Ireland, wife of actor Charles Bronson and herself an actress, discovered she had cancer in the summer of 1984, and here tells the story of her battle with the disease. In an affluent family setting that includes children from the previous marriages of both husband and wife, she struggled to develop the positive attitude that experts posit is an element of resistance to disease. In addition to conventional chemotherapy after her mastectomy, Ireland undertook holistic healing that involved homeopathic treatment, lying on an electromagnetic table and meditation with quartz crystals. With the assistance of these therapies and the support of her family, to whom she pays fulsome tribute, she explored her inner resources. Illness caused a reassessment of values, a scaling down of lifestyle, until she forged an understanding of pain and an ability to face a life-threatening situation. Upbeat and, despite some theatrical hyperbole, inspiring. Photos not seen by PW. First serial to Ladies Home Journal. (January 29)
With this book Jill Ireland, actress and wife of actor Charles Bronson, joins the roster of celebrity women including Betty Rollins and Betty Ford who have written books about their experiences as breast cancer patients. Although her treatment consisted principally of the traditional surgery followed by drug treatments, Ireland also sought out a variety of other therapies such as homeopathy and meditation to help her cope with the psychological and emotional effects of the disease and the debilitating reactions to medication. The book chronicles both physical and mental aspects of the recovery, emphasizing the mind-body connection in physical illnesses like cancer in a positive, sometimes humorous style. Karen McNally Bensing, Metropolitan General Hospital, Cleveland
