Radical Sisters - by Judith L Pearson (Hardcover)

About the Book

The inspiring story of three trail-blazing advocates who turned their breast cancer diagnoses into a movement that has saved millions.

Book Synopsis

"The doctor can make the incision, but I'll make the decision." -- Shirley Temple Black

"I have a streak of stubbornness and a loud voice." -- Rose Kushner

"I believe that one must leave the world a better place than you found it." -- Evelyn Lauder

There was a time when women's health was marginalized. There was a time when breast cancer wasn't discussed. There was a time when October wasn't pink. But three women--Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, and Evelyn Lauder--refused to be silenced. Their courage ignited a movement that forever changed the way society addresses breast cancer.

When these "radical sisters" were diagnosed, they faced a medical world rife with myths, outdated protocols, and a shocking lack of research. Breast cancer awareness was non-existent, and treatment options were limited. Yet, Shirley, Rose, and Evelyn--empowered by their own diagnoses--became trailblazing advocates for breast cancer research, early detection, and women's health. Their efforts broke open the conversation and set the stage for a new era of breast cancer advocacy.

Radical Sisters, meticulously researched by award-winning biographer Judith L. Pearson, chronicles their powerful journeys. Taking cues from the women's health and AIDS movements, these inspirational women demanded a shift in how society viewed breast cancer--not as a taboo, but as a cause worthy of public attention and action.

Today, more than 300,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. They stand on the shoulders of these courageous pioneers, whose legacy has empowered generations to advocate for better healthcare, increased research, and greater awareness.

Review Quotes

"Radical Sisters brings to light the personal and passionate breast cancer stories of three powerful women and their hunger to chose their own destiny. As a three-time cancer survivor, I know it will touch so many women's lives, and is a wonderful companion for anyone who is going through or has been through a cancer journey."
- Annie Parker, author of Annie Parker Decoded, inspiration for the film Decoding Annie Parker. Annie is a 3 times cancer survivor and one of the first women to be tested for the BRCA gene mutation.

"Informative and moving, Radical Sisters skillfully tells the largely forgotten story of how three women with breast cancer helped transform activism surrounding the disease. All women--and men--with cancer owe Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner and Evelyn Lauder a debt of gratitude."
- Barron H. Lerner, M.D., author of The Breast Cancer Wars: Hope, Fear and the Pursuit of a Cure in Twentieth-Century America

"As much as I enjoyed reading about my amazing mother in this book, I was just as fascinated by the rest of the book and the history of medical care of breast cancer patients.  I had no idea how interesting that would be." 
-Gary Lauder, Evelyn Lauder's son 

"Radical Sisters is the remarkable and largely untold story of the history of how survivors themselves radically changed how breast cancer was talked about and treated. A must-read, page-turning, astonishing journey of fear that morphed into courage, hope, and the drive to improve the medical system.This book profoundly moved me, and its lasting impact will be for me to continue to advocate fiercely for other patients.
The lives, legacies and pure audacity of Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, and Evelyn Lauder echo loudly today and will inspire me to never stop fighting for cancer patients! Thank you for sharing these stories to inspire all women to always question everything about their treatment."
-Geralyn Lucas, Author, Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, Then Came Life

Praise for Crusade to Heal America by Judith L. Pearson

"(A) fascinating portrait of a medical champion deserving more wide-spread recognition."--Booklist

"Pearson uses Lasker's words to great effect in this artfully crafted biography...(her) clear and concise writing serves the narrative well. Her attention to detail is stunning." --Washington Independent Review

About the Author

Judith L. Pearson is the author of Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker (2023 Florida Book Award Winner) and three previous biographies: The Wolves at the Door, Belly of the Beast, and From Shadows to Life, which won the 2022 Nautilus Gold Award. A graduate of Michigan State University, Pearson and her husband spend life on the glorious gulf coast in Venice, Florida.