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Books > Medicine > General issues > Health systems & services > Mental health services
In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this
powerful memoir recounts Barbara Lipska's deadly brain cancer and
explains its unforgettable lessons about the brain and mind.
Neuroscientist Lipska was diagnosed early in 2015 with metastatic
melanoma in her brain's frontal lobe. As the cancer progressed and
was treated, she experienced behavioral and cognitive symptoms
connected to a range of mental disorders, including dementia and
her professional specialty, schizophrenia. Lipska's family and
associates were alarmed by the changes in her behavior, which she
failed to acknowledge herself. Gradually, after a course of
immunotherapy, Lipska returned to normal functioning, amazingly
recalled her experience, and through her knowledge of neuroscience
identified the ways in which her brain changed during treatment.
Lipska admits her condition was unusual; after recovery she was
able to return to her research and resume her athletic training and
compete in a triathalon. Most patients with similar brain cancers
rarely survive to describe their ordeal. Lipska's memoir,
coauthored with journalist Elaine McArdle, shows that strength and
courage but also an encouraging support network are vital to
recovery.
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