Book Review: The Survivor Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival
Over at the Diet Channel, Dena McDowell reviews the chapters of The Cancer Project’s free online book “The Survivor Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival“. She says that although the recipes may be useful, the information and approach used by the authors are quite outdated, and lacks scientific backing.
Although this handbook was first published in 2003, no revision or new edition has been made to update this information. Secondly, the authors fail to include the American Cancer Society’s guidelines in their recommendations. These guidelines have been created by scientists who review all current nutrition and cancer research. The principles outlined by Dr. Barnard and Ms. Reilly are a little too extreme when it comes to the validity of the current research that is available. As a clinical dietitian who works directly with cancer patients, I would not recommend this book as it lacks enough scientific evidence in its recommendations. I would refer a patient to read it with caution, keeping the American Cancer Society’s principles at the forefront of their minds. However that being said, the recipes listed at the end of this book are worth reviewing and may be incorporated into a healthy anticancer diet.
You may download the different sections of the handbook, or purchase a copy and see for yourself.
Interesting.
As one of the authors of the Survivor’s Handbook, I’d like to respond to the book review posted on this site. The dietary recommendations included in the Handbook–like all Cancer Project publications, public service announcements, and reports–are based solidly on the scientific literature. In fact, Handbook readers will note 88 citations of peer-reviewed nutrition studies.
Although it’s true that The Cancer Project and the American Cancer Society differ in some of their recommendations–we recommend a low-fat vegan diet and the ACS advises limited consumption of processed and red meats–we agree on several important issues. Both organizations advise choosing whole grains over refined grains and eating five or more servings a day of fruits and vegetables.
Readers might also be interested to know that we are working on a revised edition of the Survivor’s Handbook which will be published this fall. Check our Web site http://www.CancerProject.org for updates on its release, information on free cooking classes around the country, and the latest in nutrition science.
In good health,
Jennifer Reilly, R.D.
Senior Nutritionist