by Gloria S. Akande

Created on: December 09, 2009

The Breast Cancer Survival Manual by John Link, M.D. is a 237 page book for written for women with recently diagnosed breast cancer. The author calls it a crisis manual for women to help them understand their diagnosis of breast cancer to help them be able to make the critical decisions that they need to make regarding their treatment. He stresses the importance in getting a second opinion on the cancer diagnosis so that the patient may be fully confident with the treatment plan. He also has a list of questions that should be answered for you by the second opinion process. He stresses the team approach that is necessary in order to answer any questions that you may have before beginning any suggested treatment.

Dr. Link provides the reader with decision treatment trees for both pre-malignant or in situ breast cancer and also for invasive breast cancer with a worksheet of material that the patient needs to gather for the decision making process. Dr. Link discusses and defines what local control of breast cancer means and the surgical therapies used with or without radiation to achieve local control of the tumor.  He also discusses the debate on wide local excision versus mastectomy and breast conservation versus mastectomy and the personal choice of breast reconstruction. Systemic control is defined and insight is given on the prognostic factors which determine the systemic treatment used based upon the tumor size, grade, score and stage of the tumor and pathology characteristics of the tumor, DNA analysis, Her2 receptor and ER and PR status.  A whole chapter of the book is dedicated to the interpretation of the pathology report.

The chapter on radiation is somewhat limited. Information on the side effects of surgery and radiation is also limited.  Information of chemotherapy and its effects are more extensive with drug selection, dosages, administration with management of side effects. The author has an excellent chapter on hormonal therapy, tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors with a list of questions that should be considered when considering such therapy. Dr. Link sensitivity to the issues that women face when a diagnosis of breast cancer is made is clearly evident by the issues that he addressing in this book. Issues on diet, exercise, vitamins, complementary therapies, herbs are addressed. A full chapter is present on the mind and body connection and the fear or recurrence. Quality of life issues are also discussed and Dr. Link is candid on letting the reader know current medical knowledge of the issues. This book is a must read for those who want to know the facts necessary before treatment for breast cancer.

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