Coping with Breast Cancer

Leonard A. Farber, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Last Modified: November 1, 2001

Author: Dr. Eadie Heyderman
Publisher:
Price: £ 6.99 UK
ISBN: 0-85969-729-0

If you are looking for basic facts and medical information on breast cancer written in a clear and precise way, this book is for you. Written by a doctor who had breast cancer herself, it guides the reader through the diagnosis of breast cancer and treatment alternatives. Furthermore, it explores the psychological aspects of being diagnosed with cancer as well as any emotional distress that may be associated with treatment techniques.

The first chapter discusses the normal adult breast and its development, including clear anatomical illustrations. As the book progresses, benign breast conditions and breast cancer are investigated in great detail. Chapters on history, etiology, and diagnosis are followed by chapters on hospital and physician information. Treatment options are explored, as well as the pragmatic implications and impact on normal daily routine. The chapter on the psychological aspects of breast cancer is incredibly essential to the person with breast cancer as well as for the physician treating it. Finally, the book contains a list of useful addresses of organizations (United Kingdom) and a helpful glossary of medical terms.

The author, Dr. Eadie Heyderman, is Emeritus Reader in Histopathology in the University of London. She has worked as a consultant pathologist and has directed a research laboratory involved with cancer diagnosis at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. She herself had, and was treated for, breast cancer at age 59. What has come of her experience is a wonderful book for patients, and their relatives and friends alike.