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    A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer
    Unavailable
    A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer
    Unavailable
    A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer
    Ebook328 pages3 hours

    A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer

    By Mary Elizabeth Williams

    4.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    A wry, witty account of what it is like to face death-and be restored to life.After being diagnosed in her early 40s with metastatic melanoma-a "rapidly fatal" form of cancer-journalist and mother of two Mary Elizabeth Williams finds herself in a race against the clock. She takes a once-in-a-lifetime chance and joins a clinical trial for immunotherapy, a revolutionary drug regimen that trains the body to vanquish malignant cells. Astonishingly, her cancer disappears entirely in just a few weeks. But at the same time, her best friend embarks on a cancer journey of her own-with very different results. Williams's experiences as a patient and a medical test subject reveal with stark honesty what it takes to weather disease, the extraordinary new developments that are rewriting the rules of science-and the healing power of human connection.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNational Geographic
    Release dateApr 26, 2016
    ISBN9781426216343
    Unavailable
    A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer
    Author

    Mary Elizabeth Williams

    Mary Elizabeth Williams has written essays and criticism for the New York Times, New York Observer, Salon.com, Parents, TV Guide, and dozens of other publications. She’s also the host of Salon’s reader community, Table Talk. She has appeared on Court TV and public radio and has spoken on journalism and community at NYU and Columbia. She lives in New York with her family.

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    Reviews for A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles

    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      This is the story of one person's experience with metastatic melanoma, but it is told with wit, humanity and fantastic writing. Mary Elizabeth starts her book with the spoiler "I survived." However, other cancer patients she introduces us to don't. I particularly appreciated that she explained so much about clinical trials, immunotherapy and other scientific topics in layman's terms. The subtitle says it all "A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer."
    • 5/5
      This is the story of mom and wife Mary Elizabeth Williams who was diagnosed with skin cancer, treated for it, but then suffered a reoccurrence where it metastasized to her lungs and on her back. She describes how the diagnosis and treatment affected all of those around her. She also discusses how such a progression usually proved to be fatal but she was lucky in that she lived in New York City at the time trials were just beginning for a new form of therapy – immunotherapy – where she received a combination of two types of drugs designed to help her immune system eliminate dangerous cancer cells wherever they might be in her body. The results of these drugs were amazing, and she immediately started showing their positive effects. She points out that it is not all cancers respond to such treatment yet, and heartbreakingly describes the outcome suffered by her father-in-law and best friend who suffered a great deal before their deaths from cancer. However, today Williams is still cancer-free and able to continue her life. Her book provides much hope and optimism for those who suffer from cancer. This is a wonderful story.