Customer Reviews

Living with a Brain Tumor: Dr. Peter Black's Guide to Taking Control of Your Treatment

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This informative guide, written by Peter Black, M.D., Ph.D. (along with medical writer Sharon Cloud Hogan) is a welcome addition to the resources that are available for the brain tumor community. Dr. Black, an eminent neurosurgeon, brain tumor researcher, and professor at Harvard Medical School, offers his expertise about a variety of topics that affect brain tumor patients and their loved ones in an easy to understand format. The book is divided into five parts: An Introduction to Brain Tumors, Types of Brain Tumors, Living with a Brain Tumor, Treatment Options, and Recovery. Chapter titles include "What a Brain Tumor Means for Me and My Family," "Choosing Supportive Care," "Working Toward Wellness," and "Reasons for Hope," in addition to the expected sections about specific tumor types, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatment. Issues that affect adults with brain tumors, as well as specific pediatric concerns, are clearly explained. In addition to his technical expertise, Dr. Black's warmth, concern and compassionate approach to his patients is evident throughout this book. His tone is optimistic and reassuring, including helpful suggestions for patients at every stage of their brain tumor journey. At the end of the book, more than 40 pages list practical resources, including contact information for adult and pediatric brain tumor treatment centers throughout the United States and Canada. This wonderful book should be required reading for anyone affected by brain tumor issues - current patients, long term survivors, family members, and medical professionals. As a health educator and a brain tumor support group facilitator (as well as a long term brain tumor survivor myself), I have already purchased several copies of this book to add to the lending library of my local brain tumor support group. I am grateful to Dr. Black for writing this excellent brain tumor guide, which will benefit so many people who are affected by all types of brain tumors. Nancy Conn-Levin, M.A. (Oakhurst, New Jersey)

My father was diagnosed 4 months ago with an anaplastic astrocytoma grade III. The neurospecilist told us right away: "your father won't last more than a month". Here we are, my father has passed through radiotherapy for a whole month and chemotherapy (temodal) will last for a year. Every day he is getting better in all aspects (his movements, vision etc...). This book has something really great, you learn what you need about the process since the diagnosed, information about the different kinds of brain tumors and the doctor who wrote it has something very important for familiy and friends... HUMANESS. You will learn that there's no final diagnosed. EVERY ONE AND EVERY BRAIN TUMOR is different and has different behavior and not because the CT or the MRI tell us a devastating news, it means the panorama will be so dark. Go on; buy this book because it is a relief for all whom are passing this complicated period.

I wish I'd had this book when I first learned about my brain tumor. It's full of important information from the beginning of the diagnosis to after treatment and how to cope with it all.

This is an excellent book, written in laymen's terms, for understanding the complexities of living with and/or treating a brain tumor.... a very good read for anyone who has a tumor or for anyone who has someone they love with a brain tumor. This is a basic primer.

I am grateful to Dr. Black for taking time from his busy schedule taking care of patients to write this book. I am a brain tumor survivor and Dr. Black operated on my oligodendroglioma, grade II December of 2009. I happen to just love Dr. Black and his compasssion is amazing. That being said, he writes a very compassionate, humble book that doesn't trumpet his own accomplishments although he has MANY. This is a very helpful book for someone with a brain tumor or a caregiver. What I appreciated most about the book was that he explored the different ways to approach very different tumor experiences and validated the individual ways that people feel through this part of the their life journey. I will always remember that he wanted people to know that it is not foolish to have hope no matter the circumstances. Reading Dr. Black's book and of course, being a patient of his, I am working on finding my voice in all of this as I move forward in my life. Taking control is key in all of this because no one but you lives your life and although many are affected by your choices it is important to find your own voice after the shock wears off. There are good resources in the back for reference.

I may be biased, as Dr. Black performed a surgery on me 7 years ago, but I think he has done a very good job in relaying the ins and outs of tumors in an easy to understand book for the average person. It is organized in a way that you are able to look back to certain sections for guidance at your stage in treatment.

This book is great, and I think a benefit to anyone with a brain tumor in their life, it is absolutely worth the read. However there was a good portion of the book that wasn't entirely relevant to my situation as my boyfriend had a benign meningioma and a lot of the book caters to malignant tumors. There was still a lot of great information in the book, even though there wasn't a ton for our situation. The book also doesn't include updated information on the absolutely newest technology, but hopefully the book will arm you with some knowledge and information and you can be your own advocate and get the answers you need from your doctor or find one who will help you the way you want. We were honored to have the wonderful Dr. Peter Black remove my boyfriend's skull-base meningioma and absolutely recommend both him and his book. The fact that he put such a wonderful book out there for the masses says a lot about him.

My 29 year old neice was diagnosed with a stage III astrocytoma, 3 days after Christmas. I purchased this book for her, but I read it first, of course. I found it to be an excellent reference and a very positive book for her to read. I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with a brain tumor.

Living with brain tumors -- I had a grapefruit size tumor removed and still have a small inoperable part of that tumor remaining. Benign, stabilized, not presently growing. Dr. Peter Black is also my physician! A truly competent and gifted man. We are very fortunate to have him reside in the Boston area. The book is packed with all the information and details necessary to know. Not only patients, but family and loved ones, caregivers, and anyone who would like to know more about this disease which affects men,women and children. Dr. Peter Black has created this book in a very concise way making it very easy to understand all this valuable information.

Excellent resource for the layperson. Dr. Black explains everything you need to know if you are the patient diagnosed with the brain tumor and for the caregiver as well. He covers all the bases and does it very well. Definitely worth the read!