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Winning the Battle Against Prostate Cancer: Get The Treatment That's Right For You
"Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men with almost 200,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. Today increasing numbers of men and their families play a more active role in their treatment and the results can be seen in the increase of men who survive prostate cancer. Yet each year over 27,000 men die from prostate cancer. This makes prostate cancer the second leading cause of cancer death in men behind lung cancer. The range of controversial therapies and treatments for prostate cancer is greater than that of any other cancer affecting men. This makes it difficult for men and their families to determine what are the best options available. Rarely do doctors agree on which treatment a patient should receive or when they should receive it. And many of the current books on prostate cancer suffer from considerable bias promoting one treatment over another without good scientific evidence. Winning the Battle Against Prostate Cancer resolves the problem of contradictory and incomplete information. The book is an unbiased and up-to-date look at prostate cancer treatments and therapies. Dr. Chodak lays out the pros and cons of all reasonable treatment options including the chances that a man may have a good result or develop side effects or complications. Equally important Dr. Chodak recognizes that men and their families need more than just the facts. They are concerned not only with their survival but also what life will be like after treatment. Winning the Battle Against Prostate Cancer offers empathetic insight into the impact of the disease on day-to-day activities so that patients and family members have a clear understanding of what lies ahead and what options are available should complications arise. The book does not gloss over the controversies but presents them in a clear, concise, easy-to-understand manner."
- GenresNonfiction
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 25, 2017
Not a happy book to have to read, but It is valuable background information for anyone confronting Prostate Cancer possibilities. This work was copy written in 2011, and there may be a more recent editions available; and I recommend the most current information. In 2011, there were still a lot of studies in progress that may affect some of the advice in this volume. Topics are presented in a logical order, from increasing PSA to 2nd lines therapies, chemo, and immuno-therapy, and everything in between.
This book allows you to go into your doctor informed about the nature of your diagnosis, the prognosis and probabilities of the various therapies, and the outcomes and natural history of the disease. I am happy to have this full understanding, but of course, wish it was merely academic reading!
This book allows you to go into your doctor informed about the nature of your diagnosis, the prognosis and probabilities of the various therapies, and the outcomes and natural history of the disease. I am happy to have this full understanding, but of course, wish it was merely academic reading!
February 3, 2011
If you or a man you know has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, this is one resource you should definitely own. Dr. Gerald Chodak, the author, is an expert in the disease who founded the Midwest Prostate and Urology Health Center in 1999 in, I believe, Chicago. The book is published this year so you know this is up-to-date information
I don't know of any cancer that has so many tough choices involved in selecting treatment (or not) and this book answers all of your questions in easy-to-read format without medical jargon or confusion. There is a glossary in the back and an index. In addition, the table of contents not only tells you the name of each chapter, but also in bullet points what is included in that chapter.
Because prostate cancer can develop quite slowly, sometimes the best course is to do nothing but watch the PSA (prostate specific antigen) level which can be followed with a simple blood test. That is your indicator of how slowly or quickly the cancer is growing. If you decide to proceed with a treatment, and remember it is your choice, this book explains every detail of every treatment. You know how it is done, what to expect, and possible outcomes. You have everything at your disposal to help you make the best decision for you.
The downside of this decision process is that very few controlled studies have been done on the different choices, and Dr. Chodak writes that such studies are necessary for physicians and patients both. The problem is that few men are willing to take part in studies.
In his book, the doctor is clearly in favor of radical prostatectomy (complete removal of the prostate) for most men. The exceptions are men with slow growing disease who don't have a life expectancy of more than ten years, either because of advanced age or because of other disease processes. There are nonsurgical options as well. He is straightforward with information about possible side effects of treatment such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, as well as others that aren't so traumatic.
The only thing missing from this excellent book in my opinion is drawings of anatomy. Since this is written for patients and their loved ones, they are unlikely to have such drawings at hand unless the urologist has given them appropriate pictures. The descriptions of the anatomy involved are very well done, but pictures would be a great help. I can't help remembering former neighbors whose father had "problems with his prostrates" and it was obvious neither he nor his sons had a clue about it. I do like the charts showing treatments and their side effects clearly.
Again, I urge you to buy this book if you are faced with prostate cancer or your husband or father. Give it to any friends who have the disease. This is vitally important information you need to have in your home.
I don't know of any cancer that has so many tough choices involved in selecting treatment (or not) and this book answers all of your questions in easy-to-read format without medical jargon or confusion. There is a glossary in the back and an index. In addition, the table of contents not only tells you the name of each chapter, but also in bullet points what is included in that chapter.
Because prostate cancer can develop quite slowly, sometimes the best course is to do nothing but watch the PSA (prostate specific antigen) level which can be followed with a simple blood test. That is your indicator of how slowly or quickly the cancer is growing. If you decide to proceed with a treatment, and remember it is your choice, this book explains every detail of every treatment. You know how it is done, what to expect, and possible outcomes. You have everything at your disposal to help you make the best decision for you.
The downside of this decision process is that very few controlled studies have been done on the different choices, and Dr. Chodak writes that such studies are necessary for physicians and patients both. The problem is that few men are willing to take part in studies.
In his book, the doctor is clearly in favor of radical prostatectomy (complete removal of the prostate) for most men. The exceptions are men with slow growing disease who don't have a life expectancy of more than ten years, either because of advanced age or because of other disease processes. There are nonsurgical options as well. He is straightforward with information about possible side effects of treatment such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, as well as others that aren't so traumatic.
The only thing missing from this excellent book in my opinion is drawings of anatomy. Since this is written for patients and their loved ones, they are unlikely to have such drawings at hand unless the urologist has given them appropriate pictures. The descriptions of the anatomy involved are very well done, but pictures would be a great help. I can't help remembering former neighbors whose father had "problems with his prostrates" and it was obvious neither he nor his sons had a clue about it. I do like the charts showing treatments and their side effects clearly.
Again, I urge you to buy this book if you are faced with prostate cancer or your husband or father. Give it to any friends who have the disease. This is vitally important information you need to have in your home.
November 4, 2013
Winning the Battle Against Prostate Cancer, this is the second edition to give further information for those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer whereas the first edition didn't. The introduction gives helpful insight about the purpose of the book, to be well-informed about the treatments offered, risks taken, and this is one cancer where most doctors do not know how to manage it. Therefore, once you are adequately informed, one will know the right questions to ask and not rush into any treatment advised by doctors, maybe even get a second opinion if necessary. My greatest interest was to find out further information on what treatments are available, to know the signs, since my grandfather died from this type of cancer which isn't well discussed or talked about even with family members. However, his brothers and sisters also died from other types of cancers which was a little bit more discussed than prostate cancer.
Gerald Chodak, M.D. shares a summary of different stages of the cancer and which tests are recommended to see where the cancer has developed, or can be diagnosed effectively especially after false-negative/false-positive results. He is also highly educated and experienced as a clinician and educator, including a leading expert on prostate cancer. He also offers prostate educational videos on his website.
A very beneficial tip when seeking a professional surgeon, not to rely on pamphlets or guides with top surgeons listed since this is only based on popularity and not necessarily the best surgeons in the field itself. Additionally, my favorite chapter of the book was on complementary and alternative medicine. These herbs and other suggestions can be used for anyone aside from those with cancer. I love healthy and effective remedies!
I believe this book was written for medical patients who have prostate cancer, and to help families who has a family member who may be diagnosed with it to get a better understanding of medical procedures, symptoms, treatments, and possibly ways to cure it. However, it was difficult to clearly comprehend all the medical terminology, studies and research as an avid reader. I wanted to learn more since my grandfather had prostate cancer that we thought was cured years prior with the right treatment and surgical procedures but in 2004, the cancer later progressed, spreading throughout his body and died.
I received a copy from the publisher to provide a review after being randomly selected on Early Reviewers program on LibraryThing.
Adrienna Turner
Gerald Chodak, M.D. shares a summary of different stages of the cancer and which tests are recommended to see where the cancer has developed, or can be diagnosed effectively especially after false-negative/false-positive results. He is also highly educated and experienced as a clinician and educator, including a leading expert on prostate cancer. He also offers prostate educational videos on his website.
A very beneficial tip when seeking a professional surgeon, not to rely on pamphlets or guides with top surgeons listed since this is only based on popularity and not necessarily the best surgeons in the field itself. Additionally, my favorite chapter of the book was on complementary and alternative medicine. These herbs and other suggestions can be used for anyone aside from those with cancer. I love healthy and effective remedies!
I believe this book was written for medical patients who have prostate cancer, and to help families who has a family member who may be diagnosed with it to get a better understanding of medical procedures, symptoms, treatments, and possibly ways to cure it. However, it was difficult to clearly comprehend all the medical terminology, studies and research as an avid reader. I wanted to learn more since my grandfather had prostate cancer that we thought was cured years prior with the right treatment and surgical procedures but in 2004, the cancer later progressed, spreading throughout his body and died.
I received a copy from the publisher to provide a review after being randomly selected on Early Reviewers program on LibraryThing.
Adrienna Turner
November 12, 2015
This book was an excellent reference when my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Helped me understand what was going on and thus felt a little less helpless by at least being more knowledgeable.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews