Customer Reviews

Be A Survivor: Your Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment

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If you can only afford to buy one book on breast cancer than this is the one!

This book is packed full of beautiful graphics and pictures of real breast cancer patients and their stories. A true and sensitive approach of their journey with breast cancer.

The medical details presented in this book reveal breast cancer treatment in an easy to understand and concise manner. The medical information is technically accurate and explicit. No book on breast cancer gives as much information in such a concise and precise presentation.

This book deals with all phases of a "breast cancer diagnosis". Included are chapters that highlight how a person deals with the feelings of a breast cancer diagnosis, how to share the news with loved-ones, friends and co-workers, how to create a supportive network, gathering the information needed to make informed decisions, and how to actively participate in the treatment plan.

There is clear information on breast anatomy, cancer cell growth, biopsy, diagnosis and staging, surgical treatment, reconstruction options, chemotherapy and radiation treatments and of course, hormonal therapy. This book also has actual pictures of post-surgical breasts and the results of reconstruction. There is also a chapter about complementary and alternative treatments to assist the patient in battling cancer. The final chapters focus on life after cancer and a special section for your partner.

I recommend this book as a must to every person I know who is facing the challenges of breast cancer, breast surgery and finally for life after cancer.

Beautifully done. Parents of pre-teens and teenagers will find it helpful in explaining this disease to their children.

This book is a companion to an award winning CD-ROM that gives the patient the opportunity to trek on a virtual tour of breast cancer!

A little over 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 lobular breast cancer. I was given this book shortly after the diagnosis by a nurse in the hospital where I work. It is the nuts and bolts of breast cancer, from the staging to the procedures with clear drawings, specific detailed information, and personal notations from women who have been where we are. It went everywhere with me-from chemo to radiation and the multiple surgeries I had. With this information, I had to face very few surprises. The drains left in place after the mastectomy are explained in detail. Radiation is presented clearly and realistically. There are photographs and drawing of how the chest looks after a mastectomy. The book takes some of the fear out of cancer treatment and replaces it with knowledge and advice. if you can only afford one book on the subject of breast cancer, this is the one I would recommend.

This is a wonderful book, packed with information, in a very easy to read format. There are 12 chapters:
Facing Breast Cancer; Breast Cancer Basics; Diagnosis and Staging; Surgery; Reconstruction; Radiation; Chemo; Hormonal Therapy; alternative treatments; Clinical Trials; Life after Cancer; A guide for your partner. Each chapter explains what the chapter is about, e.g. What is chemo? How is it given? How it Works. Side Effects. Common Chemo drugs.
This book is unique in that it has testimonials throughout from women, and their partners. It also has terrific drawings. I purchased a LOT of books when I was diagnosed. This was the book that I went to during my chemo and before surgery, to really find out what was going on. It is difficult to know what questions to ask your oncologist or surgeon, when everything is new. This book helps you prepare and should give you the confidence to make treatment decisions about your life. Highly, highly recommended.

Out of all the books offered to me by my friends during this ordeal, this one has been the most helpful. It's easy to follow and the DVD really helped me get a lot of information without having to commit to sitting down and reading a whole book through. The live images of reconstructed breasts on the DVD was also reassuring. Not to mention the hope I felt seeing interviews with women who have actually been through this and lived to tell about it. It was impressive, too, that the book addressed alternative therapies, which I intend to use as part of my healing process. I'd recommend this book and DVD to anyone who wants information and support about the experience of breast cancer.

BE A SURVIVOR is a clear, sensitive rendering of the whole breast cancer treatment process. It is upbeat, reflecting my attitude: "Been there, done that."
The diagrams were my first close look at what happened in my breast and lymph nodes, and the sidebar questions to ask were vital. Even if I wrote them down ahead, I often would come out of doctor's offices not knowing answers.
I did wonder if a male breast cancer patient would get all he needed from this book since the main thrust is on women and the pictures are of women in relationship to men, though Dr. Lange is generally sensitive to using 'partner' instead of assuming the sex of a partner.
I would have liked to see on page 73, more emphasis placed on Chinese herbs as big aids in dispensing with nausea. They saved me from misery. And to swimming as both psychologically relaxing and a large help in stretching the arm to prevent lymphedema. I call myself a thriver now--nice word to put at the end of his next book edition. Fine book, I am giving it to someone today.
Lynn Scott, Author of the Memoir: MY MOTHER, MY ALZHEIMER CLIENTS, AND ME.

Be a Survivor was chosen by our women's health professional group as the educational tool of choice to use with patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The book offers excellent graphic examples to reinforce the information provided and enlightens the reader through documented personal experiences with breast cancer. As a health care practitioner who has never experienced breast cancer it is an excellent tool for education and a take home reference for the patient throughout the breast cancer experience. The accompaning DVD is an excellent way for the patient and / or family to view the information when they are at home. The DVD also allows for a different learning medium for those visual learners.

I found the book very informative, easy to read and understand and treatments are current with what I am going through. The photographs and diagrams were very good. I would highly reccommend it to anyone as the first book you purchase about Breast Cancer.

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF EGO MY WIFE FOUND OUT THAT SHE HAD B.C. WE ACTUALY HAD TO RESERCH AND LEARN WHAT B.C. WAS AND LOOKED FOR ANSWERS TO ALL OTHER QUESTIONS COUPLES WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVE. WELL WE CERTAINLY WISHED THAT WE HAD THIS BOOK A YEAR AND A HALF EGO SO WE COULD SPEND MORE TIME ON OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES. IN FACT I HAVE CALLED MY WIFE'S SURGEN AND HAVE ASKED HIM TO RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL HIS FUTURE B.C. PATIENTS. UNLIKE OTHER RESOURSES THIS BOOK HAS A CHAPTER ESPECIALY WRITTEN FOR MEN HELPING THEIR WIVES FIGHTING B.C.. MIKE AND BITA NIA

We give this book to surgeons in our area to distribute to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Before purchasing it, we had a group of 4 breast cancer survivors review and rate 3 separate books on breast cancer. This book "won" hands down, based on numerous criteria -- everything from its explanation of breast cancer treatments, to its index and glossary, to its discussion of life after cancer. It is clear and easy to read, provides comprehensive information on types of breast cancer and corresponding treatment alternatives, has wonderful graphics and photos, and provides interesting anecdotal stories of actual patients in its sidebar. Highly recommended!

The third updated edition of this classic is out - fully revised, and with a free DVD containing patient interviews. While Dr. Lange regrettably notes the need for a revised updated edition did not come from the elimination of breast cancer as a threat; he does offer a new approach to educating women about breast cancer. Dr. Lange's wife, also a physician, was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago: even as doctors it took them weeks to understand all the information surrounding it. BE A SURVIVOR culls all the details into an easily-understood format to help educate readers, providing a DVD which contains voices of survivors and videos of the procedures. A 'must' for any breast cancer sufferer - especially the newly diagnosed.