In the United States cancer is overtaking heart disease as the leading cause of death. Although a devastatingly common disease, the average person in the US has minimal practical or scientific knowledge about cancer and its treatment. And fewer still are aware of the pitfalls and obstacles inherent in cancer care. Here, Stephen Rosenberg, MD, offers an accessible guide to the disease and the challenges of receiving the best care possible. He guides readers and their loved ones through the process of receiving the diagnosis and laying out a plan moving forward regardless of cancer diagnosis. He identifies the most common pitfalls on the treatment path and helps readers avoid them while they seek the best care possible. Receiving a cancer diagnosis is already devastating. Navigating the confusing waters of treatment should not be. Offering insight into handling emotions, incorporating complementary care, important lifestyle choices, and how to overcome the most common mistakes made in cancer care, this work offers a light in the dark.
Preface |
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Introduction |
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3 How Cancer Is Diagnosed |
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4 The Emotional Toll of Cancer |
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5 Deciding on Goals and Treatment |
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9 The Future of Cancer Care: Immunotherapy, the Gray Zone, and Clinical Trials |
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10 Integrative Medicine: Caring for the Whole Person |
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11 Palliative Care and Hospice: Increasing Comfort |
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12 Lifestyle Changes to Improve Quality of Life and Outcomes |
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13 Tips for Significant Others |
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15 Health Care Providers Entering Oncology |
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17 Breast Cancer: Ten Questions to Ask |
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18 Prostate Cancer: Ten Questions to Ask |
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19 Colorectal Cancer: Ten Questions to Ask |
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20 Lung Cancer: Ten Questions to Ask |
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The Ten Common Mistakes Patients Make |
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Resources |
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Glossary |
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Index |
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About the Author |
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Stephen Rosenberg. MD, is a radiation oncologist, researcher, and writer. During medical school, he was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow. He was also named the Suzanne Munson Intern of the Year at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and he served as Chief Resident in Radiation Oncology at the University of Wisconsin. He is an Assistant Professor at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Stephen lives in Tampa, FL with his wife, son, daughter, and two dogs. He is an avid coffee drinker, art lover, fisherman, and traveler. You can connect with him at: http://stephenrosenbergmd.com/.