Spoiler alert: the author, Mary Elizabeth Williams (Gimme Shelter), survives an invasive melanoma found on the back of her head. With frankness, tenderness and occasionally graphic details, A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles spells out what it meant for Williams, and her family and friends, to be diagnosed with this particular type of cancer. She also writes about her father-in-law's struggles with colon cancer and her best friend, Debbie, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about the same time as Williams.
Because she had melanoma, a particularly aggressive and rapid growing, nearly always fatal form of cancer, Williams was eligible to participate in a clinical trial for immunotherapy that used a combination of two drug types to activate the body's T cells. Immunotherapy was first used as a treatment course as far back as the 1890s, but quickly took a back seat to chemo and radiation, which had higher success rates. With advances in medical science and a better understanding of how the human body functions, however, more emphasis is being placed on this still controversial method. Williams delves into the scientific side of her recovery as well as the emotional and physical tolls of undergoing treatment while trying to maintain a somewhat normal life with her husband and two daughters. Laughter, tears, love, amazing stamina and determination factor into her ability to move beyond being a cancer patient, to become someone who faced death and now lives life to the fullest surrounded by those she loves. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer