Rating: 
Summary: Diagnosed/ Buy this. NOW!
Review: According to the American Cancer Society, more than 230,000 U.S. men will have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004, and nearly 30,000 will die from the disease. To put these numbers in perspective, imagine a number of nearby small towns, each with a population of 30,000. And then imagine one of them disappearing EVERY YEAR. Next to skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. ONE MAN IN SIX WILL GET PROSTATE CANCER DURING HIS LIFETIME.
And when you're diagnosed, you're in for a terrible shock: Your doctor will spend about a half hour describing the various therapies, and tell you that it's up to you to decide which therapy you want. If pressed (
Rating:
Summary: The best overall book on prostate cancer that I've found
Review: After my own diagnosis three years ago, I set out to help other men and their companions with the effects of this disease, primarily through my Phoenix5 Web site. In that time, I have read dozens of books about prostate cancer and I can say without doubt that this is the most complete and best prostate cancer reference book that I have seen. Its primary strength is that there may be more illustrations than its 368 colored pages. It is filled with hundreds of color photos, drawings, illustrations and sample forms, from the basics to the highly technical. Just look at the table of contents. And interspersed are "physician's notes" by Strum that take up cases or individual instances, to "reinforce the concepts in the text."I've never seen a prostate cancer book where so much is so well illustrated. I highly recommend this book to anyone dealing with prostate cancer, from the newly diagnosed to the "old pro" like me. Robert Young
Dx'd 11/23/99 PSA 1000+ Stage M1c Webmaster Phoenix5
...
To help overcome the effects of prostate cancer
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely The Most Complete Book On Prostate Cancer
Review: Dr. Stephen Strum and Donna Pogliano have written an excellent book which will guide both patient and physician, alike, to optimal care in the treatment of prostate cancer. Easy to read and understand, color coded for quick reference, basic and advanced information depending on the readers interest, it's all there. I use it as my prostate cancer bible and even carry it with me to PCa support group meetings. When discussions raise a question, we find the answer. The dedication of these two people in producing a text of this quality will change the way men will be able to live with PCa and will impact the quality of life of those men who may eventually die from prostate cancer.
Rating:
Summary: More than a "Primer on Prostate Cancer"
Review: I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, January 2004. My urologist told me to "get informed on your disease" and gave me the titles of a couple of books he recommended. "A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide " was not one on his list. - It should have been! A fellow prostate cancer patient loaned me his copy. I have my own now. "The Primer" is a classic!
Before reading "The Primer" I ordered "The Prostate" by Dr. Patrick Walsh and Janet Worthington - a good, but out of date book,especially when discussing Cryosurgery with only 2 pages devoted to the procedure. In contrast "The Primer" explains Cryosurgery in great and up-to-date detail. It devotes 7 full pages with excellent color diagrams to Cryo - an often neglected and misunderstood treatment option. I also read "Prostate & Cancer"(Revised Edition) by Dr. Sheldon Marks. This is a much more basic guide in a Q&A format. Once again it is dated and brief as to Cryotherapy as a treatment option. I found "The Primer" to be through on all treatment strategies without being too technical. It is "accurate and balanced". Current testing procedures, treatment options, and data are presented in a easy to access and understand format! The blue, green red color coding of sentences of special importance make the book easy to "skim" for key information and guidance. The physician notes are invaluable sources of "real patient" information. This makes the book personal and "alive" with actual patient histories. There are other helps on the various treatment strategies but the "key" to this book is found on page 72 where the authors outline an approach to achieve the best outcome for any prostate cancer patient. This paragraph alone is worth the price of the book! I hope the authors will keep "The Primer" current with a "revised edition" in about 5 years! "The Primer" is a "must read" book for the newly diagnosed or post-treatment patient! It will remain as a reference work as I help others become "empowered patients" as the authors of this excellent guide have helped me to become. Thanks, Dr. Strum and Donna Pogliano. Your book has/will help thousands of men! We are grateful. I recommend this book without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: More than a "Primer on Prostate Cancer"
Review: I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, January 2004. My urologist told me to "get informed on your disease" and gave me the titles of a couple of books he recommended. "A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide " was not one on his list. - It should have been! A fellow prostate cancer patient loaned me his copy. I have my own now. "The Primer" is a classic!
Before reading "The Primer" I ordered "The Prostate" by Dr. Patrick Walsh and Janet Worthington - a good, but out of date book,especially when discussing Cryosurgery with only 2 pages devoted to the procedure. In contrast "The Primer" explains Cryosurgery in great and up-to-date detail. It devotes 7 full pages with excellent color diagrams to Cryo - an often neglected and misunderstood treatment option. I also read "Prostate & Cancer"(Revised Edition) by Dr. Sheldon Marks. This is a much more basic guide in a Q&A format. Once again it is dated and brief as to Cryotherapy as a treatment option. I found "The Primer" to be through on all treatment strategies without being too technical. It is "accurate and balanced". Current testing procedures, treatment options, and data are presented in a easy to access and understand format! The blue, green red color coding of sentences of special importance make the book easy to "skim" for key information and guidance. The physician notes are invaluable sources of "real patient" information. This makes the book personal and "alive" with actual patient histories. There are other helps on the various treatment strategies but the "key" to this book is found on page 72 where the authors outline an approach to achieve the best outcome for any prostate cancer patient. This paragraph alone is worth the price of the book! I hope the authors will keep "The Primer" current with a "revised edition" in about 5 years! "The Primer" is a "must read" book for the newly diagnosed or post-treatment patient! It will remain as a reference work as I help others become "empowered patients" as the authors of this excellent guide have helped me to become. Thanks, Dr. Strum and Donna Pogliano. Your book has/will help thousands of men! We are grateful. I recommend this book without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best first step.
Review: I was fortunate to have discovered Dr. Strum's book soon after my diagnosis. It provided the only balanced, complete and well organized method of dealing prostate cancer that I found. No one, absolutley no one, should proceed to treatment or blindly accept their doctor's advice. This is, indeed the best first step in rationally dealing with the news that you have this disease. I am now two weeks past surgery (LRP) and very comfortable with the decisions I made and the course of treatment that I followed. It would not have been possible with Dr. Strum's efforts both on-line and in this text. Don't hesitate, just buy it and read it very carefully.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Place to Start
Review: I was so lucky to have Prostate Cancer diagnosed shortly after this book came out. How different it could have been if decisions were/are being made with out it. I have only be diagnosed for a few days now, but will try to take baby steps, as advised by authors, to make my best choices. I was very lucky to read "PCa for Dummies" first ,followed by others including Walsh's. Prostate Cancer is really Greek in some ways and in so many areas, but I think one has to read the "Primer" selectively for specific questions or information as they pop up. A basic non-threatening book; e.g., the "Dummy" book wasn't nearly as great as the "Primer," but it made reading this book easier and truly meaningful. I can only suggest that it be available in hardback, since I am sure it will wear out while I keep going back to it and showing it to others, including my doctors. One immediate benefit was the fact that the doctor wanted to give me some hormone therapy in the wrong order. Such a mistake could make my cancer grow even faster! In some ways, I don't think I have a lot of time to look for answers, but I am now convinced that I will have made the best choices that I can. I hope this book becomes the true "bible" of those of us who live with, but not necessarily die from Prostate Cancer.
Rating:
Summary: Information~Information~Information-Gold Standard In Books
Review: Most amount of useable information for a patient I have seen published anywhere. (...) Together they have mastered the up to date information on all aspects and issues dealing with this disease. Most amount of information I have seen in books on issues of hormone therapies, radiations and general information. Great glossary, photos, diagrams. I wish I bought it much sooner, but very impressed and recommending to all PCa patients.
Rating:
Summary: THE essential text for the newly diagnosed man
Review: Over the past decade, no one has done more to educate men (and their families) about prostate cancer (PC) than Dr. Strum. Through his pioneering work in the internet, in helping found the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), by hosting large meetings, and speaking nationwide, Strum has elevated awareness about PC dramatically. This book is aptly titled; it is a primer. But Dr. Strum does not "talk down" to his readers. Instead, he challenges them to learn about the complex biology of PC. Thus, readers may find themselves referring, again and again, to the comprehensive glossary of terms and appendices. Those familiar with Dr. Strum's work on the internet mailing list P2P may not find much here that they haven't heard before, but now they'll find it all in one place, with first-class ilustrations, that will be new to even the most ardent Strum followers. Readers who master this text will understand more about PC than the majority of family physicians, and will be empowered to make intelligent choices on treatment, with a full understanding of likely outcomes and potential side-effects, based on the most up-to-date thinking in the field.
Rating:
Summary: It is the best!
Review: The book is well written, to the point with the use of colors to set thing off, many illustrations, charts, tables, etc. It has a rather large Appendix - in itself with much information you can use. The letters are large enough for these old eyes to read and it is easy reading for the most part with some of it being more technical as one would expect. In my estimation it is one of the best books available on prostate cancer. It is designed primarily for someone just beginning this journey down prostate lane however there is some in there for the Advanced patient. I believe that its best area is for those who have just been diagnosed and are having to make a treatment decision. In addition for those who have failed their local therapy or who carry an advanced diagnosis -there would be some valuable information. For those who have followed Dr. Strum through the years and have read Donna's original Primer - you will see many familiar things. It is nice to have them in a book. It is excellent and a recommended buy!!! I enjoyed reading it. Congrats to Dr. Strum and Author Donna for a job well done - it should be a classic. . Don Cooley
| 
