Fighting Cancer with Knowledge & Hope: A Guide for Patients, Families, and Health Care Providers

Yale University Press Health & Wellness

by Richard C. Frank

Anyone who is diagnosed with cancer receives a frightening blow, and in many cases the diagnosis is accompanied by a bewildering array of treatment choices. In this invaluable book, a compassionate and knowledgeable physician explains what cancer is, which factors determine a patient’s prognosis, how cancer treatments work to eradicate cancer, why they sometimes fail, and what patients can do to optimize their own survival. The second edition of this essential resource for patients and their families discusses new treatment options that have become available, including targeted therapies, immune therapies, and personalized cancer medicine. Information on the types of medicines used to fight cancer has been completely updated and revised; also included is a new section on alternative cancer therapies. Winner of the 2010 American Medical Writers Association Medical Book Award in the Health Care Professionals–Nonphysician category Winner of the 2010 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication, given by the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association

306 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2009

Reviews

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book about cancer. It goes into enough detail about the treatment and about cancer so you can understand what's going on. I did prefer "Cancer is a word not a sentence" and would possibly encourage it first and this one second if the person wanted more information. This also has links to where to go if that still isn't enough.

This is one of the good, Cancer is a lottery, books. I found it fairly readable (I will admit to skimming some of it, but then again I do know a lot about my own cancer and using it as a reference point for worth of the read)

Worthwhile, I like the authors style, he doesn't talk down to you like many others do, but tries to bring you on the journey with knowledge and some power.

[Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains cancer well. An enjoyable read. Not a text book. Encouraging anecdotes.

"It is important to note that although diet plays a prominent role in the prevention of cancer and in helping patients better tolerate cancer therapies, diet alone has not been shown to be effective as a cancer treatment."

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too many medical terms, I felt it was over my head. What I understood I liked. Reread one year later, April 2019, understood it much better.