Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life [Paperback]

Rabbi Edgar J. Weinsberg (Author), Dr. Robert I. Carey (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2008

This inspiring physical, emotional, and spiritual guide empowers patients to face diagnosis with dignity, explore their options realistically, and tackle recovery with optimism and determination.

The first book to emphasize robotic surgery for prostate cancer from an informed layman's perspective, CONQUER PROSTATE CANCER discusses the latest research and advances in treatment, and profiles twenty patients who chose various treatment options.

As the author and his wife share the most intimate details of their prostate cancer journey, readers learn how to:

-- Become an active member of their medical team
-- Reduce pain and stress and renew vitality
-- Overcome impotence and incontinence
-- Enhance intimate relationships
-- Draw strength from faith, family, and friends

Prominent robotic surgeon Dr. Robert Carey discusses medical and patient-care concerns and the author's wife provides a running commentary, sharing her thoughts about how she and her family coped with the disease and its effects.

With its low-key humor, hopeful tone, and well-researched facts, this book is a powerful tool for surviving prostate cancer, and a valuable resource for prostate cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones, The author, Rabbi Ed Weinsberg, is a prostate cancer survivor and rabbi with a doctorate in gerontology from Columbia University. Contributing author Dr. Robert Carey is a prominent urologist and robotic surgeon with a Ph.D. from MIT. Dr. David Kauder, the book's medical advisor, has been a urologist for the past 30 years and is a past president of the Massachusetts Association of Practicing Urologists.

"Rabbi Weinsberg draws on his own medical ordeal to bring guidance and comfort to others," says Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of "When Bad Things Happen to Good People."

Dr. Ellen Kreidman, psychologist and relationship expert appearing on Oprah and other national media calls the book "brilliant, inspiring, and gutsy," and says that it will enable its readers to "experience the joys of sex again."

"Successfully wrestles with the concerns of those confronted by prostate cancer," declares Dr. Robert Butler, M.D., President and CEO of the International Longevity Center and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Jerry Perisho, prostate cancer survivor, former freelance comedy writer for Jay Leno, David Letterman marveled how this book is "crammed full of laughter, stories, remarkable frankness, and great advice."

Leah Cohen, a prostate cancer survivor's wife and blog editor states, "I applaud the author for recognizing that wives, in their own way, get prostate cancer too."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Helped me overcome the pain and stress of my prostate cancer surgery." --Rev. Dr. Richard Byrne, prostate cancer survivor and Director of Pastoral Ministries, Brooksby/Erickson Village

Review

"A real knack for telling a true story that is at once serious but upbeat."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Health Success Media, LLC; 1st edition (October 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982012101
• ISBN-13: 978-0982012109
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,137,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edgar Weinsberg of Sarasota, Florida, is an ordained rabbi, gerontologist and healthcare educator. After his successful robotic surgery for prostate cancer at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 2007, he was moved to share his and others' experiences by writing the book Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life. Dr. Robert Carey, a urologist and leading robotic surgeon, also contributed to the book.

Conquer Prostate Cancer has received five book awards, including the Gold Medal for adult nonfiction in the 2010 Florida Publishers Association President's Awards and a 2009 Nautilus Silver Book Award. In the 2009 Indie Excellence Book Awards, the book was a winner in the men's issues category and a finalist in the health category. It was also a finalist in the health category in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Rabbi Ed edits a blog at www.ConquerProstateCancer.com and is a featured blogger at Wellsphere's HealthBlogger Network. His views as a prostate cancer survivor and related concerns have been featured in the U.S. and abroad on The Group Room Cancer Talk Show, a weekly broadcast from Los Angeles, accessible at www.VitalOptions.com.

In 2009 he was interviewed about psycho-social aspects of prostate cancer on Good Morning America with Dr. Tim Johnson. He has also been interviewed on the Sarasota, Florida affiliate of ABC-7 News, on what to do "When Your Doctor Doesn't Listen."

His comments on coping with prostate cancer have appeared on prominent newspaper blogs and websites, such as the Chicago Sun-Times at www.Blogs.SunTimes.com, the New York Times, the LA Daily News, the London Times Online, USA Today, and U.S. News and World Report. His comments can also be viewed on sites like Erectile Dysfunction Connection, Living with Prostate Cancer, and The New" Prostate Cancer Info-Link.

Rabbi Ed earned his Master of Hebrew Literature (M.H.L.) in 1970 and his rabbinic title at New York City's Jewish Theological Seminary in 1972. He earned his Ed.D. degree in gerontology at Columbia University Teachers College in 1974. Earlier he received a B.A. at UCLA, after completing his studies in Hebrew literature as well as German, English, history and psychology.

His career included serving 30 years as the rabbi of three congregations; a year as an adjunct professor at SUNY, Utica; and three years at Beit Berl Teachers College in Kfar Sava, Israel, as a Lecturer in Jewish Studies and Coordinator of Educational Gerontology. He also co-founded Hospice Care of Utica, New York, and throughout his career served as a part-time psychiatric center, nursing home and police chaplain, as well as a consultant. Currently he is a member of AASECT: the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

While serving a Boston area congregation for 21 years (1985-2006), Rabbi Ed appeared frequently on public access radio and television. He also published book reviews and newspaper and journal articles, addressing religious and interfaith concerns and topics like volunteerism and Holocaust education. He is now Rabbi Emeritus of his former synagogue, Congregation Shirat Hayam of the North Shore (Boston).

He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1998. His efforts on behalf of others were acknowledged when he received the Samuel Stahl Award for Community Service, in memory of media personality Lesley Stahl's uncle; and the Leonard Zakim Humanitarian Award for Furthering Interfaith Understanding, in memory of the Boston Anti-Defamation League's dynamic executive director. In 2002 he was listed in Who's Who in America.

Rabbi Ed and his wife Yvonne moved from Boston's North Shore to Sarasota, Florida, in September, 2006, to live near their family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prostate cancer affects thousands of men every year, but it isn't a death sentence, March 8, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life (Paperback)

Prostate cancer affects thousands of men every year, but it isn't a death sentence. "Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine Faith, Love, and Sex Can Renew Your Life" is a guide for living with prostate cancer and fighting it as well. With much advice on doing what one can on the medical front, as well as making everyday life more liveable, Rabbi Ed Weinsberg shows much wisdom and sly wit in encouraging his readers to embrace life in their battle. "Conquer Prostate Cancer" is a fine present for anyone faced with the diagnosis.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Prostate Cancer Patients, February 28, 2009

By 

Joe M. (Greensboro, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life (Paperback)

This book is a must read for any guy diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. I received it as a gift and ended up e-mailing Rabbi Ed to thank him for writing it. I received the book after having made my treatment decision to undergo laparoscopic robotic prostatectomy. I still had serious doubts and worries about the surgery and more so about its aftermath. The book is most informative and really put me at ease with my decision.

Early stage prostate cancer is unique in that the patient generally must decide upon the method of treatment. This was a decision I struggled with for weeks. If I had read the book at that time I believe the selection process would have been much less difficult. If you have been recently diagnosed I wish you well and implore you to read this book. I plan to tell my urologist to recommend it to future patients

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insightful Read, December 24, 2008

By 

James Occhiogrosso (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life (Paperback)

Conquer Prostate Cancer presents a detailed and touching account of Rabbi Ed and his wife's journey through treatment for prostate cancer, while it also describes the experiences of 19 other men and their wives. Rabbi Ed talks openly and insightfully about treatment options, side effects, and emotional and faith issues. A must-read for all prostate cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones.