From Library Journal
Written in a straightforward and easy-to-read style, this informative guide aims to help patients and their families live with lung cancer. The authors, all physicians from leading healthcare institutions in the United States, interviewed a large number of patients and then answered their questions in this book. Chapters progress from discussions of normal lung anatomy and physiology to explanations of how cancer begins and is diagnosed. Therapy options including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are clearly defined, side effects are explained, and useful discussions are offered on nutrition, coping with stress, and alternative care options. Crisp line drawings and individual case reports are scattered throughout the book, adding to its usefulness, as do an 11-page glossary and a thorough index. The work would have benefited from a more comprehensive listing of contacts such as organizations, websites, or self-help groups but is otherwise appropriate for public library or consumer health collections.AVirginia Lingle, Hershey Medical Ctr. Lib., Pennsylvania State Univ.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A patient
"A point of light in a world that has suddenly gone dark with the diagnosis of lung cancer."

Coping magazine
"An honest look at lung cancer, its causes and complications, diagnosis and treatment."

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
"Answers every question a patient might have."

Kentucky Medical Journal
"A comfortable book that puts an arm around the reader with warm support."

Book Description
Lung cancer is a scary disease, and the new patient is understandably confused and frightened. The future is uncertain, and it's filled with a dazzling array of unfamiliar medical and surgical terms and procedures. "Living With Lung Cancer" provides easy-to-understand information about diagnostic tests, treatments and their side effects, nutrition, the likely prognosis, even coping with emotions and paying the bills. By interviewing a large number of patients and their spouses, the authors learned the countless questions they have, including those they find difficult to ask in a doctor's office. The result is a book that helps people cope--with the disease, it treatments and, perhaps most of all, their nameless fears. It can help patients and their loved ones face the future with greater hope and confidence.

Book Info
Univ. of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Text for consumers on lung cancer: its causes, complications, diagnosis, and treatment. Previous edition: c1992. DNLM: Lung Neoplasms--popular works.

About the Author
Eloise Harman, MD, author of the revised 4th edition, is professor and chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Barbara G. Cox, MA is a medical writer who specializes in patient education. David T. Carr, MD, the Howe professor of pulmonary medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, is retired. Robert E. Lee, MD, consultant in radiation oncologoy at the Mayo Clinic is retired.

ANNOTATION

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

FROM THE CRITICS

Mary Dee McEvoy

This is the fourth edition of a book originally funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, that arose from patient requests to physicians for more information about their disease. The purpose is to provide a guide to both patients and their families on the management of lung cancer. The objective is clearly a worthy one; the authors state that patients and families should be part of the team caring for them and information is a key component of that partnership. The audience is patients and families. In planning the book, the authors conducted interviews of patients and families to determine the type of information that was needed. Patients and families also reviewed the book as it developed, providing feedback on topics. Three authors are physicians, one a retired physician from a major cancer center, one a radiation oncologist, and one a pulmonary specialist; all credible authorities in the area of lung cancer. The last author is a medical writer specializing in patient education. There are three main areas: an overview of the lungs and lung cancer; chapters on the three main treatment modalities of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; and finally, areas on nutrition, stress, and alternate therapies. Case reports are used to synthesize the chapter information. Black-and-white illustrations are used that are high quality and useful. A major shortcoming is the lack of an index on additional sources of information. This should be considered a required component of patient education materials. Although this is a contribution to the patient education literature, it is written at a fairly high level and may be difficult for many people to understand. A thoroughindex of other readings and references for further inquiry such as the American Cancer Society, Cancer Care, and the National Cancer Institute would be helpful. In addition, web sites are being used more routinely for public education and should be included for the sophisticated consumer.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Mary Dee McEvoy, PhD, RN (Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center)Description: This is the fourth edition of a book originally funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, that arose from patient requests to physicians for more information about their disease. Purpose: The purpose is to provide a guide to both patients and their families on the management of lung cancer. The objective is clearly a worthy one; the authors state that patients and families should be part of the team caring for them and information is a key component of that partnership. Audience: The audience is patients and families. In planning the book, the authors conducted interviews of patients and families to determine the type of information that was needed. Patients and families also reviewed the book as it developed, providing feedback on topics. Three authors are physicians, one a retired physician from a major cancer center, one a radiation oncologist, and one a pulmonary specialist; all credible authorities in the area of lung cancer. The last author is a medical writer specializing in patient education. Features: There are three main areas: an overview of the lungs and lung cancer; chapters on the three main treatment modalities of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; and finally, areas on nutrition, stress, and alternate therapies. Case reports are used to synthesize the chapter information. Black-and-white illustrations are used that are high quality and useful. A major shortcoming is the lack of an index on additional sources of information. This should be considered a required component of patient education materials. Assessment: Although this is a contribution to the patient education literature, it is written at a fairly high level and may be difficult for many people to understand. A thorough index of other readings and references for further inquiry such as the American Cancer Society, Cancer Care, and the National Cancer Institute would be helpful. In addition, web sites are being used more routinely for public education and should be included for the sophisticated consumer.

Library Journal

Written in a straightforward and easy-to-read style, this informative guide aims to help patients and their families live with lung cancer. The authors, all physicians from leading healthcare institutions in the United States, interviewed a large number of patients and then answered their questions in this book. Chapters progress from discussions of normal lung anatomy and physiology to explanations of how cancer begins and is diagnosed. Therapy options including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are clearly defined, side effects are explained, and useful discussions are offered on nutrition, coping with stress, and alternative care options. Crisp line drawings and individual case reports are scattered throughout the book, adding to its usefulness, as do an 11-page glossary and a thorough index. The work would have benefited from a more comprehensive listing of contacts such as organizations, websites, or self-help groups but is otherwise appropriate for public library or consumer health collections.Virginia Lingle, Hershey Medical Ctr. Lib., Pennsylvania State Univ.

RATING

3 Stars from Doody

ACCREDITATION