Curing Cancer with Immunotherapy: How it happened a century ago, what we learned as we attempted it, and why it is possible today. Kindle Edition

It did not take very long for me to finish reading this book. It is intense but very readable. As a cancer patient, I resonate to every little mental experience that Rene went thru and most likely only at a less traumatic level as my sarcoma was much easier to deal with than hers. True to their scientific training, both them obviously kept detail notes and data of their journey. All interested readers would be thankful that they shared in so personal way that one can feel as one reads. As an engineer, I appreciate greatly the lessons learned approach periodically through out the book. I book marked every one of them. The last one third of the book of summarizing their understanding of the cancer and immunotherapy (with all the relevant reference articles) approach is really a treasure for people who want to gain the knowledge and add to their war chest in dealing with their cancer. Throughout the book, it shows the scientific conviction and determination by their desire and willingness to re-examine the well known practices and explore new ways and try them faced with uncertainty but always based on, at a minimum, plausible theory and evidences. That takes abundant courage and I was scare for them but most of all admire both of them. Their love for each other sustained their fight for the cure through the failures and uncertainties. Even in facing seemingly certain death prognosis their humors showed through.

Nine years after my own resection of sarcoma I am free of signs of cancer. I still continue with most of the supplements recommended by Dr. Raymond Chang and my loving wife helps me to control my diet but I find myself becoming perhaps a little over relaxed. Reading this book kicked my butt to think over and improve my diet and exercises. I thank the authors sincerely. A cancer patient should never take for granted that he is free from cancer.

I just finished reading this book and am amazed at the journey Rene and Eddy took in order to beat her odds of a rare and aggressive cancer. I knew Rene from when she was a graduate student at UCSD. She's an extremely smart, detail oriented, dedicated and responsible individual. I only heard that she had cancer, but didn't understand how aggressive it was and how long she had to suffer from it. I am blown away, but not surprised at the lengths her and Eddy went through to research, travel, take risks, spend their life savings and give up all their time to find a cure. Rene puts her heart into everything she does. In reading this book, I can hear her voice in the conversations in the book as if I'm there. I can feel the pain of what they were going through. I am so grateful that she decided to share her knowledge through this book to help others. Although I do not have cancer right now, it has already inspired me to take action for my own health - especially in eating foods that will boost my immune system. I highly recommend this book to any cancer paitent or their families as this is a true success story from someone who's been through it all.

I too have an aggressive form of sarcoma and was told that my only option was chemo for the rest of my life and that I had an expiration date of 5 years. I was completely lost and broken at the thought of leaving my loving husband and 2 young boys. Then I found this book and was given tremendous hope that I can too find treatment that can potentially cure me of this insidious disease and give me more time with my family. This book is written in a way that was very easy for me to read and understand the main principles of how the immune system can work to eradicate cancer. Because of all of what I have learned, I am pursuing immunotherapy as treatment. Thank you so much Rene and Eddy for sharing your journey with us and giving us all hope!

The authors are uniquely qualify to write on this subject. This is first hand experience and they have the technical background to do the research, understand the science, and communicate not as an academic discussion but a practical quest for life. Everyone without the technical foundation can follow becsuse the authors are patient and skilful to explain. They anticipate where we might have need for education on the subject matter and give just enough explanation in the right places to avoid losing us, while not being laboriously technical that also would overwhelm us. The interesting diagrams really help to illustrate how the amazing defense mechanisms work in our body. I was hooked!

I find the book helpful at different levels:

For patients - it definitely gives hope but also wise suggestions on how to approach the scary diagnosis of cancer. The advice to be vigilant and responsible for seeking medical opinions and evaluating the different options while being sensitive to how each the body is responding to the treatment is very practical and insightful. The power of mutual encouragement between patients cannot be overstated. The resources at the end of the book, even the acknowledgement of the medical professionals and organizations , are helpful guides for where and how to look for help.

For care takers - the compassionate, humble, and sensible caregivers and researchers are rightly honored in this book because they are able to bring healing in more levels than one. I am especially moved by the tribute to Dr old. There are also great lessons for those who have grown so accustomed to traditional approaches that they have lost the ability to think critically and the passion to be dissatisfied with compromised healing, especially in cases where the traditional methods have proven almost 100% failure rate. There is no place for power struggles or professional pride when it comes to other people's lives. There is nothing safe about a failed approach!!

For care givers and pharmaceutical executives - it is unethical to hold patients hostage to profit making, and the authors are not afraid to expose that. This short sightedness would only bring more distrust, more law suits for malpractice, and ridiculous costs for everyone. Only crooked lawyers benefit and we have enough of them in our government!!

For policy makers - what is wrong with the picture that cure is drastically cheaper in countries outside of the U.S. like Germany? This book shows that reforming the insurance side of the American medical system is useless. Unless the waste is cut out and cure is affordable, most of the American people could not take advantage of the advance technologies that we take pride in! What is the use of being cutting edge when most of the people are cut out of it? It shows that the policy makers and administrators are too beauracratic, legalistic, and incompetent to strike a balance to benefit those who really need it. What is the justification for forcing dying patients to go with failed treatments while preventing them to try new but sound approaches? Why make it extra hard for researchers like Dr. Old to pursue what they have shown to be theoretically defensible? The authors present facts and figures that calls for urgent review. The FDA should be leaders to open ways for sound approaches, not followers of the market, or they are a burden to the society as the governing body.

Kudos to the Chee’s. Your sufferings and hard work have not gone to waste. Dr. Old would be pleased if he had a chance to read your book - or he might already have had an inkling on it...