Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book:4th Edition 2005 Reviews

• A Book For All Women

  
  By on 2000-02-25
  First I want to say that Dr. Love's book is not limited to information about breast cancer but has extensive information on all aspects of breasts.

  I was given a copy of Dr. Love's book after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it became invaluable to me. Frequently I had to set it aside for a short time because the information was so frightening, but cancer and its' treatment is a frightening experience.

  The information she provided allowed me to ask important questions and make good decisions about the choices available to me. I had good doctors, but they did not go into some of the details I needed to know such as: odds of recurrence with lumpectomy vs. mastectomy; which chemotherapy drugs produced what side effects; why radiation?

  She also provided information that allowed me to better understand the idiosyncrasies of breast cancer and my particular prognosis.

  Breast cancer research is producing such promise with new drugs and procedures, that there is no way a book can be published with "the latest" information. Still, I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Love's book to ALL women--whether they are interested in breast feeding or are facing difficult decisions about breast cancer treatment options.
  
  

• valuable for consumers

  
  By ANQJQYB6PJ0IL on 2000-12-07
  This book offers very helpful information on breast cancer. It affected my outlook on treatment, particularly chemotherapy.

  I am not a doctor or a breast cancer patient, but I think I know something about decision-making under risk. If you are the type of person who likes to make their own medical decisions, based on information and advice from doctors, this is a good book for you. Also, if you like to think about quantitative, statistical factors in making a decision, this is a good book for you.

  Let me illustrate the point about chemotherapy with a metaphor. Imagine two people in a car--a driver and a 14-year-old. The driver notices a bee inside the car, on the windshield. The 14-year old takes a pistol out of the glove compartment and offers to shoot the bee. The driver says, "Go ahead."

  What's wrong with this picture? My guess is that the driver has an irrational fear of bees, based on poor knowledge. The 14-year old has an overblown sense of the value of guns.

  Oncologists with chemotherapy are like the 14-year-old who wants to shoot the bee. And many women with breast cancer are like the driver who is so scared of the bee that the potential long-term side effects of the gun don't affect the decision.

  There definitely are cases in which I would favor shooting the bee (applying chemo). But I would recommend making your own decision, based on the data in this book, rather than passively accepting the "standard" (which keeps changing to lower the threshold of risk required to supposedly warrant chemo).

  There is much more information in this book than the data on chemotherapy. But that information alone makes it highly valuable.
  
  

• Some major flaws

  
  By A18AVXI4NP1HTU on 2005-10-08
  This is probably the most comprehensive source of information on breast cancer and other breast issues that most of us will ever find, and it manages to avoid the cloying "good girl" kitch of those horrid pink websites. For those reasons, it is the best place to start educating yourself. Buy it.
  
  BUT, be aware that it has a few major faults. Dr. Love spends a great deal of time pointing out the side effects of the three major treatments: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Many of these side effects are not temporary or fixable, but are permanent and life threatening in themselves. This is especially valuable knowledge since most doctors and those pink websites downplay or totally ignore disabling and potentially fatal problems such as lymphedema, secondary cancers and heart failure which can result from these standard treatments. I strongly suspect that all the attention paid to hair loss (which will grown back in, for crying out loud) is there to distract potential patients from the real problems.
  
  Dr. Love also lays bare the dismal statistics on the efficacy of chemotherapy given to non-metastatic women (2-9% of women are actually helped - an eye opening figure to most of us who probably thought chemo "saved" 50 or 60 women per hundred). These are not statistics that the pink groups or your oncologist are eager to have you know.
  
  However, after spending pages and pages warning us that chemo is dangerous and not especially effective, she then just says "Oh, but go ahead and have it." Why? After imparting so much frightening information, I'm not following her thought process as to why chemo is a good deal for non-metastatic women, and I think she owes her readers a fuller explanation of why she, and the rest of the American medical community, have come to this conclusion.
  
  In addition, although she loves statistics (and so do I), she too often lapses into anecdotes that are frightening or bizarre or in other ways not very helpful. She also, at very critical times, as in discussing heart damage from radiation and chemotherapy, abandons statistics altogether and just says "seldom" or "infrequently". Well, what does that mean? 2-9% of women helped qualifies as "seldom" in my mind, yet to Dr. Love those are great statistics to gamble on and accept chemo.
  
  Lastly, remember that Dr. Love is still a doctor, she is not your best gal pal, and as such, has a very different way of assessing the treatment plans. One of the most chilling anecdotes in the book is when she refers to a (non-metastatic) patient of hers who underwent chemo (2-9% efficacy rate) and ended up needing a heart transplant thanks to Adriamycin. Dr. Love just shrugs it off with, well at least she was alive to need the heart transplant, with no concern for the quality of life this woman was left with.
  
  In sum, there is much good information here, but you will need to search for some specific answers elsewhere. And the knowledge she does give you may make it harder, not easier, to make decisions. But knowledge is always harder than trusting ignorance.
  
  

• Not the best! Try Your Breast Cancer Journey instead.

  
  By on 2001-11-15
  This book is promoted as the best book to use for breast cancer. It is not. Skip the book, and visit the website to see photographs of women who have gone through the surgeries. The first half of the book is about basic breast anatomy and development, and not about the choices needed now. The second half of the book suffers from three problems: old statistics that do not take into account changes in treatment, too much detail on rare complications and types of disease, and too much detail about recurrence. Not recommended.

  The most serious flaw is that it uses outdated survival and mortality statistics that do not take into account the current treatment protocols. The result is unnecessary fear and panic. There are no good statistics on ten-year survival rates, because the current treatment protocols have not been in use for ten years. The development of changes in chemotherapy, antibodies, and hormonal therapy is changing so rapidly that for at least the next twenty years there will be no good ten-year survival rate statistics. Even the five-year statistics do not give the current picture. Dr. Love only gives one paragraph's worth of guidance on how to interpret the statistics. This can result in resignation and fear, just when one should be preparing to live well and fight hard.

  The second flaw is that Dr. Love's frustrations with the imperfections of medicine and the slowness of change of the medical system come through. She spends lots of detail on rare complications of surgery, and rare possibilities of recurrence. She agonizes over the fact that any lives are lost. I want that knowledge and compassion in your team. I do not want to sift through this detail when I need to get information on which to base decisions.

  The final difficulty is not a flaw, but a portion of the book. As a newly diagnosed survivor, I wanted to know what I should do next, what will happen next, and how I can detect any recurrences. Ido not need an entire section for women who have recurrences. Fewer than half of women who have breast cancer get recurrences, and right now, I need to concentrate on what I can do to prevent one, not how soon to arrange for hospice in case of recurrence.

  Instead, try John Link's Survival Manual, or, best of all, Your Breast Cancer Journey from the American Cancer Society
  
  

• Indispensable in a time of great need

  
  By A4MW93Q3F0SHS on 2004-05-03
  I bought this book because it seemed like a sensible thing to have. A day after it arrived from Amazon, a friend of mine had a lump detected on a mammogram. Four weeks later, she had a mastectomy. Actually I never read the book. I gave it to her before I had a chance. She thanks me for it every time she sees me. She said she had gathered a lot of info, but this book was the most informative and systematic of anything she'd read. She brought it with her to every appointment with her doctors. "I don't know how I could have dealt with this without it." So I'm now about to order a second copy as it's been only eight weeks since the first one arrived. I hope this copy sees much less use.
  
  
• Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book
  By on 2000-05-23
  I bought this book for my sister when she was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. This became a bible to her - she referred to it at every point - surgery, radiation & chemotherapy and every set-back during treatment. She lives in the UK and had me send several books to her friends and later to her gynocologist (all diagnosed with breast cancer). The gynocologist believes it to be the best book written on breast cancer.

  Low and behold if I wasn't also diagnosed with breast cancer this year. This is a huge book and I found I could only read the parts that were significant to me at the time. Knowledge is power - and this book definitely gives every reader this! It gives strength to make decisions and understand the options. Dr. Love explains how some women choose not to follow treatments recommended - and how they still survive. Yet, how others follow standard treatment and for no rhyme or reason the cancer returns. (There were just a couple of examples mentioned). Dr. Love gives you all the facts. I did not find her book scary - I want to know whatever I can! There are many charts giving info on studies. I found the chart showing the recommended treatments were right on for what both my sister and I were recommended.

  Without a doubt I feel that Dr. Love's book (and her Website with live chats with specialists) has helped me tremendously. I am sure I would have felt lost without this help. I highly recommend this book!
  
  

• . . . with a warning
  By A2853ZAEAP781W on 1999-12-02
  This is the first book I bought when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the "bible" for women with the disease, and recommended by them for newly diagnosed women. And so many breast cancer patients can't be wrong.

  The book is chock full of great information. But for those of us diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, that information is so scarey and hopeless sounding that I began to wonder if I should even bother with treatment! I would never recommend the Breast Book for an IBC patient. (In fact, I warn them off, and I have talked with other women with IBC who had my same reaction.) I agree that it's important to be a "straight shooter" and give all the information, but to deny hope is a terrible thing -- especially in a field where the odds change every day, as new drugs and treatment regimens are discovered and implemented. No book on breast cancer will ever be truly "up to date." By the time it's published and available to readers, the research is at least a year old. But if Dr. Love wants to tell us how grim our outlook is, she also needs to point that out. (In fact, by the time I was diagnosed her book was sadly out of date with regard to IBC survival rates, which had skyrocketed with new treatments.)

  So, yes, a very good reference book, but one to be avoided by women newly diagnosed with IBC (and perhaps some other advanced breast cancers).
  
  

• Comprehensive look at breast cancer and its 4 stages
  By A22FF2UDE62RW2 on 2000-05-03
  It is rather ironic that this paperback edition was published in May of 1995, the exact time that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, actually 3 days after my 53rd birthday on May 27th. I still remember how after my biopsy, at the doctor's office, the nurse ushered me into the doctor's private office, closed the door and sat next to me. I had come alone and was not prepared to hear this bad news. My surgeon had almost assured me that he would find nothing wrong, since my exams hardly showed any signs of a tumor. He proceeded to say " I have good news and I have bad news, the bad news is that you have breast cancer, the good news is that it is at an early stage and we can treat it with either a lumpectomy or mastectomy, maybe radiation and possibly chemo but we need to do some more surgery as soon as possible and remove some lymph nodes to see if it has spread". I was in for quite a shock when a few weeks later the doctor did a lumpectomy and also removed 19 lymph nodes and 2 of the lymph nodes were cancerous, this put me into stage 2 cancer. I started reading a few books and Dr. Susan Love's book was the one most suggested by the hospital staff. One thing I discovered about this book is not to get to far ahead of things, it should be read "on a need to know basis", it is a bit overwhelming to go through all the stages, statistics, possible recurrences, reconstruction surgery etc... One book that I found to be more inspirational is "Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul: 101 Healing Stories of Courage and Inspiration." Also having already read all of Bernie Seigels' books, I was familiar with the importance of keeping a balance in my life and living for the moment. I was able to see Bernie Siegel, he came to NH and I was given a ticket by Bishop Leo O'Neil, who I was fortunate to have worked with in the Diocese of Manchester. Bishop Leo also had cancer and passed away in November of 1997. He was a source of inspiration to all of us in the Diocese. Five years have passed since my diagnose. After 3 more lumpectomies and numerous tests I am cancer free and a breast cancer survivor. My chances of recurrence are about 30% according to my oncologist. I try to live one day at a time; "Yesterday is long gone, tomorrow is really today."
  
  
• The single best resource on breast health
  By A2R8HJGPZAASKW on 1999-10-08
  Like many of the other reviewers, I picked up Dr Love's book (1st edition) when I was diagnosed and undergoing treatment for Breast cancer. (I then picked up the 2nd edition when going through a recurrance "scare", a year or so later.)

  I found her text exhaustive but not exhausting. She's a straight shooter which I found essential when people are reluctant to give you hard truths.

  I read several books throughout my treament, I continue to keep an eye on the literature even though I've been cancer free for 3.5+ years. My opinion is unchanged. If you can only buy one book, buy this one!

  re: the previous reviewer who didn't appreciate the "horror" stories of unlikely recurrances and cases of extremely fast progression. Dr Love was making the point that cancer can be unpredictable. She therefore refuses to predict how long a patient has to live. In addition to the "scary" examples, she gave several encouraging examples of people who according to conventional wisdom should have been dead long ago but continue to defy the odds.
  
  

• buy this book, but don't read it after dark
  By A2UM4S0NSZP1DG on 2002-03-21
  I bought this book when my partner was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago at age 32. We have both relied on it as a source of information throughout her treatment, and it has served that purpose well-- it is very complete and up-to-date. This book is often referred to as a "bible" for women with breast cancer, and I can see why.

  However, we both found this book profoundly frightening in a way that we did not find other breast cancer books-- even ones that cover similar material. I think this may be because, unlike the authors of most breast cancer books, Dr. Love has not had cancer herself. As compassionate as she may be in person, her tone as a writer is sometimes cavalier. I am sure that as an MD she has had to distance herself in order to treat women with breast cancer, and unfortunately this distance comes through in her book. At first I thought that my reaction to her writing and her statistics was just because the diagnosis was so new and frightening-- but it's still true now, a year later.

  This is a fabulous resource-- probably the best-- but don't read it alone, or when you're feeling particularly scared or pessimistic.
  
  

• One of the two best books available
  By A296IO2JQR8HWZ on 2000-12-08
  This is an excellent book, and well worth reading. But it's probably the second book to read, behind "The Breast Cancer Survival Manual : A Step-By-Step Guide for the Woman With Newly Diagnosed Cancer" by John Link.

  My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 5th of this year. Fortunately, she found it herself, through self-checking, and we live in an area where two of the world's best breast cancer treatment groups are located - the Breast Care Center in Orange, CA and the Memorial Care group in Long Beach. As of yesterday, we were fortunate to discover that, eleven months later, through a combination of surgeries and chemotherapy, the scans that were done last week on the liver, lungs and bones all came back negative, so we hope to have many more years together.

  Dr. John Link is the friend of a friend and we consulted with him on treatment. As part of the consultation, he also gave us a copy of his book, which is very readable and understandable. It's particularly good at giving guidance on how to put together a treament program that's right for you as an individual.

  The Susan Love book is excellent, particularly as a reference for all the information you want to know when your life or the life of someone you love is at risk. The difference between the two is that the Link book provides a great overview and a guide for getting treatment, and the Love book is the reference for all the stuff that you want to look up when you have a question. And if you're like us, you'll have lots of questions because this is all very complex and it's very difficult to decide on what the best approach will be for your individual situation.
  
  

• Excellent; very thorough and "on-point".
  By on 1998-08-24
  I am a 39 year old mother of four teenagers. In April of 1998 I was diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) in my left breast. Boy, was I really scared. My mother died from breast cancer. I was introduced to "Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book" when I went to see my doctor about a lump in my "right" breast that had suddenly appeared six weeks before, it turned out to be benign. It was the then, undetected, accidentally discovered "mass" in my "left" breast that had LCIS! I underwent a fine needle aspiration which led to an excisional biopsy in each breast, and am now fine with no further treatment necessary. At the very on-set, my surgeon recommended Dr. Love's book to help me completely understand LCIS and what to expect during surgery and after. I found Dr. Love's book to be extremly helpful in allaying my fears and dispelling my misconceptions about breast cancer. Her book is very detailed, direct, honest, and compassionate. The chapter on LCIS with its diagrams took me step by step through the process of what was about to happen to me, from surgery, to recovery, to the emotions that I would experience. There were no surprises! My surgeon keeps a copy of Dr. Love's book in his waiting room on the table at all times and always recommends this book to his patients. I now recommend Dr. Love's book to my family, friends, and my other doctors too. Thank you, Dr. Love, for taking away my fear of "not knowing"!
  
  
• Every Mother Should Have This Book
  By A2EUHIUVHRVPWL on 2000-03-19
  Because this book is a comprehensive work on breasts, I think it is vital that every mother have a copy of this book, study it, and share its information with her family (male and female). I have been diagnosed with stage three cancer although I have had mammograms and breast exams on schedule. Had I known what was in this book, I would have been alerted to signs that my doctor missed. This book gives the reader the power to have control through knowledge.
  
  
• Invasive lobular carcinoma
  By on 1999-08-23
  Dr. Susan Love clearly defines the difference between lobular carcinoma insitu and ductual carcinoma insitu.This helped me make a decision to follow my breast surgeon's recommendation to go to a cancer center for a second opinion when I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma in February, 1997. Only 10% of breast cancers are lobular in nature. The multidisplinary team approach that the cancer center offered me was very similar to the one that Dr. Love described in her book. This helped me to understand more about my type of breast cancer and to make an informed decision as to type of treatment. I thank Dr. Love for being courageous enough to come out and encourage women to be active participants in decisions made in regard to their health.
  
  
• As family counselors, we say buy it!
  By A3MPYHENUISMNA on 2000-01-14
  Research is 75% of what we do, and no book on breast cancer tops this one. There are many books and literary compositions that address recovery better, but to gain an understanding of your body and what is going on inside your body, we give this one five stars.
  
  
• Having cancer scared me enough - I didn't need to read this!
  By on 2003-04-09
  A cancer diagnosis is scary enough without reading about all the complications & negative scenarios you never dreamed of until reading this book,. The medical information is on track but quite outdated. If you want to uderstand the anatomy of the disease or the surgical techniques somentimes used - ok. But if you want & need an encouraging ally - don't pick this up. I am a medical professional who has survived 6 + years with this disease. What we need is hope, encouragement and reinfocement of the positives. This book give all the worst case scenarios & gives me a sense of panic/fear and profound sense of being unsettled each & every time I have picked it up. If you have breast cancer - find good doctors whom you trust for good, CURRENT medical advice, find upbeat people to support you through your difficult times, try to appreciate all the positives in your life & focus on recovery & being WELL. Stress is an important thing to avoid so please, read something fun instead. This book only added to my stress level. The worst part is I have a hard time throwing it away because it's the book you're "supposed" to have if you have cancer - it haunts me ...
  
  
• Very Informative
  By A29853F59PNZOQ on 2003-10-07
  After my devastating diagnosis of breast cancer 6 months ago, my surgeon recommended this book to me. It answered almost every question I had regarding my treatment options. It's a lot to digest all at once, so I have just been reading it chapters as they come up in my life. The surgery section is very helpful, and details the whole process from beginning to end. Dr. Love doesn't sugar-coat anything, so some of the information can be hard to digest, but if you are looking for honest, straightforward answers, this book is very helpful.
  
  
• Another Breast Cancer Survivor
  By A3I29AO9U1L6YU on 2000-10-15
  When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I was terrified. I had helped my mother-in-law die with breast cancer in the early 60's. I had known my first husband since I was 15 year old. I loved his mother very much. She suffered for 10 long agonizing years. I cared for her because her family all worked. I truely believe I married her son because I cared so much for her. They did a radical mastectomy that was groteque, she was so scared form the cobolt that she was black and blue. I used baby oil to calm the pain. I would sit with her when she was violently ill from the medications that she took. From the age of 16 until I was 26 I cared for her. The cancer went from her left breast,2 years later the right leg, 3 years later the right breast, and then it went to her brain. Through it all she never lost her faith in God or the strongest caring personality that I have ever known. The Susan Loves Breast Book erased all my fears and explained all the treatments and procedures. I felt like doctor S. Love was right there with me throughout my treatment even today. I will never have to suffer like my first mother-in-law. Neither her doctor or anyone told us what the treatments were for or what to expect during the treatments. I recommended the "Dr. Susan Loves Breast Book" to every woman whether or not she would ever have to face cancer because the book is complete in recommending prevention as well as symptoms of pre-cancer. I wish there would have been a book like this one back in 1960's.
  
  
• Excellent resource for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
  By A1KBWO36P3KQ5D on 2005-03-11
  I am a physicist (not a physician) and know little about the field of medicine. When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, I wanted to understand all about the disease both for aiding in her treatment decisions and for educating my 4 year old daughter, who is now at risk.
  
  This book includes the standard "How the breast works", "Diagnosing cancer", "Treatment of cancer" chapters to guide people through the shock and emotional decision making required before surgery and help make decisions regarding chemo and radiation therapies. These are invaluable resources for anyone who wants more understanding than what is provided through a chat with their surgeon or oncologist or the thin pamphlets received at the hospital.
  
  The real value of this book, however, that sets it apart for all others, are the deep and rich chapters about other aspects of the breast and cancer. In particular, this book has a chapter on breast augmentation, which was recommended to us after a mastectomy; a chapter on how cancer occurs on a genetic DNA level; a chapter on cancer prevention for my daughter; and a chapter on clinical trials - what they are, which might you choose, and how should you evaluate them.
  
  In short, this book has been valuable resource in making short term treatment decisions and looks to be a valuable resource in future years. I eagerly await the 4th edition, though I don't know when or if it is coming.
  
  
  
  
• the breast cancer "bible"
  By APX03F9BQ6BWJ on 2006-02-20
  This book is a "must have" for all of us facing that horrible disease. It doesn't matter if you are just newly diagnosed or have had it for some time. Dr. Love writes in easly to understand terminology and the info is really up to date. The drawings do a lot in helping to understand just what she is talking about.
  
  
• Absolute must-read for breast cancer patients
  By A1FQYM1Y5CADWH on 2006-02-28
  If I could give Dr. Love's invaluable resource book more than 5 stars, I would. A lot of practical information is presented in a fairly objective, reader-friendly format. When she has an opinion, Dr. Love identifies it as such. I read the ...Breast Book before I made a decision on my course of treatment, and I find myself re-reading sections to better understand my whole experience. The book was recommended to me by several friends who are breast cancer survivors, and I have already recommended it to an acquaintance who needed to understand her cancer diagnosis in order to decide what treatment she would pursue. Readers may discard other books after reading them, but this is the one they will keep coming back to until the next edition comes out. Very helpful!
  
  
• Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book
  By A1GBES4RGYMIRY on 2006-03-24
  This book has been a lifesaver for me. I had breast cancer a year ago and if I had a question, I knew I could turn to the index and find the page that would have my answers. It put me at ease most of the time through a very scary experience. I have bought this book for a friend who just found out that she has breast cancer. She, too, have enjoyed the peace this book gives. It is very informative and interesting. I recommend this book to every lady who is told that she has, the scary words, "breast cancer".
  
  
• Great informational book but patients BEWARE
  By on 1999-09-30
  This book is more of a textbook than a patient's guide. It is exhaustive in it presentation of data but it left my wife (who recently was diagnosed with breast cancer) and me at times without hope. In good textbook fashion, Dr. Love presents ALL information, no matter how arcane and unlikely to happen (e.g. paients who have a modified radical mastectomy thinking they will NEVER have a recurrence in that "breast" but there is an example cited of a patient who has a recurrence in the SCAR!!! True, but give us a break!). Others: She had clean nodes, clean margins and stage 1 Breast cancer and was dead in a year. (Also true, but PLEASE!!). We were not looking for a cushy feel good book that offered false hopes, but this book is brutal at times. Still, we did learn a lot about breast cancer (we're taking patients ourselves now!) and for that I am grateful but I really feel it's necessary to forewarn patients. Caveat emptor.
  
  
• Detailed information
  By A173L0DFD0WQ0Z on 2002-08-12
  I was pleased with Dr. Susan Love's and Lindsey's book easy to read and understand. At the time of it's arrival, a lot of the decisions were already made, but I still had my doubts the doctors decisions were correct. ( I had my lumpectomy in Jinju, South Korea). Being in the hospital when it arrived put my mind at ease right away. The detailed information and education is a must for every woman with breast cancer. If your doctors can't explain the procedure, or tell you what to expect or you are full of fear and doubts like I was, this book will help educate in a realistic fashion. Her stories were real and I understand more and have better understanding about the treatment and what to expect. This book certainly gives me comfort and explanations of the whole experience of breast cancer.
  
  
• Straight Talk About Breasts
  By A1LCXV5PQ1KBPV on 2000-12-28
  This book, like the first two editions, pulls no punches. It is chock full of the latest info on breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. I recommend it for anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and wants the total picture at their disposal. It is not sugar-coated, but it is truthful. The chapters are organized in such a manner that it is easy to find exactly what you are searching for. The updated sections on new techniques, such as ductal lavage, are inspiring. This book remains the total package for breast cancer and breast health, in general. Knowledge can be scary, but ignorance is dangerous. I highly recommend this book.
  
  
• Excellent Resource
  By A155KXFRZCA7C on 2004-11-06
  I definitely agree with the many readers regarding this book that it is absolutely the authorative source book on the subject of breast cancer. The author describes virtually every detail incl. the emotional aspects from prevention to diagnosis and through the healing process. I picked up a copy of this extensive book when one of my friends was diagnosed with breast cancer to be able to better relate to her and to understand what she's going through and I must say it is a very interesting read. Another excellent book on the subject that is really encouraging and helpful and I think is also a "Must-Read" is "Breast Cancer Be-Attitudes" by breast-cancer survior Sylvia Baker.
  
  
• Best Resource!
  By AU2VZ6ASWA94C on 2007-01-19
  Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book is an excellent resource for anyone facing the possibility of breast cancer or a loved one's diagnosis. Even if you've read a prior edition, so much has advanced in the field of treatment and options that it is worthwhile to get the newest edition. The book helps the reader to have a better understanding of all different aspects of breat problems, diagnosis, and treatment options. It's a must read before you go to a Dr. as well as after to help one better understand it all. It's a book you'll keep picking up again and again.
  
  
• My Desperate Search
  By A2NK1GRUG8N6GB on 2000-12-23
  I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and scheduled for a mastectomy. I was asked to make decisions about treatments without even the most basic information. If I made the wrong decision I could die. This book was up to date (1999) and easy to understand, starting with the normal breast and how cells divide helping me understand the here and now. Each treatment option is reviewed with realistic outcome statistics. Her recommendations for questions for your doctor helped me make decisions about Chemo. The information in this book made me feel more in control of my illness and my treatment. Perfect for family, it helped my Husband and Sister understand what was happening to me.
  
  
• Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book is a must-read!
  By A1XLJXZT9HA8QM on 2003-04-29
  This book is easy to understand, well-organized, and a boon to those diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact, it should be read by all women & parents of women. It is serious, but not scary, with touches of humor in just the right places. I look forward to the next update.
  
  
• Read after the fear is under control
  By on 2003-06-20
  When I was first diagnosed I was devastated and could not handle all the facts of breast cancer. It was only after I had somewhat gotten my bearings that this book became invaluable to me. It answered all those questions I forgot to ask my doctor and became a great comfort to me because I was able to find out things on my own, whenever I wanted, even at 3am. It empowered me.

  This book is full of great information...but not in the beginning when you need love, compassion and need to find your way.
  
  

• Just Get Me Through This!: The Practical Guide to Breast Cancer
• The Breast Cancer Survival Manual: A Step-By-Step Guide for the Woman With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer Husband : How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) during Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond
• Dr. Susan Love's Menopause and Hormone Book: Making Informed Choices
• Uplift : Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors