Chemotherapy and Radiation For Dummies

I have the rarest form of breast cancer, which often appears within weeks of a normal mammogram. Mine did: 7 weeks after a perfectly normal mammogram. It is a invasive and aggressive cancer. Before chemo started, I didn't have much time to adjust the whole idea of having cancer. That's where "Chemo & Radiation"' sowed its value. I'd no idea of hoe chemo worked nor what its side effects were likely to be. This book gave a basic idea of the workings of chemo, the various side effects that were typical and so on. Unlike most breast cancers my type is treated by at least 16 sessions of chemo before surgery. That's a lot: I experienced side effect such a chemo fog, which is quite scary. Had I not had access to "Chemo & Radiation," I'd have totally unprepared for such side effect. It was hard enough to deal with having cancer, without help with becoming aware of the side effects, I'd have been a real mess. "Chemo & Radiation" allowed me to control my panic and to fight the side effects. In what's a nightmare, this book has been something I can lean on. For me, it has been a very useful tool in dealing with the nightmares. It doesn't get much better than that!

I asked my oncologist some questions the book recommended and he asked me where I came up with a couple. He said they were good questions, just a few years behind where treatments are today. I told him this book and he said it’s actually a good source. But that it should probably be updated in a few years. Nothing major though. My cancer is rare, and at 25, it’s easy for me to feel isolated, but this book covers all different types of cancer, mine included, and helped me see that I’m not alone and that plenty of people have had the same concerns I’ve had - and there are solutions! I strongly recommend this book to anyone else who has been recently diagnosed. Or as a gift for someone with a recent diagnosis. Knowing more about my cancer and my treatment plan has comforted me a lot, and a lot of that came from this book.

The book arrived with an open plastic wrap in it. When removed book from the already open wrapper can clearly see that this book has been used with worn edges and creases on the cover! Good reference for cancer patients and material is easy to read

I purchased this book for myself before under going chemo for stage 3 ovarian cancer. This book was a blessing to have. It walked me thru everything I had questions of that I either forgot to ask my doctors or my doctors didn't have an answer for me. With the knowledge I gained from reading this book - it took away my fears of my chemo treatments. Therefore I not once needed any of the nausea meds the doctors gave me for a just in case. I also did not have any issues with food. I highly recommend this book for anyone going thru chemo or even radiation for that fact of the matter.

"Chemotherapy & Radiation for Dummies" is exactly what I need in understanding my own early diagnosis of cancer. The text is informed by superb medical writers but for me the great gift is the voice of cancer survivor Patricia Corrigan, whose wit and wisdom is legendary in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Written with compassion and just the right touch here and there of humor, this book sits on my shelf as my number one guide for my own journey with cancer. Mixed in with exact information about what to expect are resources for staying sane, such as a Web Site called "Tumor Humor" that "offers cancer-related jokes and discusses the many physiological benefits of laughter." The book is serious, practical, and full of things I would never have thought of if left to myself. And it is organized so even "a dummy" like me can find my way to anything I need to know. Bravo! Bravo!

The book is written in typical "Dummies" fashion. It is clear, concise, to the point, and entertaining.It is not a pain to read, it is actually fun and makes you want to learn more about this terrible health problem that affects many of us around the world.The solutions it provides and hope it gives is really an energy booster for all patients that get their hands on this book.This book reminds you that Chemo is intense... but manageable if you keep a strong positive outlook in the future.Chemo sessions will last for 4-6 months and then comes a resting phase. During this phase one must stay occupied, busy, working out, traveling, and enjoy life. This keeps you motivated and believe me, the angle in which you face the problem is ultimately the solution to that problem.This is a great read, definitely recommend the book.

I wanted more detail, but this will work for very basic generalized info. Guess you can learn more about specific drugs from your oncology team.

Very informative and easy read . While learning about the cancer you are now are fighting this book allows you to be knowledgeable about process, plan of care and side effects. What I enjoyed best was as you start your journey it is simple enough to process and understand well enough . Asyou begin to calm down and feel a little more in control, you read it again and understand more of the content . This book was extremely helpful at each stage of my treatment. Now look forward to reading the chapter on life after you beat cancer as I am now CANCER free.