Customer Reviews

The Bronze Killer : New Edition

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Marie Warder in her outstanding book has done a great service to readers in pointing out the damaging effects of hemochromatosis. As one who has the condition, I found her book to be accurate, informative and inspirational. In Marie's quest for awareness to this often mis-understood condition, she has done a great service to not only the medical community but for all who seek to know more about their health. An extra added dimension to the book is the inspiring way Marie has fought against immense odds to bring awareness of hemochromatosis to countless number of people. I highly recommend this book. I also thank and applaud Marie Warder for her courage in her heroic efforts in fighting this disease and for writing her book--the story that had to be told.

This book is about the killer disease Hemochromatosis (HH) and should be compulsory reading, not only for medical practitioners, but also for sufferers, their immediate relatives, their carers, those interested in hereditary disorders and last but certainly not least by those relatives of sufferers who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to be tested. It is this final group who may owe most to this book - their own lives!

To the reader, it becomes so clear that this hereditary disorder and the deadly diseases it can spawn thrive on a camouflage of ignorance.

Reading the book set me thinking that every year millions are being spent by the Medical Authorities in the treatment of diseases. Many of these diseases are actually the end result of hemochromatosis which renders the human body incapable of ridding itself of excess iron ("The Bronze Killer") and thus leads to the onset of so many potentially fatal illnesses. It follows that investment in screening for HH should literally save the Medical Authorities substantial sums, not to mention saving the patients and their relatives from so much suffering!

The preface to the book contains the following citations:

"Thousands of families around the world have already found this book to be a valuable resource. More than just the personal account of a family who have suffered through the ravages of this terrible disease, it has been a source of information, encouragement and enlightenment to many."

"Through Marie's research and most noted book "The Bronze Killer", she has educated doctors and the general public about the disease. As a result, hemochromatosis is now recognised as Canada's most common genetic disorder, and routine blood tests for the disease may soon become standard diagnostic procedure."

Having obtained a copy of this book (difficult in the UK), I have found this the most compulsive read I have ever encountered. I could not put the book down and read it from cover to cover!.

It is clear that, even today, this hereditary disorder remains shrouded in mystery, even in the so called "developed world".

The new (2000) edition of this book is written in three sections; the first tells of the struggle of the author (who first coined the phrase "The Bronze Killer") and of her husband Tom who suffered the full effects of HH both before and after he was diagnosed. This part also tells of Marie's struggle for recognition of HH and the setting up of the Hemochromatosis Societies in Canada , South Africa and subsequently the International Association of Societies.

In the second part the editor brings forward the developments of the fight from 1988 to October 1999 and in the third part reproduces a booklet written by Marie and entitled "IRON The other side of the story!"

In my view this final document is the definitive layman's guide to "Hemochromatosis - The insidious killer".

It is said that "knowledge is power", but in the case of hemochromatosis, it could be said that "knowledge is life!"

If you are a medical practitioner, if you have HH, if you are related to someone who has HH or if you are interested in hereditary disorders, this book is for you. Knowledge and awareness gained from this book may literally save lives!

David of Hertfordshire, UK

Notes: 1. Quotes from the book are with kind permission of the author Marie Warder. 2. Hemochromatosis is spelt Haemochromatosis in the UK, Australia and South Africa and is referred to as GH not HH in the UK.

The Bronze Killer - New Edition 2000 Author: Marie Warder Publisher: Imperani Publishers Box 82, Delta, British Columbia. Canada ISBN 0968735800.

Every family and every doctor should know about this book. So much suffering could be avoided. I look back at members of my family, and can now identify the "totties". Some had heart problems, some diabetes, some gout/arthritis, some altzheimer-like symptoms, some liver cancer, some bronze skin. I was lucky. This book was instrumental in my insisting on being genetically checked when early symptoms appeared, and before (hopefully) too much damage was done. Robin Camp, Calgary

Having just re-read this book for the umpteenth time, I happened to click onto the preceding review. Because there is such a very high incidence of this disorder in our family, we try to keep abreast of current research etc. and were delighted when the World Health Organization called a meeting on "The Prevention and Control of Hemochromatosis" as we really believed that this would result in greater awareness. Aparently not even that - nor the fact that the Centres for Disease Control have declared it to be the most common genetic disease - has caught the attention of the media. Perhaps this is why the previous reader does not know about HH. A doctor at the Mayo Clinic says it has reached epidemic proportions and those of us who have been helped by reading "The Bronze Killer" when even our own family doctors were really in the dark, sypathize with the writer - while commending her for her ceaseless efforts to attain timely diagnosis for those at risk.

After discussing the last review with my family, we can only conclude that the reader "skimmed" but did not really read the book. Nowhere could we (who have read it so many times) find any mention as to the fact that the disorder causes gray hair; nor could we discover why he or she seems to think that the disease is related to aging. We have found more then one reference to you people who are victims.

I can only say "thank you" to this lady for baring her heart and telling her story so that others might not have to suffer in a similar manner.

The Bronze Killer -in a class of its own!
I was involved in a small way as Marie produced the second edition of `THE BRONZE KILLER". It is in a class of its own. Marie got involved in learning about Hemochromatosis, or iron overload, when her dear husband Tom became ill. They worked together to learn about this common, but little known, genetic disorder, which causes so many health problems. Through them, and their son Shaun, information has become available worldwide, and this book has helped whole families to realize that they can be diagnosed and helped. Marie's daughter and nephew have both been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis, but because of early detection they have avoided the health hazards commonly encountered, such as liver and kidney failure, diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and so on. It is a well-researched and informative book which has helped many doctors to make correct diagnoses.

Having just acquired my book, I (like one of your other reviewers) sat and read it straight through without a break. Every so often I would exclaim out loud. Not even in the best of medical journals, not even on the internet have I found the answers to so many niggly little details which I had not even wanted to ask my doctor about for fear of making a fool of myself. I realize now that my doctor would not have known the answers, anyway.

The writer makes it clear that much of her information has come from personal contact or correspondence with many, many victims of HH (and she very obviously cares very deeply about these people). It is also very clear that people felt that they could ask and tell her things which - like me - they hesitated to bring to the attention of their physicians.

Original edition - 1989 ISBN 0889258856 autographed. Collectors' item. Limited number available! $30.00

The Bronze Killer was a book that came into my life at a very desperate time - I had just been diagnosed with Haemochromatosis and found that the doctors that I knew were not apparently very knowledgeable about it. I felt very uneasy and very alone, despite thankfully having a very supportive wife. Not only was Marie Warder, with her honesty and knowledge, able to bring a better understanding to me through the book, about this sleeping ogre of an illness, it also allowed others around me

to realise that I really was not full of imaginings or laziness - that it was all because of the Genetic Iron Overload doing its damagings.

I believe The Bronze Killer would be a worthwhile read for any student doctor coming into the field and certainly for those people with the disorder and their family and friends. It most certainly wouldn't do anyone-else any harm either, for the book is not just a story of discovery; it is also a very touching and honest account of a great woman's battle against so many ordeals, not of course just in the name of seeking a cause but of doing it all for the love of man whom she had known for a long time.

For someone like myself with the illness, I will not forget the speed with which I read the book and I'm sure it will be appreciated by many for having it to turn to - either as an educational aid or certainly as it was for me - an emotional sustenance that got me through some very vague and bewildering days. I just needed to hear more than "You've got a disorder called Haemochromatosis." Having The Bronze Killer to turn to was a great comfort, despite its sadness.

Marie Warder deserves many accolades and I hope that others will recognise that soon.

More than just about a disease!.
On another website, I saw this book described as the 'definitive book about Hemochromatosis', and I agree. However,a prominent researcher has written that it is the story of a remarkable man and an extraordinary relationship. He was right. - It's more than a layman's reference to genetic disorder. It's a consummate love story. Love at first sight...the enduring adoration of a teenager for a young man; which would lead her, in time, along an thorny path and against all odds, to a fight against ignorance of a disease. That fight has culminated in the saving of lives around the world.

The book "the Bronze Killer" has been so helpful to someone like myself & family that was recently diagonised with the Hemochromatosis Disease. Until we read this book our disease was just a big word with so little meaning. This wonder woman, Marie Warder, tells her heart wrenching TRUE story, of love & compassion, & the obstacles out there in the medical profession. To my family it was looking in the mirror, I keep asking myself why I hadn't read it years ago, as I am an avid reader. It is a book I would recommened to everyone to read, it has so many eye openers & the life it saves may be your own. It deserves more than 5 stars.