Ovarian Cancer: Your Guide to Taking Control (Patient Centered Guides) [Paperback]

Kristine Conner (Author), Lauren Langford (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0596500165 | ISBN-13: 978-0596500160 | Publication Date: January 1, 2003 | Edition: 1

This unique guide for ovarian cancer gives women crucial medical information to improve the chance for lengthy remission and cure, as well as emotional support for the journey. Although many ovarian cancers are discovered after they have spread, having information about surgery and best practices can be life-saving. For example, choosing a surgeon from the new specialty of gynecologic oncology for staging and de-bulking surgeries strongly impacts survival. Women need to at least consider newer chemotherapy and biological treatments in research trials. Women also want to hear the stories of others who live with the ambiguity of remission.

Ovarian Cancer includes:

Ten things to know at the time of diagnosis, for optimal outcome

How choosing a gynecologic oncology surgeon impacts survival

When and how you can consider newer treatments, now in clinical trials

Stories of dozens of women living with ovarian cancer, some for many years

"Questions for Your Doctor" for all decision points

A focus on epithelial cancers, the most common and difficult to treat, with additional information on germ cell, sex cord-stromal cell, and low malignant potential ovarian cancers

Noted cancer writer Kristine Conner and patient advocate Lauren Langford provide ovarian cancer patients with a supportive and much-needed resource.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Conner is a writer based outside Philadelphia, who specializes in topics related to healthcare, medicine, and education.

Langford was an advocate for both breast and ovarian cancer patients. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997, later died of the disease.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Patient Centered Guides; 1 edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596500165
• ISBN-13: 978-0596500160
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for All OV CA Patients, October 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Ovarian Cancer: Your Guide to Taking Control (Patient Centered Guides) (Paperback)

This is a must-have guide for women with ovarian cancer and their caregivers, among others. I bought one for my doctor's office because I feel more women undergoing care for ovarian cancer could benefit from reading this book. I wish I had heard about the book sooner -- ideally as soon as I was diagnosed with OV CA or before -- when it was first suspected. The guide is full of up to the minute tips for taking as much control as possible in your health care decisions. Though I am a nurse, there was much to learn from this book and the material is presented in a very user friendly manner. As ovarian cancer is a chronic disease, it is never too late to get this book and learn the latest on treatment and support -- from initial diagnosis, through surgery, initial chemotherapy, handling the anxiety ridden periods of remission, and through the dreaded recurrences and treatments that the majority of ovarian cancer patients will encounter.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guide on ovarian cancer rates 5 stars with survivor, July 22, 2003

By 

Kay Lyn Riedel (Topeka, Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ovarian Cancer: Your Guide to Taking Control (Patient Centered Guides) (Paperback)

I just recently finished reading Kristine Conner and Lauren Langford's book, Ovarian Cancer...Your Guide to Taking Control and I have to say it is the BEST book that I have ever read on ovarian cancer. I especially liked it because it was written by women with ovarian cancer.It includes statements and facts from doctors, but it also contains the medical histories and thoughts from many women that have experienced ovarian cancer first hand. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with ovarian cancer, whether they are newly diagnosed, in remission or somewhere in between. It would also be good reading for loved ones of women with ovarian cancer. Finally, a book on ovarian cancer from the patient's point of view. We haven't had many of those since Gilda Radner's book.
Thank you for publishing a factual guide for women with ovarian cancer. I highly recommend this book and I can't say enough good things about it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very important resource, August 30, 2004

By 

Concerned Spouse (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ovarian Cancer: Your Guide to Taking Control (Patient Centered Guides) (Paperback)

My wife received her ovarian cancer diagnosis In July 2004. The doctors didn't want to tell us too much for fear of overstressing my wife and me, and frankly, didn't have the time to cover everything one needs to know. I've read 10 books related to this disease since then and this is by far the most helpful. It will answer most if not all of the questions you have and preapre you for the research necessary to be active in the treatment of this disease. Until a more current book is published I would start with this one. I also read "100 Questions and Answers about Ovarian Cancer" It is more of an executive summary and lacks the detail contained in Conner/Langford book. Give it to a concerned family member who can't handle the 440 pages of frank discussion.