4.5 stars
Dr Patrick Maguire has written a superb book about cancer, his chapter 'Take The Ball By The Horns' is particularly significant. In reducing your risks of cancer, you need to take an aggressive role in prevention. You can learn all about cancer, what you can do to reduce the risk of being diagnosed with cancer, and how to help that someone, if it is not you, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Get all the information you can, be well read and face the situation head on, filled with some control. Dr Maguire says 'Take The Ball By The Horns', and that is not a misprint, is a big part of learning about and dealing with cancer.
When you are diagnosed with cancer, the loss of control that most of us feel can be overwhelming. Many of us look to our physicians to tell us the best path. However, if those decisions can be made together, you, your family and the physician with the best knowledge and outcomes before you, some of that control is back. I was fortunate to have my cancer diagnosed in a facility that has a Cancer Center. I would recommend that for everyone. Everything you might need is in the same center. I was also part of a Decision Making Center with my surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist. You are putting your trust and your life at times in the hands of the medical oncologist who will be the leader of your team. You will meet with the oncologist at least twice a month and maybe more often for a year or more. You want someone who you like and trust. I knew from the first page that Dr Maguire is the kind of oncologist I would want. He is very forthright, a great sense of humor, knowledgeable and speaks in patient language. A person remembers 40% of what physicians tell them in the office. Once you hear cancer, you may not hear another word. I believe the best informed people may have the best course of treatment. They know what to expect and this book can be very helpful for them and their family.
Patrick Maguire gives us a cancer history in his family, which gives us the title of the book, 'When Cancer Hits Home'. It is one thing to be an oncologist and another to have cancer in your familycancer tends to even the playing field. Dr Maguire has written this book in 3 parts.
The first part is how to reduce your cancer risk. 90% of people with cancer are the first one in their family. It is important to know your risks and how to reduce them. Make decisions wisely, avoid tobacco, try to avoid viruses that can cause cancer and be careful in the sun. Try to have a healthy menu, exercise frequently, and see your physician for preventive medicine.
Part Two discusses the treatment options for the 20 most common cancers. Dr Maguire provides a case history for each type of cancer, the risks and causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, staging of the cancer, treatment and the personal outcome for the person with that particular cancer. This is so well done, by giving us a real person's story, it is easier to comprehend all the issues. Dr Maguire has written in language that is easily understood. Some of the people did well and some did not. He talks about the decision making process, and the discussions of treatment and the final outcome.
Part Three covers all of the references and resources that Dr Maguire used in writing this book. Chapter by chapter resources, which is very helpful, if you wanted to look up a particular reference for more information.
One of the most important aspects of cancer care is the support of family and friends. Dr Maguire does not specifically state this, but it is inferred. If you do not have someone to talk with, to share your fears and your good news, there are professional people waiting to help you. Every cancer center has a myriad of people, and their services should be offered with every visit. If you do have cancer, your family will be a great source of support, but they will also need a support network. Cancer is not a disease to fight alone.
I would recommend this book as a resource for every physician's office or waiting room. Every household would do well to have this resource. We all know someone with cancer, within our family or not. It is important to be well informed. I remember someone asking me what I did wrong to 'get' my cancer. No one wants to be so misinformed, but we need to realize there are people who know very little,and we need to expect some foolish questions or suggestions. When we are well informed we carry that knowledge to every part of our lives.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 03-08-11
Well written. Easy to read. This book is full of answers to those of us with so many questions on such an overwhelming topic.
Dr. Maguire translates cancer treatment and prevention options into a language easily understandable. I highly recommend this book as a family members guide to cancer treatment.
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If you and your loved ones have avoided cancer, may God continue to bless you. For those of us who have had cancer enter our lives we have learned the struggle involved in fighting it, and some of us have loved ones who have finally lost the battle. I remember when my father was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme I had never heard the term before. I wish I still didn't know it. The hospital gave us some basic literature but I wanted to know more but it was surprisingly hard to find.
Cancer has struck my family several different times over the decades. In some ways it is the result of avoiding death from accident, bad food, bad water, and infectious disease that killed our ancestors at younger ages. Dr. Patrick Maguire provides us with a terrific primer that I recommend you get on your bookshelf and refer to as needed. He gives us several chapters and what we can do to minimize our cancer risk and why things like diet, exercise, avoiding tobacco and environmental carcinogens can help. But there are certain genetic tendencies to cancer that can trigger and cancer enters your life no matter how fastidious your health maintenance.
He also looks at the 20 most common categories of cancer (and many more sub-types). He uses patient stories to show how the cancer manifested itself, was diagnosed, and how the treatments used. At the back of the book you will find a chapter by chapter list of references and sources you can use for further study and reading. This can be very useful when, like me, you are anxious to find out what is happening to your loved one.
This is a valuable basic resource. Dr. Maguire has the knack of being able to explain things to us in plain English without papering over the realities and difficulties we face. But without making things seem insurmountable. This is a real gift.
I hope you never experience the cancer struggle. But if you do, I hope you already have this book on hand to get up to speed.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Saline, MI
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I just finished the book and it is great! My husband was diagnosed with AML 2 years ago and there have been lots of "stormy seas" to navaigate. This book offered so much insight to the cancer field and reading about Dr Maguire's personal experience was beautifully written. Thank you for your effort to provide this as a resource to your patients and family members.
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Patrick Maguire has written a comprehensive guide about cancer treatment options. He guides you through the 20 most common types of cancer that include: bladder cancer, brain tumors, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, myeloma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, stomach cancer, thyroid cancer and uterine cancer. Each chapter has a story which makes this very personal. Since cancer is killing 600,000 people a year this book is very needed. Now this is not only a book for people who have cancer it is also good to read to help prevent cancer in the first place. Like I didn't realize that viruses could cause cancer. Women who are worried about breast cancer will also appreciate the section on how exercise can work in their favor. There are also many options once you have been diagnosed. Do you want surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or immunotherapy? Since my father struggled with Esophageal cancer that specific chapter interested me. Then I also wanted to know about lung cancer since his cancer started to spread to other areas of his body. This book explains how you can put yourself at risk for esophageal cancer if you eat very hot foods or drinks. For those who don't have cancer I'd recommend reading the entire book as a preventative measure. For those who have been diagnosed then it is easy to read this book selectively, just reading the chapters with information on your condition. I think this book would also be helpful for doctors and nurses caring for cancer patients.
~The Rebecca Review
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I just love this book. My grades has even improved. I got fast prompt services and would buy over and over again.
