What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Colorectal Cancer [Hardcover]

 

 

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As a two-time colorectal cancer survivor, I strongly recommend this book as the best I've come across on the subject. Having read extensively on this topic in medical journals, medical websites, books and periodicals, I believe that this book is unique. It ties together the myriad factors and interrelationships that make cancer in general, but colorectal cancer in particular, so perplexing to the patient, the patient's loved ones and support group members from initial diagnosis through treatment to recovery or recurrence. Dr. Pochapin also stresses the importance of compassionate care in the current specialist oriented managed care environment.
The book explains in layman's terms how you can avoid getting the disease, what to do when diagnosed with it, and how to minimize your chances of recurrence.
Most importantly from a public health perspective, it describes the various diagnostic tests available and gives an overview of their respective advantages and limitations. The book explains its strong recommendations for colonoscopy screening for everyone age 50 or older. The colonoscopy serves as the gold standard diagnostic test and is unique among cancer diagnostics in that it can also be the cure in most cases where the cancer is confined to the polyp removed during the procedure.
The author does an excellent job explaining the medical profession's current understanding of the causes of this disease and the workings of the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Pochapin describes how diet, vitamin and chemical supplements, and lifestyle changes should lower your chances of getting this cancer and presents the empirical evidence supporting these recommendations.
The sections on diagnosis and treatment are a clearly written guide on what to do if you are diagnosed with this cancer, how to interpret the diagnosis, what to expect in terms of the various treatments currently available, their respective ramifications and how best to cope with them. The book doesn't delve into the background and use of blood markers, such as CEA, or into the various chemotherapy regimens, radiation protocols and surgical options, perhaps to steer clear of patient's natural tendency towards self-diagnosis and simplification.
The tone of the book is upbeat and positive, and leaves you with the feeling that this cancer can be beat. Colorectal cancer is avoidable for the most part, diagnostics are continually improving, the preparation for the tests is becoming less arduous, and research into new techniques for improving cure rates are in the pipeline.
Read it. Give it to anyone you know 50 or older. Certainly give it to those currently fighting this disease.

Perceiving myself to be in the best of health, I had, for year, postponed subjecting myself to a colonoscopy. Reading this book motivated me to overcome my resistance and ignorance and schedule a screening. The colonoscopy revealed a few (benign) polyps which were removed during the procedure, plus a cluster of polyps which could only be removed by hemicolectomy. The first shock was seeing the cluster on film; the second shock was the need for abdominal surgery; the third shock was the pathology report which confirmed a small, superficial cancerous lesion in the earliest stages of growth. The lesion had not yet penetrated inward, nor had it reached the lymph nodes. But it would have - possibly in as little as three or four months. Buy this book. Read it. Schedule a screening. It just might save your life.

IF THIS BOOK SAVES JUST ONE LIFE, LET IT BE YOURS! This is a must for the baby-boomers!

What Your Doctor... is an outstanding book! I recommend it to all my patients at risk of colorctal cancer, who are turning fifty, or over fifty. I find so many patients are unaware of the signs and symptoms of this silent killer as well as the recommended testing to identify colorectal cancer.

In this well-thought out book, Dr. Pochapin calmly and gently presents everything one needs to know including the signs and symptom of the disease as well as preventative suggestions such as dietary modification, exercise, and colonoscopy to prevent colorectal cancer. He also helps guide those already afflicted with colon cancer.

I know many of my patients are hesitant to have a colonoscopy. Yet Dr. Pochapin's plain talking explanation seem to alleviate much of their fear and anxiety. Ultimately our goal as physicians is to prevent disease, not treat it.

While we eat healthier, exercise more and plan our retirement, we can not forget this insidious disease. Read Dr. Pochapin's book. Share its message with your family and friends. And if your family doctor does not remind you to get a colonoscopy, give him/her a copy of the book.

I want to thank Dr. Pochapin for writing this timely book. It is
making a difference in my practice.

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