By These Things Men Live
“No sane or loving person could have criticized Ellal if he had given up, rolled over, stopped the treatments and the pain, or ended his own life. Instead this brave man hung in, month after dreadful month, a pit bull with teeth embedded in the flanks of the beast, never abandoning his belief in and love of life. He writes at skill levels that match Hemingway’s and he exhibits a startling willingness to be naked in front of his readers.”
–John Joss, Sierra, Sierra
Chemotherapy and Radiation Make You Sick—Ancient Chinese Mind/Body Exercises Make You Feel Better and Kick Your Immune System into High Gear
“I’m sorry—I don’t think there’s anything we can do for you.”
The radiologist stared at the MRI picture of my pelvis.
“Maybe afterwards, after the chemotherapy, radiation therapy could give you a few more months…of course it would have to be administered here in Boston, but even then…”
It was the day before my first stem-cell transplant. My oncologist had told me that I would be a good candidate to beat the disease, finally. To hear these words from this eminent radiologist…my legs felt like rotting sticks and I was on the verge of sinking into the earth.
That was in 1993. The radiologist was wrong, way off. Because I’ve survived cancer four times, and have been cancer-free for over 12 years. I beat it. And you can, too. It’s not guaranteed. Nothing in life is sure. And what I have written in this book must be taken in conjunction with qualified medical counsel. But what I reveal here can be a powerful force for recovery.
That force is qigong—which means ‘energy work’ in Chinese
How I Used Qigong as Complementary Medicine
—and Survived Cancer Four Times
I’ve written a brief book-70 pages–about my experiences using qigong as a complement to chemotherapy—it’s called By These Things Men Live: Chronicles of a Four-Time Cancer Survivor. Within it, you will find how the Chinese mind/body connection helped me survive four bouts of supposedly terminal lymphoma cancer—including the rigors of the high-dose chemotherapy of two stem-cell transplants.
- Chapter one shows how you can master the panic, fear and anxiety that accompany a diagnosis of cancer.
- Chapter two describes qigong theory in simple, easy-to-understand terms.
- Chapter six shows how the natural world can help you in your fight.
- Chapter nine outlines how it feels after the onslaught of chemotherapy and/or radiation.
- Chapter 16 demonstrates the importance of keeping your sense of humor.
- Chapter 23 shows how qigong can help you achieve extraordinary medical results.
- Chapter 27 questions the roots of spirituality.
- Chapter 33 examines the role of the subconscious in a fight for one’s life.
- Chapter 35 shows the impact of cancer on family members.
- Chapter 39 demonstrates ultimate triumph.
- The final chapter provides advice for finding a qigong teacher.
If you are fighting cancer, you will see yourself in many of my experiences: I outline the impact of struggles with cancer has on family members, and I ask many questions that all people ask when faced with a life-threatening disease.
Read the book and you will not feel so alone.
The books is priced at $13.95 and has a 30-day money-back guarantee: If at the end of 30 days you do not feel my chronicle has pointed out the value of qigong—and made you feel less alone in your struggle with cancer, your money will be refunded—no questions asked.
