Authors: Don S. Dizon, Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum
ISBN-13: 9780763743116, ISBN-10: 0763743119
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Jones & Barlett Learning
Date Published: October 2006
Edition: 2nd Edition
Whether you're a newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of either, this completely updated second edition gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, sources of support, and much more. Written by a gynecologic oncologist and a gynecologic surgeon, with actual patient commentary, this is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of ovarian cancer.
Reviewer: Julia M. Fine, RN, PhD, FNP-C(Indiana State University)
Description: This book, written by a team of a gynecologic oncologist, a gynecologic surgeon, and a woman who has experienced ovarian cancer, offers answers to 100 questions about the disease. The questions range from basic definitions to diagnosis, treatment choices, management of symptoms, and dealing with both relapse and treatment failure.
Purpose: This book was written to answer the common questions about ovarian cancer and to serve as a resource for women or anyone whose life has been touched by ovarian cancer. The authors seek to impart knowledge both to enable women to make informed choices and to decrease fear that can interfere with living with and fighting the disease.
Audience: The primary audience for this book is women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer or persons who are friends or relatives of these women. It would also be useful as a short review for practitioners who do not specialize in gynecologic cancers to highlight the subtle early symptoms of the disease and to provide an overview of diagnostic, screening, and treatment options.
Features: Additional features of the book are an extensive list of resources, such as organizations, Internet sources of information, clinical trials, financial and support services. A glossary and index help to locate information quickly. In the book, technical words are in bold and are defined on each page. Questions are organized by chapters and build from initial diagnosis to treatment, management of symptoms and, finally, to end of life issues. Occasional tables and pictures serve to clarifyinformation.
Assessment: The team approach and the empowerment of the woman who is experiencing ovarian cancer is strongly emphasized. The message from a survivor of ovarian cancer is that responsibility and choices must be shared with the team of physicians and support persons. Occasionally, the questions seem simplistic, but the depth and thoroughness with which each question is answered quickly leads the reader through terminology. The comments from an ovarian cancer survivor add both personal insight and connection.