Customer Reviews

Seeds of Hope: A Physician's Personal Triumph Over Prostate Cancer

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This is an excellent book, written by a physician, but from the perspective of a patient considering the many options available for prostate cancer treatment. It is particularly beneficial in describing the details of the seed implant treatment, and the impact of this disease on spouse and family. It should be read by every man who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer before a treatment choice is made.

This is an essential source of information if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer. This has certainly been a real eye-opener for me, here is a doctor, who suddenly finds himself as a patient. So well written, so personal, and yet so easily understood, none of the "latin" that we sometimes get from doctors, you feel as though you are actually sitting there with him, or even in his brain. He shares ALL his worries, frustrations, anxieties, relief's and his joys too as he moves forward in his goal to be truly the master of his own destiny. I highly recommend this book, to anyone who is having to cope/deal with prostate cancer. Doctor's too, cancer affects so many people, this book can even give you the professional a lot of insight into patients perspectives. BUY it NOW!

A great book! Prostate cancer, and possible treatments, are not subjects that are easy to explain. However Dr. Dorso is able through his position as not only a physician, but also a patient, to explain possible cancer treatment options in a clear and understandable way. His story is personal and compassionate. Thoughout the book I found his experience became my experience. His sincerity and authenticity shine throughout. "Seeds of Hope" is definitely a must read for anyone who has cancer or who knows someone that has cancer. If I were a doctor I would prescribe it!

Perhaps I've read too many prostate cancer books at this point, if that's really possible. But while I thought it certainly has merit for readers who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, I have to say didn't share the other reviewers' unbridled enthusiasm for this book.

There are two reasons why I feel the premise of the book is flawed.

For one, the book gives the impression that Dr. Dorso underwent Brachytherapy as his sole treatment for his prostate cancer. This is not, by any means, the case, as he underwent numerous combined treatments for his cancer, including homone therapy and external beam radiation, in addition to his seed implants.

That's a lot of varied and extensive treatment. Not that it is all that unusual. Certain well-known treatment centers will hit you with the whole shebang no matter what stage your cancer is in, and many patients receive this type of extensive treatment when their cancer is thought to be beyond the initial stage.

But my take on the premise of this book, which is right here in the Amazon description, is that the doctor receives radiated seeds as his treatment. I guess my point here is that this premise highlights a singular treatment that many current patients are receiving, when in reality, the doctor as patient, pretty much gets everything they can combine to treat his cancer. As many doctors feel that this much extensive treatment is not necessary for early stage cancer, because of the risk of side effects, I felt the book sets up a faulty premise that creates a sense of confusion for the reader.

My second problem with this book relates to the concept of the patient being a doctor. Much is made of this in terms of giving the reader some deeper form of insight into the medical community and treatment. In reality, while Dr. Dorso gives a very detailed account of the process that he went through as a man diagnosed with cancer, and bares his fears and concerns during the process, my feeling while reading the book was that his being a doctor did not play into any sort of greater insight or understanding of the disease, it's treatment, or the confusion that surrounds the newly diagnosed cancer patient. I'm not blaming Dr. Dorso for this -- he was as honest as he could be -- but once again, the premise of the book (the marketing if you will) infers that Dorso's status as a doctor lends something more to the book. To my mind, it didn't. And I felt taken by the books inferred promises while reading it.

Once again, it is a good book in terms of detailing the general process that prostate cancer patients go through, the confusion, the conflicting advice given by doctors, and the subsequent feelings of fear and doubt, as a patient tries to learn all he can to make a treatment decision that he is "comfortable with." It's a lousy road for any man. This is one man's journey. He lays a lot of personal baggage on the reader as part of the book, which makes it more readable than most drier factual books.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for information, there are better books out there.

Good luck to you.

"You have prostate cancer"

The author heard these words and so have I. We have both come through prostate cancer although using different therapies to defeat the malignancy.

This book tells the very personal story of a doctor diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the process to determine how to effectively treat the cancer, he learns the key lesson in this book - that there is no universal agreement among doctors/surgeons/urologists/radiation oncologists on how to treat prostate cancer. This was the author's epiphany which allowed him to take charge of his own destiny and select the treatment option (radioactive seed implants) he thought would be best for him. He then describes in personal prose how the process works and how it ultimately affected him, his relationship with his wife, and his outlook on life itself.

As a cancer survivor myself, I can relate to what is written here. It is my story as well, although I chose a different form of treatment. The key message in this book is to be proactive and knowledgeable in the subject of prostate cancer. The afflicted must know all the treatment options available, know the side-effects of each treatment (impotence, incontinence, recovery time), and then make his own decision. Don't let a doctor make the decision for you.

Prostate cancer is a highly treatable disease if caught early. It is a slow growing cancer, so the afflicted generally have time to research the disease, the treatment options, and side-effects, and then make an intelligent informed decsion on treatment.

This book tells of how one man, a doctor himself, looked into the face of his own mortality and decided on his personal treatment path. I am so pleased he was successful. The reader must be aware that radioactive seeds are just one of 6 options available to the afflicted. Check out all the treatment options before deciding on a course of therapy.

Jim Koenig, DDS

I loved reading this book. It made me laugh and cry at times. Very well written.

I enjoyed reading this book as it told of one man's struggle and how he coped with Cancer. I appreciate the fact that he did mention other types of surgey and this provided the opportunity to read other books. I decided not to follow in his footsteps but we each have to decide what we think we need to do. Talking with my Doctor and using this book helped alot. Thanks for a good book.