By Kathy LaTour

Star Palate: Celebrity Cookbook for a Cure

Like lots of people, I collect cookbooks. It’s not that I cook a lot, but I am an optimist and whenever I open the pages of a cookbook and see mouth-watering creations like chicken piccata with pine nuts and capers, I’m sure there will be a day when I will make such delicacies for all my friends. And Star Palate finds favor with me for another reason—its proceeds fund breast and ovarian cancer research.

Tami Agassi, executive director of the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, began the project after her own breast cancer diagnosis at age 30. She was assisted by chef Kathy Casey, a “hot new American chef” says Food and Wine magazine.

Agassi gathered recipes from celebrities and famous chefs around the country, and Casey kitchen-tested them before writing them up for the book. It’s a wonderful assortment with everything from Tom Jones’ faggots (meatballs) and mushy peas with mint to shepherd’s pie from Elizabeth Hurley to Ray Romano’s brownies and chicken and dumplings from Tim McGraw.

Every recipe has a beautiful photo of the celebrity and the prepared food. And there’s even humor. Red carpet diva Joan Rivers’ recipe: toast. Personally, I’m going to go home and make warm blackberry whipped egg custard.

Living Through Breast Cancer

Dr. Carolyn Kaelin is a breast surgeon, marathon biker, mother and breast cancer survivor. Living Through Breast Cancer takes the reader through every stage from her perspective with the use of helpful illustrations. She looks at diagnosis, assembling a care team, making decisions and treatments, such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. But she doesn’t stop there. She also looks at the related issues of breast appearance, reconstructive surgery, skin, hair and even mouth and dental care before moving into those difficult areas of sexuality, nutrition, menopause, your mind and fertility. She has extensive information on exercise with illustrations of the best stretches.

Each section is written clearly and contains details seldom seen in other books. For example, hair loss means more than the hair on our head, and Dr. Kaelin addresses this. She looks not only at the disease but also at the person recovering and coping with issues of self-esteem and self-knowledge.

Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer:
Self-Help and Treatment
[Hunter House Publishers, 2005]
By Carol Ann Larson

Written by a colon cancer survivor and president of the Minneapolis chapter of the United Ostomy Association, Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer combines useful, up-to-date information with survivor stories about colon and rectal cancer.

Larson, who has become a colorectal health activist since her diagnosis seven years ago, is also an active member of Advocates for Colorectal Education. She sought input from both survivors and medical professionals for the book, which is easy to read and filled with short lists and reminders. The topics covered include warning signs, screening tests (including the latest on virtual colonoscopy), myths about colon cancer, treatment options, communication tips, prevention techniques, support resources and life after colorectal cancer.

“This is a book about using positive options for overcoming difficulties, being transformed through the experience, and coping with colorectal cancer,” says Larson. “The only way to prepare for the future is to be open to change.”

Larson’s book makes patients feel comfortable talking about their disease and provides options for gaining strength to negotiate the diagnosis, treatment, recovery and years after cancer.

This book can be ordered by calling 800-266-5592.