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Letters to Doctors: Patients Educating Medical Professionals through Practical True Life Experiences: The BRCA Mutation and Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome Edition
This original book combines the perspective of a practicing Obstetrics/Gynecologist and a BRCA1 positive patient who met online. Through their mutual desire to help people who live with the threat or actuality of BRCA mutations and Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC), Dr. Herman and Teri Smieja have become HBOC/BRCA advocates and work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower those faced with hereditary cancers. Merging the dynamics of a doctor and a patient who share a common goal of educating not just patients, but healthcare pro- fessionals too, results in an easy to read, hard to put down book that’s been written specifically for the healthcare professional, making this a book like no other in the HBOC/BRCA realm. It is their belief that physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and most of those working within the healthcare indus- try welcome education and constructive criticism, as long as it truly is well intended and presented in a positive and engaging manner. By sharing their viewpoints, along with those of many women (and men) affected by HBOC and BRCA mutations, their goal is to give doctors and other medical professionals a valuable tool in helping to provide better and more specialized healthcare to the high cancer risk patient.
165 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 16, 2014
Dr. Jonathan Herman and Teri Smieja have written a book that will undoubtedly save lives. Hereditary breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome HBOC is simply not on the radar of medical professionals and families like it needs to be. Yes, Angelina Jolie brought global awareness to this issue earlier this year with her major "announcement" and op-ed piece. However, the intricate puzzle pieces that go along with increased cancer risk are still not being put together by both doctors and patients. This book helps fill that void in an authoritative yet conversational way that is easy for both the healthcare professional and the lay person to understand. The result: EPIC ENLIGHTENMENT and A LIFE SAVING BOOK. Easy to read, moving, educational. A must read.
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November 25, 2013
I just finished reading Letter to Doctors. The authors have done a great job of pulling together a lot of factual information, personal stories from breast cancer "pre-vivors", excerpts from these personal stories (which they categorize as "Voices from the Crowd"), and their own perspectives (one of the authors is a pre-vivor herself, and the doctor - an OB/GYN)- has taken a special interest in the treatment and education of pre-vivors). I was really struck by the candor of the authors and all the women who contributed to the book. One of the opening quotes, by Dr. Herman, really pulled me in, "It was my first time seeing the patient. I felt the breast mass and I just knew it was cancer. It didn't have to be. Her mother died from ovarian cancer and her grandmother had breast cancer. That history didn't happen yesterday." I mean, how often have we all wondered if our doctors even care if we've gotten a bad diagnosis? Clearly the doc who co-wrote this book did and does care. And he took his caring to the next level in collaborating on this book.
You feel a real connection with the women who told their stories and begin to comprehend their trauma and the unbelievable toll these cancer genes have taken on their families for generations. Story after story. Their relief when they find out they have the gene - and thus an explanation for their family cancer plague, as well as a potential cure - is easier to understand, once you read their words. I can see where this book could lead to much better empathy and caring on the part of medical personnel who treat these women (and men, too - as the authors point out, men can get breast cancer and other cancers as a result of this gene, which can follow the male or female line). I wish all medical professionals who deal with cancer patients (and pre-cancer patients) would have to read this book!
You feel a real connection with the women who told their stories and begin to comprehend their trauma and the unbelievable toll these cancer genes have taken on their families for generations. Story after story. Their relief when they find out they have the gene - and thus an explanation for their family cancer plague, as well as a potential cure - is easier to understand, once you read their words. I can see where this book could lead to much better empathy and caring on the part of medical personnel who treat these women (and men, too - as the authors point out, men can get breast cancer and other cancers as a result of this gene, which can follow the male or female line). I wish all medical professionals who deal with cancer patients (and pre-cancer patients) would have to read this book!
May 7, 2014
Being BRCA1+ was what led me to read this. Very informative and wished I'd read it BEFORE going through all that I did to reduce my risk. If you are newly diagnosed then you will find this read very helpful. Teri does a great job breaking down the "doctor-speak" into real human conversation. I admire her for doing this and being a huge advocate for women.
January 27, 2015
Easy-to-read book about womens' experiences living with BRCA mutation. Their stories put a real face on the complexities these survivors face. A must-read for ALL medical professionals! After reading, please pass this book on to the doctors/nurses in your life. Education is the key!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews