Chemotherapy and Radiation For Dummies

by Alan P. Lyss, Humberto Fagundes, Patricia Corrigan

Overview

An informative, compassionate guide for cancer patients and their loved ones

Each year, more than 1 million people get treated for cancer, and most of these will undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both. This reassuring, optimistic guide helps people get a handle on treatment options and explains in plain English how chemotherapy and radiation therapy really work. It offers detailed advice on how to alleviate and cope with side effects-which range from hair loss to nausea to anemia-and describes how good nutrition, meditation, support groups, and other techniques and resources can help in the recovery process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781118069998
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	05/18/2011
Series:	For Dummies Books
Sold by:	JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Alan P. Lyss, MD: Dr. Lyss is the Medical Director of the Missouri Baptist Cancer Center and the Director of the Cancer Research Program of Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and is the honoree of a distinguished Alumni Scholarship Award there. Dr. Lyss also is Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.
Dr. Lyss is the recipient of several research grants and currently has research funding from the National Cancer Institute. His clinical and research interests are directed toward finding improved treatments for patients with cancer, including improvements in supportive care and psychosocial support. He has been actively engaged in studies directed toward the prevention of common adult cancers and improving the distribution of innovative cancer care to underserved populations, especially to those who reside in rural areas.

Humberto Fagundes, MD: A radiation oncologist, Dr. Fagundes currently holds the position of Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his training in radiation oncology at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology from 1988 through 1992. He was then appointed Chief Resident/Fellow having completed his training in 1993. In the fall of that year he served as Assistant Professor of Radiation Therapy at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. Family ties brought him back to the St. Louis area in 1994. In 1999 he arrived at Missouri Baptist Medical Center and was named Medical Director in 2001.
Dr. Fagundes has introduced several innovations at Missouri Baptist, such as 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy, IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), breast and prostate brachytherapy, as well as intra-operative brachytherapy. His particular interests are in the management of breast and prostate cancers. While in a community hospital, Dr. Fagundes continues to write and publish in the field.
Dr. Fagundes has also worked with the oncology communities in South America and India, where he has assisted in the introduction and implementation of new technologies and cutting-edge treatments in radiation oncology.

Patricia Corrigan: Ms. Corrigan, who holds a B.S. in health education from Lindenwood College, is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where she writes often on health and fitness. She also is the author of 10 books, including Wild Things: Untold Tales from the First Century at The Saint Louis Zoo (Virginia Publishing Company), Convertible Dreams, a collection of her Post- Dispatch Saturday columns (Virginia Publishing Company), a guide for whale watchers and six nature books for children (NorthWord Press), and a dessert cookbook (Pocketbooks).
Ms. Corrigan has written freelance articles for numerous newspapers across the country and for national magazines such as More, Ms., BBW, Radiance, Lear’s, Family Fun, Cruise Travel, and Northwest Travel and Wildlife. A popular public speaker, she addresses conferences, civic organizations, women’s organizations, and school groups. A breast cancer survivor since 1995, she is especially happy to be associated with this book!

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Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I: Your Journey Through Cancer Treatments: Preparing for the Trip.

Chapter 1: Recognizing the Realities of Chemotherapy and Radiation.

Chapter 2: The Mutants Take Over: A Primer on Cancer.

Chapter 3: You Will Be Tested: What All Those Tests Show.

Part II: Your Choices along the Way: Making Good Ones.

Chapter 4: Defining Chemotherapy: The Anticancer Drugs.

Chapter 5: Defining Radiation: A Burning Issue.

Chapter 6: Setting New Standards: The Role of Clinical Trials.

Chapter 7: Getting a Second Chance: Bone Marrow Transplants.

Part III: Chemotherapy: What to Expect and How to Deal with Side Effects.

Chapter 8: What to Expect During Chemotherapy: A Head-to-Toe Mouthwash.

Chapter 9: Gimme a Boost: Immune and Bone Marrow Stimulants.

Chapter 10: Coping with Serious Side Effects of Chemotherapy.

Chapter 11: Coping with Less Serious Side Effects of Chemotherapy.

Part IV: Radiation: What to Expect and How to Deal with Side Effects.

Chapter 12: What to Expect During Radiation: Tattoos and Moisturizer.

Chapter 13: Coping with Side Effects of Radiation Therapy.

Part V: Your Success Strategies: Assembling Your Support Team.

Chapter 14: Your Health Professionals: Your Friends and Guides.

Chapter 15: Good Nutrition: Eating Right No Matter How You Feel.

Chapter 16: Meeting Spiritual Needs: Turning to Prayer and Meditation.

Chapter 17: Finding a Support Group: Realizing You Are Not Alone.

Part VI: Your Future after Cancer Treatments: Looking Ahead.

Chapter 18: Finishing Therapy: An End and a Beginning.

Chapter 19: Dealing with Recurrence: Here We Go Again.

Chapter 20: Defining Yourself after Cancer: The New Normal.

Part VII: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 21: Ten Myths about Cancer.

Chapter 22: Ten Ways for Family and Friends to Help You.

Chapter 23: Ten Things Beyond Your Control.

Chapter 24: Ten Ways Life Will Be Better after Cancer.

Chapter 25: Ten Sources for More Information.

Glossary.

Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"...spiced with humour ... succeeds in demystofying cancer therapy ... a compassionate and practical book ... a welcome addition to cancer patient literature..." (Cancer World, April 2006)

Editorial Reviews

"...spiced with humour ... succeeds in demystofying cancer therapy ... a compassionate and practical book ... a welcome addition to cancer patient literature..." (Cancer World, April 2006)

From the Publisher