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Book reviews
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A Woman's Decision : Breast Care,
Treatment &
Reconstruction
Karen J. Berger, John, III Bostwick, 1998, Quality Medical Home Health
Library
An excellent book for anyone who is considering
reconstructive surgery although it is quite large and could be daunting
for some. This is a very detailed book about
breast cancer treatment options with particular reference to
reconstruction. It is focussed on helping women to make decisions about
what the best option is for them. There
are also photos as well as diagrams, although they are black and white and
don’t show ones that haven’t worked out as well as might be hoped. You
would need to ask your own surgeon for photos of the work that he has
carried out. There are also women’s stories, outlining how they made the
decisions that they took. One woman who has had reconstruction says ‘
I can attest to the accuracy of both the medical information and the
emotional descriptions contained in the book.’
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Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book
Susan M. Love, Karen Lindsey, Marcia Williams, 2000
This is a comprehensive and thorough
book about all aspects of breast disease and treatment. The first half
deals with the normal breast and the second half with abnormalities. Easy
to read and sympathetic in tone it helps guide women through the treatment
decisions they need to make. Although it is written by a doctor and is
detailed about all the medical information, Dr Love also pays attention to
the emotional aspects and how to address life after breast cancer. If you
want a book that covers everything, then this is it. It does have a US
focus and some people may find it is too detailed, especially in the first
shock of diagnosis. However, it deserves it’s acclaim of ‘The
bible of women with breast cancer.’ She also has a great website: http://www.susanlovemd.com
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Hormone Replacement Therapy: a
Guide for Primary Care
Sally Hope (Editor), Margaret Rees (Editor),
Janet Brockie
A small and accessible book, primarily
written for GPs and practice nurses, although also very useful for any
woman considering HRT. It covers all the different aspects, with up to
date research and in a concise and easy to read format. There is a chapter
about breast cancer. Although this is not the main focus of the book, it
helps to put it in perspective when considering all the reasons that one
might want to take HRT.
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Your
Life in Your Hands
Prof Jane Plant
Professor Plant is a research
scientist in the area of Geochemistry. It is clear to many who research
into breast cancer that dietary factors are involved in the causation of
breast cancer. What is not clear is exactly how this is manifest and the
safest approach to take for diet alteration. For example, it is thought
that Japanese women may reduce their risk of breast cancer because of
their low meat and high fish intake. However, they have a much higher rate
of stomach cancer than is common in the West. There are no simple answers.
While Jane Plant puts forward a powerful argument for changing diet, it is
still just her theory and has not been proved.
To argue that she has cured herself is not proof and even if it has
worked for her is no guarantee that it would work for anyone else. Breast
cancer is highly unpredictable in its course. We all know that many women
with breast cancer are desperate to find something that they can do to
affect the course of their illness. That is why I believe this book is
potentially harmful. Many women may make huge efforts at great cost to
make dramatic alterations in their diet. What impact will this have on
their life and the lives of those around them? How will they feel if it
makes no difference to the course of their disease? I am all for positive
lifestyle changes, but the recommendation of strict, unproven diets to
vulnerable people I believe to be cruel. If you want a book on diet, then
read …
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The
Breast Cancer Prevention and Recovery Diet
Suzannah Olivier, 2000
A useful and up to date book about
diet and lifestyle quoting all the latest research on the influence of
diet on breast cancer. Written by a nutritionist who has also had breast
cancer, this discusses the research and applies it in a way that can make
sense to anyone who is trying to make positive changes in their life to
help themselves after breast cancer. It’s worth remembering that
although it might be possible to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer
by altering your diet, this hasn’t been proved yet and it won’t work
for everyone.
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You
Don’t Have to Suffer: A complete guide to relieving cancer pain for
patients and their families.
Susan Lang and Richard Pratt, 1994, Oxford
University Press
This book is a comprehensive manual
about the ways of relieving pain caused by cancer. Although it is very
medical it is written for patients and their families. It gives the
rationale for pain control and debunks lots of myths currently around. If
you read this, then you may know more
than your doctor about the area. A disadvantage is that although general
drug names are the same worldwide, many of the drug trade names given
appear to be US ones, which makes it difficult for a UK reader. Also the
index is not completely accurate. Anyone who is worried about pain would
be helped by dipping into this and realising how much can be done. Anyone
who has pain will find this an invaluable resource.
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Be
a Survivor – Your Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment
Vladimir Lange (1999) Lange Productions, Los Angeles
This is a lovely book and well laid
out with helpful diagrams and photos of mastectomy and reconstruction.
There are many personal stories and an all round picture is given not only
of the disease and treatment but also about how a woman with breast cancer
might react and what she can do to help herself. There is also a CD-ROM
and video with interviews of survivors to back the book up. I haven’t
seen these but they sound interesting. I’d be interested in your views.
The book is written by a doctor so has a medical focus, but his wife had
breast cancer, so it also has a personal touch as they know what the
experience is like, plus he has included a section for partners. This is
$24.95, but I paid £15.99 through Amazon UK – well worth it.
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Breast
Disorders – The British Medical Association Family Doctor Guide
Michael Dixon and Robert Leonard (1999), pub. Dorling
Kindersley, London
This is an excellent little book which
covers all aspects of breast disorders, including breast pain, lumps and
cancer. Explanations are clear with lots of good diagrams and
pictures. The authors are both doctors specializing in the field and so
the information is up to date and accurate. There are some areas that
could be covered in more detail and some that are missed altogether, but
at £4.99 it is very good value and a great starting point for anyone
wanting to know more about breast health and it’s British!
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Breast
Health
Dr Miriam Stoppard (1998), pub Dorling Kindersley,
London
This is another super little book from
Dorling Kindersley, which is closely related to the Family Doctor Guide on
Breast Disorders and uses a lot of the same pictures. I think Dr Stoppard
has a more personal approach and addresses more issues that concern women,
although as she is not a specialist in the area you might like to check
that her advice is totally up to date. This book is a little more
comprehensive than the Family Doctor Guide, including a good section on
breast self examination (BSE), different types of reconstruction,
prostheses and lymphoedema. Again, superb value for £4.99.
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Before
I Say Goodbye
Ruth Picardie
This book is a compilation of the
emails and articles by Ruth Picardie as she was dying of breast cancer.
This is probably not what you want to read if you are newly diagnosed with
breast cancer. However, it may make you look at life in a different way as
you read how one family dealt with the kaleidoscope of emotions they
encountered during Ruth’s illness. Some find that Ruth’s courage and
humour helps to give them strength and the way that she trivialises cancer
may be inspiring. The piece by Ruth’s husband is very honest and reading
the different stories from family members may help families to understand
some of the things that happen when someone dies of cancer. This is a book
for everyone to grieve with.
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Page last updated on 05 November 2008
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