Author Judith Pearson releases a new book titled ‘Radical Sisters’

Author and biographer Judith Pearson has a brand-new book titled ‘Radical Sisters.’ When Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner and Evelyn Lauder were diagnosed with breast cancer, myths, outdated protocols, and a lack of awareness of their disease were rampant. Worst of all was the paltry amount of research dollars devoted to the epidemic that was killing tens of thousands each year.

Meticulously researched, Radical Sisters is a rich narrative that transports readers through three decades of a changing social landscape in America. Taking cues from the women’s health movement and the AIDS movement, these trail‑blazing advocates did for themselves what the mainstream healthcare system refused to do.

Judith Pearson, Author of Radical Sisters, joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk more about her latest novel.

Pearson describes the term “radical” as having meaning to the book in numerous ways. One connotation of the word is derived from the word “rad,” another is to describe something that is “out of the box” or unordinary. The last one is in regards to breast cancer, to describe a radical mastectomy.

A radical mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the entire breast, all of the lymph nodes under the arm, and the chest wall muscles under the breast. Today, this procedure is rarely done as the updated, standard mastectomy procedure is less extensive.

“It’s interesting to remember that cancer doesn’t discriminate,” says Pearson.

The three highlighted women on the book were some of the first public figures to speak about the disease back during their time.

One of the woman, Shirley Temple Black, was the first actresses to go public with her diagnose. She even had a press conference in her hospital room.

Pearson says that the advocacy work of three women, combined with inspiration from the AIDS movement, marked the start of raising Breast Cancer Awareness.

For more information on the book and to order your own copy, click the link: Radical Sisters