AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You—Or Someone You Love—a Devastating Diagnosis

by Jessie C. Gruman

Every year millions of Americans are diagnosed with cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and other life-threatening or life-altering diseases. When faced with a devastating diagnosis people must quickly understand the diagnosis, prognosis, and choose from several treatment options-while still in shock. AfterShock identifies the processes required to respond to a serious diagnosis, regardless of the specific disease.

Social psychologist Gruman offers practical advice in a 10-stage approach to making clear-headed, informed decisions about who to tell and when; how to get a second opinion or find the right doctor and hospital; where to find reliable online information and telephone help-lines about a particular diagnosis and treatment; how to navigate the health care maze; where to turn for support and comfort.
Dr. Gruman not only draws on her expertise in consumer health information and the advice of doctors and nurses, she shares the personal stories of people who have dealt with traumatic diagnoses, including her own experience of having had three different kinds of cancer and a dangerous heart condition. AfterShock is inspiring and empowering, and is an essential companion book to the disease-specific titles that most people with a devastating diagnosis purchase.

Genres: Health

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2007

Reviews

[Aiza Idris (biblio_mom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those self-help books you want to keep on your shelf in case you needed insights about how to face devastating news and what to do about it if you or your love ones got diagnosed with illness.

overall is an okay for me. i can always come back if i needed to make some references from a physisal book.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Gruman, who was a respected scholar in my field, did a remarkable job distilling a complex and overwhelming process into more manageable components. The book draws attention to considerations that may be easy for new patients and family care partners or caregivers to overlook. It quotes a wide variety of individuals with an array of different medical conditions in order to give insight, opinion, and perspective. Physicians and other healthcare professionals give thoughts on various subjects, including how patients can most effectively work with providers. The appendices include painstakingly compiled lists of resources that may be indispensable to both new patients and their families as well as those who have long experience dealing with these issues.

[Tink Bastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Helped me make sense of things and make the right choices during a horrible time.

[Margaret Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book regarding the first steps to take after a tough diagnosis. How to research your condition, direct your own care, and keep your head above water in the first weeks.