Fighting Cancer with Knowledge and Hope : A Guide for Patients, Families, and Health Care Providers, Second Edition

"Anyone who is diagnosed with cancer receives a frightening blow, and in many cases the diagnosis is accompanied by a bewildering array of treatment choices. In this invaluable book, a compassionate and knowledgeable physician explains what cancer is, which factors determine a patient's prognosis, how cancer treatments work to eradicate cancer, why they sometimes fail, and what patients can do to optimize their own survival. The second edition of this essential resource for patients and their families discusses new treatment options that have become available, including targeted therapies, immune therapies, and personalized cancer medicine. Information on the types of medicines used to fight cancer has been completely updated and revised; also included is a new section on alternative cancer therapies. Winner of the 2010 American Medical Writers Association Medical Book Award in the Health Care Professionals-Nonphysician category Winner of the 2010 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication, given by the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association"-- "A complete guide to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with up-to-date information for cancer patients and their loved ones" -- A leading oncologist demystifies cancer with accurate, accessible, and honest information Anyone who is diagnosed with cancer receives a frightening blow, and in many cases the diagnosis is accompanied by a bewildering array of treatment choices. In this invaluable book, a compassionate and knowledgeable physician explains what cancer is, which factors determine a patient's prognosis, how cancer treatments work to eradicate cancer, why they sometimes fail, and what patients can do to optimize their own survival. The second edition of this essential resource for patients and their families discusses new treatment options that have become available, including targeted therapies, immune therapies, and personalized cancer medicine. Information on the types of medicines used to fight cancer has been completely updated and revised; also included is a new section on alternative cancer therapies. Winner of the 2010 American Medical Writers Association Medical Book Award in the Health Care Professionals–Nonphysician category Winner of the 2010 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication, given by the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association "Anyone who is diagnosed with cancer receives a frightening blow, and in many cases the diagnosis is accompanied by a bewildering array of treatment choices. In this invaluable book, a compassionate and knowledgeable physician explains what cancer is, which factors determine a patient's prognosis, how cancer treatments work to eradicate cancer, why they sometimes fail, and what patients can do to optimize their own survival. The second edition of this essential resource for patients and their families discusses new treatment options that have become available, including targeted therapies, immune therapies, and personalized cancer medicine. Information on the types of medicines used to fight cancer has been completely updated and revised; also included is a new section on alternative cancer therapies. Winner of the 2010 American Medical Writers Association Medical Book Award in the Health Care Professionals-Nonphysician category Winner of the 2010 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication, given by the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association"-- Provided by publisher Contents 7 Foreword 11 Preface to the Second Edition 15 Preface to the First Edition 17 Acknowledgments 21 Part I. Exposing Cancer 25 1. First Steps 25 2. What Is Cancer? 35 3. Diagnosis, Staging, Curability 50 4. Understanding Specific Cancers 81 5. Why Cancer Develops 114 Part II. Attacking Cancer 147 6. How Cancer Grows: The Basis of Cancer Treatments 147 7. Cancer Treatments Revolve Around Metastasis 159 8. Cancer Treatments at Work 189 9. Personalized Cancer Medicine: Tailoring Treatment to the Patient 222 10. Harnessing the Immune System 233 11. Get Prepared to Survive 247 Appendix 1. Types of Cancer Medicine 261 Appendix 2. For More Information 266 Glossary 269 References 275 Index 295 Anyone who is diagnosed with cancer receives a frightening blow, and in many cases the diagnosis is accompanied by a bewildering array of treatment choices. In this invaluable book, a compassionate and knowledgeable physician explains what cancer is, which factors determine a patient’s prognosis, how cancer treatments work to eradicate cancer, why they sometimes fail, and what patients can do to optimize their own survival. "A complete guide to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with up-to-date information for cancer patients and their loved ones"-- Provided by publisher