cover image American Cancer Society's Informed Decisions: The Complete Book of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

American Cancer Society's Informed Decisions: The Complete Book of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

American Cancer Society. Viking Books, $39.95 (704pp) ISBN 978-0-670-85370-0

This comprehensive reference by the former chief medical officer of the ACS and two medical journalists is both an authoritative general guidebook on cancer and an alphabetized encyclopedia of specific types. The first and larger portion discusses cancer in general--what it is, how to get help when it strikes and, ultimately, how to live with it. Specific questions to ask of one's doctor are suggested, and tests and procedures are described in plain language. The authors explain clearly the major treatment modalities of surgery (radiation, chemotherapy and bio-therapy), tell how to find information on clinical trials of the newest investigational treatments; they also evaluate, from a fairly conservative standpoint, controversial alternative therapies. Quality-of-life topics, such as pain relief, stress management and palliative care are sensitively treated. Of special value is advice on how to get the most out of an HMO. The illustrated encyclopedia of specific cancers, by type or site, includes brief descriptions of risk factors, screening tests, treatments and survival rates for each and is cross-referenced to the more detailed, main text. Appendices list additional information sources, including many Internet sites. This reference provides solid first steps for those embarking on a quest for cancer information. (Apr.)