In this beautiful book that is both scholarly review and memoir, Dr. Vance describes the unique challenges and gifts of living with chronic illness. In an easy-to-read, clear style, Vance tells her story, interwoven with the stories of others. In exploring suffering, loss, chronic illness as personal responsibility or spiritual opportunity, and cancer as other or self, Vance has presented an erudite representation of an experience that touches all of our lives. Healthcare professionals, caregivers and patients will all benefit from reading this book. Looking at healing as a body-mind-spirit proposition, Vance portrays the healing that can occur on all levels - emotional and spiritual, even when physical healing is not possible. With authenticity and grace, Landis Vance has shown us how to live out this view of wholeness, and how to achieve peace amidst chaos.

– Christina Jackson, Ph.D., MSN, Professor of Nursing, Curriculum Committee Chair - Nursing Department, Eastern University

It is the rare voice that can give flight to the soul in adversity. Landis Vance is such a voice. Her heart- felt descriptions of coping with cancer, first as a chronic condition and now, as an overwhelming foe, opens our eyes to the fullness of living in the midst of life threatening hardship. ‘A Most Clarifying Battle: The Spirit and Cancer' must be read by everyone, ill and well.

– Mark Langweiler, DC, DAAPM, Senior Lecturer - Anatomy, University of South Wales