Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer

by Janet Farrar Worthington, Patrick C. Walsh, Edward M Schaeffer, et al.

Book Overview

In 2001 an estimated 31,900 American men will die of prostate cancer, and more than 184,000 will be diagnosed with the disease. But now there is earlier diagnosis and better treatment as the medical establishment makes progress towards defeating this illness.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446526401
• ISBN13: 9780446526401
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

Best Resource Available for Prostate Cancer

A friend dropped off the first edition of this book the evening I got my diagnosis of Prostate Cancer. I found the book to be informative and balanced, with very good medical information to guide my decision making steps. After consulting with two surgeons (where their individual recomendations were in total alignment with Dr Walsh's comments) I chose to have a robotic Radical Prostetectomy. This book prepared me for the surgery and has been an invaluable guide for my recovery. I bought several copies of the revised edition and have already given two of them to other people recently diagnosed with Prostate cancer.

The best book on a male cancer

This is an updated edition of what has been the best laymen's book on prostate cancer, something that one of three men will experience in their lifetimes. But prostate cancer is not a death sentence or anywhere close if it's diagnosed early, evenin aggressive cases.Survival ratesfor those caught in the early stages are nearly 100 percent i.e. no recurrence in five years. Walsh is from JOhns Hpkins, considered to be leader in prostate cancer and urlogy generally. Don't wait until you get prostate cancer to find out something about it, because if you don't ever have it, someone you know will. It will hep if someone knows something about it who isn't in a panic. In the meantime, make sure you follow reasonable advice on being tested. There are alternative treatments bt there's a number of variables.You'll find most of it here. And ou'll get some idea of what you should look for from your own doctor - including whether you need a second opinion or another physician. The oter good news is that there are prostate cancerns where treatment can be delayed indefinitely. It's just that most of us aren't qualified to make that judgement. Buy it. Read it.

A Great Resource

I did not find any ego or significant bias in this book. I actually found it remarkably wide-ranging in identifying and describing the available options, and setting forth the pertinent facts from a number of scientic studies (someone might see the statistics in it as self-promotion, but I found that all of the doctors that I spoke with had their own statistical arguments). As I learned more it was clear that the procedure with the highest probability of success was the radical prostatectomy. It is, however, the most invasive with the longest recovery period. So I took that route and am now in the recuperative process. My cancer is completely gone and the nerves controlling continence and potency were saved. Before I read this book, I would not have understood the significance of that. Bottom line? Read as much as you can, but this book is a must in that process.

The Only Book You Need to Win the Battle of Prostate Cancer

When my significant other announced that he had prostate cancer, the shock and fear riveted through me. I decided that we were at war with cancer and every step we took would determine Tom's fate(not his real name for his privacy.)My next step was to learn everything I could about the disease and available treatments. Tom was ready to follow any direction his urologist advised without any research. I believe that anyone facing cancer, owes it to themselves to understand the type of cancer they have, their options, and the consquences of the treatment course they choose. Dr. Walsh's book provides all of the above. His book was by far the most detailed, current, and progressive of the dozen that I reviewed. Key points included nerve sparing techinics to prevent impotence and incontinence, clear explanations of all present treatment options, with objective listings of pros and cons. By the time we started the interviewing process, I was armed with advanced information that allowed me to ask key questions which helped us decide if the Dr. being interviewed was up-to-date enough to get the results we wanted and had a successful track record, which included - Complete cancer removal,as well as Tom remaining continent and potent(able to have/maintain an erection at the level he had prior to surgery). We selected Dr. Bradley Thrasher, at KU Medical Center, because he uses Dr. Walsh's surgical techinics. Without, Dr. Walsh's book as a guide, Tom, would have elected seeding, because it was the least invasive procedure and was recommended by his urlogist. Instead, Tom, went for the gold standard, had his prostate and glands removed, and has had a complete recovery. After 18 months, his PSI remains undetectable, he has not experienced incontinence, his sexual drive is normal and he can maintain erections. He is 67, and thanks me often for encouraging him to become informed about his options and the disease, to ask questions, and take control of his medical course. Tom was lucky to have caught the cancer early. Not all outcomes are as successful due to the patient's age and stage of cancer. But for that very reason, the book becomes more necessary as the patient fights for his life and the quality of life he will have. Dr. Walsh and Dr. Thrasher are true heros. In addition to prostate cancer, medical procedures/treatments for other prostate conditions are thoroughly explored as well. Well worth your investment. Once read, share with male friends to aid in increased early detection and cure. Susan

Must Have for PCa Victim

At 46 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa), a disease that grows in men my age at an accelerated rate, and a disease that took my father at 50. The shock was tremendous. I opted for radical prostatectomy and denial. My wife, on the other hand, read Dr. Walsh's first book "The Prostate: A Guide for Men and the Women Who Love Them." I cured my denial in time to read his newer book "Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer." Both books are extremely informative and have gone a very, very long way in helping me with coping with this disease and understanding that it does not have to be terminal and that even if it is, I can live a much longer life than I fretted over. In the newsgroups I now attend, it is considered by most to be THE definitive work on prostate cancer.