Promotional Information

Dr. Miller has a wealth of experience as a medical oncologist and a keen understanding as a compassionate physician of the difficult choices that face women diagnosed with breast cancer. Miller wisely combines the voices and expertise of breast cancer survivors and the doctors who care for them. This book paves the way for women who want a clear understanding of their options in order to astutely make what may be the most important decisions of their lives. -- Julie K. Silver, M.D., Harvard Medical School, author of After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger This excellent book provides just the right mixture of accurate medical information and insight and emotions from breast cancer survivors who share their own experiences. This combination will help women with breast cancer make informed decisions about their medical treatment and will also help them cope with the fears, frustrations, and other emotions of their journey. -- Donald R. Lannin, M.D., Professor of Surgery, Executive Director, Yale-New Haven Breast Center

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: Understanding the Choices
Part 1. The Big Picture
Chapter 1. Making Decisions
Chapter 2. What is Breast Cancer?
Chapter 3. A Statistic of One
Chapter 4. "Why Me?" A Discussion of Risk
Part 2. Understanding the Treatments: The Doctor's Perspectives
Chapter 5. Assembling the Treatment Team and Charting a Course
Chapter 6. Facing Surgery
Chapter 7. Profiles of Two Breast Surgeons
Chapter 8. Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
Chapter 9. Profiles of Two Radiation Oncologists
Chapter 10. Beyond Local Therapy: Hormonal Therapy and Chemotherapy
Chapter 11. Profiles of Three Medical Oncologists
Chapter 12. Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy: What Are My Options?
Chapter 13. Profiles of two Reconstructive Surgeons
Chapter 14. Treatment Options for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Part 3. Notes on the Experience of Having Breast Cancer
Chapter 15. The Shock of Finding Out
Chapter 16. Neccessary Decisions: Surgery, Radiation Therapy, and Breast Reconstruction
Chapter 17. Considering Adjuvant Therapy
Chapter 18. Reflections on the Experiemce
Part 4. Survivors Tell Their Stories
Chapter 19. Stories from Women at High Risk
Chapter 20. Stories from Women with Non-Invasive Breast Cancer
Chapter 21. Stories from Women wityh Invasive Breast Cancer
Chapter 22. Stories from Women with Advanced Breast Cancer
Part 5. When Cancer Specialists Get Cancer
Chapter 23. A Professional and a Patient
Chapter 24. Lessons Learned
Chapter 25. "You're Going to Live"
Conclusion: The Agony and the Opportunity of Choice
About the Contributors
Index

About the Author

Kenneth D. Miller, M.D., a practicing medical oncologist, is an assistant professor of medicine and oncology at the Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine. He serves as the director of the Connecticut Challenge Survivorship Clinic and of the Supportive Care Program at Yale Cancer Center.

Reviews

An indispensable resource for any breast cancer patient or a patient's friends and family. -- Olivia Boler Foreword Miller's approach provides the reader with the sense that she's had a private and unhurried consultation with each specialist: medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons... This collection will help to fortify women making tough choices, offering invaluable information along with hope. Publishers Weekly There is a great deal of very detailed information in this book. -- Sheila Thomas Consumer Connection More than a standard reference guide... this book arms readers with knowledge, confidence, and hope as they begin their journey from sickness to health. American Journal for Nurse Practitioners This step-by-step guide offers newly diagnosed patients a path through the complex and often overwhelming array of information and decisions... helpful charts and illustrations accompany clearly presented medical information, all conveyed in an inclusive, supportive tone. -- Jody Rosen Knower MAMM This is a useful book for patients and their families as it provides a good description of treatment options as well as tips from breast cancer survivors. -- Heidi H Richardson, MD Doody's Review Service Appropriate for all women, their family members and friends, physicians, and other care providers. Choice Highly recommended to every woman... and for community library health shelves in general. Midwest Book Review This fine book achieves the goal of providing clear and relevant medical information and guidance from specialists in order to help patients make treatment decisions. In addition, through the narratives of both patients and physicians, it will likely provide inspiration and hope to women who are confronting the challenge of breast cancer. -- Christina I. Herold, M.D. Informa Healthcare Finally-one-stop reading for any woman facing breast cancer. Health for Women Well written and very understandable for the lay audience. -- Rachel Benz, RN, BSN, and Karen Meneses, PhD, RN, FAAN Oncology Nursing Forum A resource that combines medical expertise with emotional insight in a valuable and educational way for women at any stage of the breast cancer journey. Women & Cancer magazine This book provides a good overview about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment... A good reference book providing both factual and emotional insights into the breat cancer journey. -- Jo Beven CancerForum

An indispensable resource for any breast cancer patient or a patient's friends and family. -- Olivia Boler Foreword Miller's approach provides the reader with the sense that she's had a private and unhurried consultation with each specialist: medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons... This collection will help to fortify women making tough choices, offering invaluable information along with hope. Publishers Weekly There is a great deal of very detailed information in this book. -- Sheila Thomas Consumer Connection More than a standard reference guide... this book arms readers with knowledge, confidence, and hope as they begin their journey from sickness to health. American Journal for Nurse Practitioners This step-by-step guide offers newly diagnosed patients a path through the complex and often overwhelming array of information and decisions... helpful charts and illustrations accompany clearly presented medical information, all conveyed in an inclusive, supportive tone. -- Jody Rosen Knower MAMM This is a useful book for patients and their families as it provides a good description of treatment options as well as tips from breast cancer survivors. -- Heidi H Richardson, MD Doody's Review Service Appropriate for all women, their family members and friends, physicians, and other care providers. Choice Highly recommended to every woman... and for community library health shelves in general. Midwest Book Review This fine book achieves the goal of providing clear and relevant medical information and guidance from specialists in order to help patients make treatment decisions. In addition, through the narratives of both patients and physicians, it will likely provide inspiration and hope to women who are confronting the challenge of breast cancer. -- Christina I. Herold, M.D. Informa Healthcare Finally-one-stop reading for any woman facing breast cancer. Health for Women Well written and very understandable for the lay audience. -- Rachel Benz, RN, BSN, and Karen Meneses, PhD, RN, FAAN Oncology Nursing Forum A resource that combines medical expertise with emotional insight in a valuable and educational way for women at any stage of the breast cancer journey. Women & Cancer magazine This book provides a good overview about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment... A good reference book providing both factual and emotional insights into the breat cancer journey. -- Jo Beven CancerForum