Customer Reviews

A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide

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I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, January 2004. My urologist told me to "get informed on your disease" and gave me the titles of a couple of books he recommended. "A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide " was not one on his list. - It should have been!

A fellow prostate cancer patient loaned me his copy. I have my own now. "The Primer" is a classic!

Before reading "The Primer" I ordered "The Prostate" by Dr. Patrick Walsh and Janet Worthington - a good, but out of date book,especially when discussing Cryosurgery with only 2 pages devoted to the procedure. In contrast "The Primer" explains Cryosurgery in great and up-to-date detail. It devotes 7 full pages with excellent color diagrams to Cryo - an often neglected and misunderstood treatment option.

I also read "Prostate & Cancer"(Revised Edition) by Dr. Sheldon Marks. This is a much more basic guide in a Q&A format. Once again it is dated and brief as to Cryotherapy as a treatment option. I found "The Primer" to be through on all treatment strategies without being too technical. It is "accurate and balanced".

Current testing procedures, treatment options, and data are presented in a easy to access and understand format! The blue, green red color coding of sentences of special importance make the book easy to "skim" for key information and guidance. The physician notes are invaluable sources of "real patient" information. This makes the book personal and "alive" with actual patient histories.

There are other helps on the various treatment strategies but the "key" to this book is found on page 72 where the authors outline an approach to achieve the best outcome for any prostate cancer patient. This paragraph alone is worth the price of the book!

I hope the authors will keep "The Primer" current with a "revised edition" in about 5 years!

"The Primer" is a "must read" book for the newly diagnosed or post-treatment patient! It will remain as a reference work as I help others become "empowered patients" as the authors of this excellent guide have helped me to become.

Thanks, Dr. Strum and Donna Pogliano. Your book has/will help thousands of men! We are grateful.

I recommend this book without reservation.

"A Primer on Prostate Cancer - The Empowered Patient's Guide" provides excellent insight into answering the many questions of the newly diagnosed or recurring Prostate Cancer patient. We recommend its review and strongly recommend that every Prostate Cancer patient purchase the "Primer" not only for himself but for his physician as likely the most authoritative and informative book available that explains the many aspects of Prostate Cancer treatment in medical terms that can be understood by both the layman patient and his attending physician. Dr. Strum and Donna Pogliano have provided us the procedures being practiced by those who specialize specifically in Prostate Cancer research and treatment and who are far ahead of their contemporaries in recognizing and understanding the latest innovations in Prostate Cancer therapy. Charles (Chuck) Maack, Program Director, Treasurer, Website Manager, Wichita, Kansas Chapter, Us TOO Intl., Inc. Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network. (...)

Dr. Stephen Strum and Donna Pogliano have written an excellent book which will guide both patient and physician, alike, to optimal care in the treatment of prostate cancer. Easy to read and understand, color coded for quick reference, basic and advanced information depending on the readers interest, it's all there. I use it as my prostate cancer bible and even carry it with me to PCa support group meetings. When discussions raise a question, we find the answer.

The dedication of these two people in producing a text of this quality will change the way men will be able to live with PCa and will impact the quality of life of those men who may eventually die from prostate cancer.

This book does an outstanding job of covering the treatment options for prostate cancer. It is a particularly good place to start for a newly diagnosed man (or his wife or family members) in learning about the disease. The clear readable presentation and excellent color illustrations set this book above others on the same subject. It should be required reading for the newly diagnosed man.

I was so lucky to have Prostate Cancer diagnosed shortly after this book came out. How different it could have been if decisions were/are being made with out it. I have only be diagnosed for a few days now, but will try to take baby steps, as advised by authors, to make my best choices. I was very lucky to read "PCa for Dummies" first ,followed by others including Walsh's.

Prostate Cancer is really Greek in some ways and in so many areas, but I think one has to read the "Primer" selectively for specific questions or information as they pop up. A basic non-threatening book; e.g., the "Dummy" book wasn't nearly as great as the "Primer," but it made reading this book easier and truly meaningful.

I can only suggest that it be available in hardback, since I am sure it will wear out while I keep going back to it and showing it to others, including my doctors.

One immediate benefit was the fact that the doctor wanted to give me some hormone therapy in the wrong order. Such a mistake could make my cancer grow even faster! In some ways, I don't think I have a lot of time to look for answers, but I am now convinced that I will have made the best choices that I can. I hope this book becomes the true "bible" of those of us who live with, but not necessarily die from Prostate Cancer.

I was fortunate to have discovered Dr. Strum's book soon after my diagnosis. It provided the only balanced, complete and well organized method of dealing prostate cancer that I found. No one, absolutley no one, should proceed to treatment or blindly accept their doctor's advice. This is, indeed the best first step in rationally dealing with the news that you have this disease. I am now two weeks past surgery (LRP) and very comfortable with the decisions I made and the course of treatment that I followed. It would not have been possible with Dr. Strum's efforts both on-line and in this text. Don't hesitate, just buy it and read it very carefully.

February 6, 2011 update - We'll, I'm still alive with a non-detectable PSA. My thoughts about the book remain just as strong today as they were 7 years ago.

Prostate Cancer (PCa) diagnosis is a scary time in a man's (and his family's) life. While most PCa books are written by doctors stressing the treatment benefits of their own discipline, this book does a wonderful job at explaining the many options without recommending any particular treatment. Many doctors try to push their patients into quick treatment decisions; Dr. Strum encourages patient empowerment through thoughtful education and understanding of the disease. He advises each individual to take their time in locating the best doctor to perform whatever treatment the patient decides upon, as this will result in the best outcome (the least degree of post-treatment problems). Since my PCa diagnosis in May 05, I have recommended this book to numerous friends and their families! It helped me feel 'comfortable' with my disease, it helped me seek the best treatment, it helped me find the best "artist" doctor. This book is a winner, and should be a First Read on your list!!

Over the past decade, no one has done more to educate men (and their families) about prostate cancer (PC) than Dr. Strum.

Through his pioneering work in the internet, in helping found the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), by hosting large meetings, and speaking nationwide, Strum has elevated awareness about PC dramatically.

This book is aptly titled; it is a primer. But Dr. Strum does not "talk down" to his readers. Instead, he challenges them to learn about the complex biology of PC. Thus, readers may find themselves referring, again and again, to the comprehensive glossary of terms and appendices.

Those familiar with Dr. Strum's work on the internet mailing list P2P may not find much here that they haven't heard before, but now they'll find it all in one place, with first-class ilustrations, that will be new to even the most ardent Strum followers.

Readers who master this text will understand more about PC than the majority of family physicians, and will be empowered to make intelligent choices on treatment, with a full understanding of likely outcomes and potential side-effects, based on the most up-to-date thinking in the field.

The Prostate Primer is without doubt a very valuable source of knowledge for any man diagnosed with prostate cancer who wishes to gain some measure of control and understanding of his options for treatment and survival. If it had been available when I was diagnosed six and a half years ago it would have saved me a good deal of time in searching through the many thousands of websites for the information I needed so desperately.

As the authors say, this is no novel to be picked up a read in one session. It is a serious work to deal with a potentially dangerous disease. To the newly diagnosed man it may seem overwhelming, but anyone who is earnest in his desire to learn more will soon find that the book strikes a good balance in dealing with technical information in a way that can be understood by a lay person.

All men diagnosed with prostate cancer should be given this book which should also be read by their loved ones and supporters. It gives them an incalculable chance to improve the outcome of their diagnosis.

As a six year prostate cancer survivor and a facilitator for our local prostate cancer support group, I have purchased 5 copies of the book for our resource library. This is an excellent book for the newly diagnosed patient and provides the information and important tools to help enable the reader to make the necessary decisions regarding treatment options. The book contains the most current and relevant information to help the patient make well informed decisions to help get the best of medical care. It is well illustrated with many easy to follow diagrams and charts. It also includes up to date websites to look for further information and help. If you, or someone you love, have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, I strongly recommend buying this book. In this book are found the nuts and bolts of what the patient needs to "steer the course of (his) illness and ensure a safe passage."