Living Through Breast Cancer [Hardcover]

Carolyn M. Kaelin (Author), Francesca Coltrera (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071444637 | ISBN-13: 978-0071444637 | Publication Date: February 15, 2005 | Edition: 1

A compassionate and uniquely authoritative guide to surviving breast cancer

Dr. Carolyn M. Kaelin is nationally recognized as a leading expert on breast cancer. At the age of 42, this highly respected cancer surgeon and the director of the prestigious Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, one of Harvard Medical School's main hospitals, had a young family and demanding career. When she discovered that she had breast cancer, she was suddenly transformed from doctor to patient--and learned firsthand just how this terrible disease makes women question their sense of self. Now, following a mastectomy and an ongoing course of chemotherapy, her prognosis is good and her passion and commitment to helping other women with breast cancer is greater than ever.

In a book that will be a source of priceless information and much-needed understanding and support for women with all forms of breast cancer, Dr. Kaelin provides the most up-to-date information on virtually every aspect of the disease, both as a top specialist in the field and as a survivor. Compassionate, comprehensive, and uniquely authoritative, Living Through Breast Cancer provides women with:

• State-of-the-art medical knowledge interwoven with hard-won advice on dealing with the emotional and aesthetic ramifications of breast cancer and its treatment
• The most complete guidance on treatment options, maintaining health after cancer, feeling and looking good, and keeping one's sense of self while getting through each day
• Groundbreaking information on exercise techniques that can significantly reduce the chance of recurrence and nutritional advice to improve overall health

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In many ways, Kaelin's guide for women diagnosed with breast cancer is just like all the other excellent manuals out there: intelligent, pragmatic and reassuring, it explains how to understand one's diagnosis and treatment options, assemble a "care team," handle common changes in looks and deal with feelings common among women with the disease. What sets the book apart, though, is its author's perspective: she is a breast cancer surgeon and director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She has since had three lumpectomies, a mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery. Not surprisingly, then, Kaelin's book is fairly serious, though not overly academic, and filled with anecdotes from not only her own experiences as a breast cancer patient but from many other women, too. The result is a helpful book that will inform patients and their families, giving them a firm grasp on both the medical and emotional aspects of breast cancer. Kaelin's tone is upbeat but not intensely so; her approach will probably best suit women who just want the facts without too much sentimentality. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

A breast surgeon and director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and herself a breast cancer survivor, Kaelin has the credentials to offer advice to women newly diagnosed. She discusses the process from diagnosis and surgical options to treatment, image concerns, and after-treatment issues, e.g., diet, fertility, and sexuality. Her lucid text is broken into major sections, then smaller and smaller subsections, along with sidebars, and is further enhanced by black-and-white illustrations. She covers the latest thinking on surgical recommendations and the newest drug considerations (capecitabine chemotherapy for older women; Tamoxifen vs. aromatase inhibitors for adjuvant use), while using her own experience as a reference point. Her tone is convivial, her language accessible, even downright cutesy ("wimpy or aggressive cancer," despite surgical intervention, "cells may have already scooted into tissue"). Kaelin's goal is to help eradicate the "imprint" of cancer from women's lives by presenting them with sufficient knowledge and the power to make informed choices. Highly recommended for patient health collections. (Index not seen.)- Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal (Library Journal )

In many ways, Kaelin's guide for women diagnosed with breast cancer is just like all the other excellent manuals out there: intelligent, pragmatic and reassuring, it explains how to understand one's diagnosis and treatment options, assemble a "care team," handle common changes in looks and deal with feelings common among women with the disease. What sets the book apart, though, is its author's perspective: she is a breast cancer surgeon and director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She has since had three lumpectomies, a mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery. Not surprisingly, then, Kaelin's book is fairly serious, though not overly academic, and filled with anecdotes from not only her own experiences as a breast cancer patient but from many other women, too. The result is a helpful book that will inform patients and their families, giving them a firm grasp on both the medical and emotional aspects of breast cancer. Kaelin's tone is upbeat but not intensely so; her approach will probably best suit women who just want the facts without too much sentimentality. --PW (Publisher's Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 370 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (February 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071444637
• ISBN-13: 978-0071444637
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,223,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS THE BOOK TO GET!, October 18, 2005

By 

Alexandra Newton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living Through Breast Cancer (Hardcover)

This is the best book I have read on breast cancer because it addresses the biology of breast cancer with the reality of the symptoms. It is written by a physician who knows what it is like to lose every single eyelash, and can tell you not only why you lost it, but how to keep on smiling without it. This book has it all - even a whole chapter on the effects of aggressive chemotherapy on cognitive skills and how to cope. When I read the tip 'jot down where you parked your car', I knew this was THE book for me - I had already been doing this. If there is only one book you are going to read on breast cancer, this is the one.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has it all!, April 1, 2005

By 

E. Sheehan (Salem, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living Through Breast Cancer (Hardcover)

Living Through Breast Cancer by Carolyn Kaelin and Francesca Coltrera is a well-written, comprehensive, unbiased guide to the latest options in breast cancer treatment and recovery. This seamless blend of scientific knowledge, state-of-the-art medical practice, complementary approaches, and personal experience is written in a clear, easy to understand style. (And it also has excellent illustrations of current surgical options and post-surgery exercizes.) The material is well organized in a format which makes it a valuable reference tool for patients and medical professionals alike. It is a must-read for everyone with an interest in breast cancer treatment and recovery. It's the latest of over 25 books I have read since my breast cancer diagnosis, and it's the best by far.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of both worlds, April 14, 2005

By 

Georgia "Peach" (Aspen, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Through Breast Cancer (Hardcover)

The only problem with this book is that it was published about six months too late for me to use it as a Bible from the beginning of my treatment! It is a fabulous book which deals with every single question I can think of. It is far superior to any other book I have seen on the subject of breast cancer. It is unique because it combines the expertise of a skilled practitioner with the experience and needs of the patient. When I was being treated, I was often frustrated by the somewhat cavalier approach of the medical profession. Well here is a member of the medical profession who has had an opportunity to live through the patient side of things as well. The result is a book full of compassion and practical answers to ALL the questions that surface, not just the medical stats. Cancer breeds "specialists" so finding a well-rounded balanced picture can be a huge challenge - you get bits and pieces from different sources as you trudge the journey to recovery. This book eliminates the need to have so many resources. It is an absolute "must read" for anyone going through the experience in my opinion.