Customer Reviews

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

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book told me more in plain, understandable English than I've seen in several books combined. Good definitions, understandable research data and first person accounts all make the vital information interesting and clear. I thought I knew a fair amount about ovarian cancer, but I keep referring to it because it has so much more information and is so up-to-date. It should be read by ALL WOMEN - not just ovarian cancer patients/survivors. Excellent for caregivers, too.

I am one of the people quoted in the book, and had the privilege of knowing both authors. We met through the ovarian cancer discussion list on www.acor.org. This is the book we all wish we had access to when we were diagnosed. I can't recommend it highly enough, for cancer patients and their loved ones. It is frank, and sensible, and I continue to recommend it highly. There has not been another book that I have seen that covers the subject so completely, for patients, and from the patient's view.

Ovarian cancer is a frightening diagnosis, but coming to it with knowledge and information helps a great deal. I hope that this book takes away some of the fear, and leaves hope instead. I think putting in the actual words of the patient survivors makes this a very unique and helpful book.

I am now on the Board of Directors of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, as well as co-managing the list on acor.org that has helped so many. I am in contact with many women with cancer, and have only heard praise for this book. It is a great help for the cancer community.

I am glad that women and their families are finding the book helpful. Most of the information remains current, almost three years after publication. However, there have been some developments in treatment, so I encourage everyone to supplement the book with their own research (National Cancer Institute, etc.)

This is probably the best book currently available for ovarian cancer patients and their families. Published in 2003, the information is relatively current. The publisher is de-emphasizing its "Patient-Centered Guides" series, so this book may not have a second edition.

The book contains some frustrating errors; e.g., some of the websites listed in the book are shown as having ".org" URLs instead of the correct ".com" URL.

The address listed on page 487 of this book for Steven Piver's "Myths and Facts about Ovarian Cancer" is out of date. This very useful book is available from: CMP Media, 30th Floor, 3 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10016 Attn: Kristin Kazanowski. Ph: 212-600-3192.

I would recommend buying both books.

I discovered this book two years after having a "serous ovarian neoplasm of low-level malignant potential" removed. This book explained things so much better than my doctors did, and explained why some of the things that I went through without understanding were done. I wish so much that I had had this book when I was diagnosed; it would have been very comforting to have the info that the book gives.

On the other hand, I discovered by reading the book that I had excellent doctors: it looks like I got state-of-the-art care, without even realizing it. That's good to know.

I recommend this highly for anyone who has or may have ovarian cancer.

When I learned that I had Ovarian Cancer I was at a loss as to where to turn. My daughter sent this book to me from Boston and I devoured it. I learned that we as women, MUST take control of our own health care. I did just that and I credit this book for giving me the questions to ask my oncologist and getting the answers I needed to make the correct decisions for the best treatment. I can't thank my daughter enough for the insight she had to send me this very easy to read book. I tell every woman I run into with Ovarian Cancer about this read. Highly recommended.

I picked this book up from the library and am on Amazon to buy my own copy. My husband's mom was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and it has given us a better understanding of her situation and how we can help. Everything from ascites to FMLA to wills is covered. The quotes from patients are particularly helpful to read.