Thyroid Cancer: A Guide for Patients (Paperback)

by D. Van Nostrand (Author), G. Bloom (Author), L. Wartofsky (Author) "The thyroid gland is one of several endocrine glands of the body..." (more)
Key Phrases: nuclear radiologist, radioiodine whole body scan, thyroglobulin blood levels, Joan Shey, United States, Light of Life Foundation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book is a valuable and extensive source of information about thyroid cancer and is specifically written for the patient with thyroid cancer. However, family and friends of patients who have thyroid cancer will also find this book useful.

The book discusses a wide spectrum of aspects about thyroid nodules and cancer. It is discusses the basics of the thyroid gland, the evaluation of thyroid nodules, the various types of thyroid cancer, their prognosis, and the initial diagnostic evaluation and treatment of the four major types of thyroid cancer. This includes the role of surgery and other treatments. The book also discusses diets, hormone treatment, and thyroid cancer in children and adolescents. One chapter presents the personal stories of several patients, who have or have had thyroid cancer, as well as a discussion by a pyschologist and psychiatrist. The book concludes with chapters on additional treatment alternatives, information on clinical research trials, and additional sources of information.

The book is organized and indexed to help the patient or the patient's family or friends find information that may be important for them.

About the Author
Twenty-eight contributors wrote this book, and they include many physicians renown in their medical specialty, other health care professionals involved with thyroid cancer, and patients who have or have had thyroid cancer.

The book was edited by three individuals.

Douglas Van Nostrand, M.D., is the Director of Nuclear Medicine at Washington Hospital Center. His specialty is nuclear medicine, and his primary area of interest and expetise is the nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. He has held numerous academic and medical society positions. He has published over 50 articles and has been the editor of five medical books.

Gary Bloom is a co-founder and the Board Chair of ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. Thyca is an all-volunteer, non profit organization of thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals advised by nationally recognized leaders in the field of thyroid cancer and dedicated to education, communication and support of thyroid cancer survivors, families and friends. Gary Bloom is a thyroid cancer survivor and is involved in the association as a volunteer.

Leonard Wartofsky, M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Washington Hospital Center. His specialty is endocrinology, and his primary area of interest and expertise is thyroid disease in general and thyroid cancer in particular, for which he is world-renowned. He has held numerous academic and medical society positions and is a past-president of the American Thyroid Association. He has published over 300 articles and is the editor of the medical textbook entitled Thyroid Cancer; A Comprehensive Guide to Clinical Management.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Keystone Press, Inc. (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974623903
• ISBN-13: 978-0974623900
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #156,839 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear Information at Your Own Pace, October 2, 2004

By	Rita Banach - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Thyroid Cancer: A Guide for Patients sets out to inform patients at their own pace, and in language they can easily understand. The book is organized into easily accessible chapters, each written by experts in their respective fields. Segments can be read as the need or desire arises - often newly diagnosed persons require this flexibility as they can not take in complex information all at once.

The guide begins with a supportive and reassuring introduction and works its way through a discussion of the thyroid gland and its functions, diagnosis, and surgery. The editors include an in-depth description of radioactive iodine treatment, the interpretations of scans, and side effects from surgery and treatment. However, international readers should be cautioned that some information is more applicable to an American audience.

What sets this book apart from other thyroid cancer resources is the authors' ability to anticipate patients' specific questions. Thyroid Cancer: A Guide for Patients strikes a balance between professional information and understandable terminology. The editors especially encourage patients to read the chapter containing patients' commentaries. These commentaries contain reassuring first-hand accounts from those living with the disease. Also important are the segments detailing treatment of the rarer forms of Medullary and Anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Thyroid Cancer: A Guide for Patients is a comprehensive and complete resource - a welcomed addition to any thyroid cancer patient's library.


Rita Banach, B.Sc., D.C.S.
President, Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good -- but not perfect, March 13, 2005

By	Jan B. Young "Jan" (Milwaukee WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My wife was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer and I bought this book to learn more about her disease. The book is well written and understandable to the layman and it accomplished almost everything I had hoped for.

There are, however, a few minor issues. First, the book was written by a number of different people and it could be better organized. It is frequently repetitive.

Second, and more important at least to me, I found a great deal of useful information about various aspects of thyroid cancer -- detection, surgery, ablation, and long term treatment -- but they were poorly tied together and did not give me an overall view of the progress of things. I was often left to figure out what sequence things happen in and how they affect each other.

Finally, and possibly most important, the book is written for the cancer patient and does not address caregiver's issues at all. Although as a caregiver, I need to understand patient concerns and problems, I have my own issues to deal with and I was hoping for some help. I'm still looking for that help.

In summary -- if you or someone close to you has thyroid cancer -- this book is essential and very worthwhile. Just don't expect it to be perfect.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, November 4, 2004

By	Evelyn Gross (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a fabulous resource for people who have thyroid cancer. It is also very useful for their caregivers. Although there is some technical information, most of the book is geared to the lay person with medical jargon explained in lay terms. The book details various surgeries, treatments, tests and testing procedures necessary for patients. If you ever have a question about what you need to do to get through the journey that begins with the diagnosis of thyroid cancer this is the place to get your answers.