her work and devotion to making this world a better place.

Perserverance

Perseverance is a unique book filled with the stories of some very courageous individuals. All twenty are young college age cancer survivors. They are also the most positive, inspirational people that I've had the chance to learn about. In each entry, the young person talks about their diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The trials these children have been through, often repeatedly, would be enough to make any adult fall to pieces. You'd expect that these young people would be bitter and angry at all they've endured. Instead, they are truly thankful for the experience and see cancer as a gift. Moreover, they've used what they've learned to make the world a bit better place.

Activating the endogenous healing signal in brain

In general cancers are among diseases for old people. However, many young people including children also suffer from some cancers such as leukemia and glioma as well as NF and TSC tumors. Like Lans Armstrong, the famous cyclist who overcame his formidable cancer and won Tour de France seven times in row, so many other youngsters overcome their cancers in their own way, and keep pursing their career. Carolyn Rubenstein (24), a Ph.D. student at Harvard, published recently her inspiring story about these 20 young brave and lucky cancer survivors who overcome their fear caused by their life-threatening cancers in their childhood. Anti-cancer drugs work only when cancer patients fight against this fear, with a "positive" thinking. After all, there are a few endogenous anti-cancer signal substances in our brain which are activated only when our mind looks forward to the survival. Carolyn, who is currently studying clinical psychology, has learned such an endogenous healing power, since she established a non-profit organization "CCC" to support children with cancers, when she was only 14 years old. Reading through this book, I hope every cancer patient, young or old, will get both courage and energy for surviving his or her own cancer. This book reminds me of one of my old German Ph.D students who also overcame his leukemia a few decades ago, and is now working in Sweden as a senior biomedical scientist. Shortly after the end of WWII, when I am 9 years old, I was caught with TB, which was as deadly as cancer then. However, after staying at home for several months, I was luckily recovered from TB, owing to the power of PAS, and returned to school. Since then I have never got sick for more than a half century, and have enjoyed Boston marathon, mountain climbing and biomedical science with a great perseverance. Perhaps the perseverance/immunity I acquired during my TB therapy might give me an extra mental/physical strength, as is the case of these young 20 cancer survivors in this inspiring book.

Amazingly Full of Life

Perseverance is one of the most life-altering books I have ever read. Each story is so emotionally gripping, inspiring, and full of appreciation for life. In Perseverance, Carolyn Rubenstein shares life lessons she has learned from her best friends who are cancer survivors. In each chapter she provides ways in which we (the readers) can improve our lives by making change. She illustrates these lessons and tips by going in depth with accounts from the inspiring young adults in the book. Believe me -- after reading this book, you will not be the same. The life lessons and stories will live in my mind and in my heart forever. This book is a treasure, not to be missed.