Cutting Through the Medical Jargon- a book with hope!

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	• You Can Beat Prostate Cancer Robert J. Marckini Robert J. Marckini, 2008 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 51 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great Information

Roberts' book has really opened my eyes to the options available for Prostate Cancer. His information on the things to be aware of for the biopsy and the advantages and disadvantages for each option saved me a lot research. His book has made me more aware of the information that I should be looking for from the doctors. I am in the process of determining if I have cancer and I am taking charge of my treatments. I am especially impressed by all the testimonials from the cancer survivors. You will be amazed by the backgrounds of these people. His book needs to be part of your "Take Charge" mission.

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Cutting Through the Medical Jargon- a book with hope!

My (then 60 year old) husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June of 2005 (Gleason score 8- PSA 114) by a urologist recommended to us by our general practioner. We were lucky that this urologist used at least a 12 sample (honestly at this time can't remember if it was more, but not less) biopsy needle, because we knew nothing about the standards for this procedure at that point. This standard is pointed out very well in Mr. Marckini's book. As with all cancer diagnoses, we were devastated. In a couple of months, we were scheduled to take a trip of a life-time to England and on to China. With assurances from the urologist (and some pills to help with the swelling in the prostate so my husband could pass urine easier and a hormone deprivation implant-chemical castration) we continued with our plans for the trip and tackled the questions concerning further treatment when we got back.

Since this is suppose to be a book review and not a history of my husband's prostate cancer, I'll skip all the rest of the details of his treatment and get right to the subject. I did a tremendous amount of research on the web and read several books, including the one given to me by the urologist and written by the American Cancer Society. I have had a lot of experience with research in general and a few medical cases and some terminology, but I am not medically trained. Nevertheless, I plowed through everything I could get my hands on and sometimes grasped the microbiology and sometimes did not. In the meantime, the urologist informed us he didn't feel surgery was an option for my husband. He "surmised" the cancer had already leaked from the prostate into surrounding lymph nodes and surgery would be useless, even though he did not have concrete evidence of such. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this was a "Godsend." Understand this, urologist believe surgery is the "gold standard" whether it be by his hands or with the help of a robot, radiologist believe radiation is the "gold standard" whether that be seed implants or IMRT (intensity modulated radiation) and unfortunately, the oncologist are essentially left out of the picture because there are no "drugs" to potentially CURE prostate cancer.

Because I was not satisfied with the only treatment option the urologist supported (hormone deprivation), I continued my search. That was when I found Proton therapy.

At the time my husband underwent Proton therapy at Loma Linda, Mr. Marckini's book was not published. Oh, how I wish it had been available when I first started my research. I actually read Mr. Marckini's book a couple of months ago, long after my husband's treatment was complete, treatment that his urologist neither understood or was happy about him receiving.

Here's the thing about Mr. Marckini's book and what sets it apart from all others and why I wish it would have been available at the beginning of my research. It is not only complete as far as information about what is available in the medical community for treatment of prostate cancer, but it is written in a down to earth style with humor and compassion so that every man and woman can understand it and identify with it. If you are not a nuclear scientist, a doctor or other scientist nor medically trained, you will probably not find the other books easy to read and at the very least they are dry. Mr. Marckini's book is for the common man and their wives. It puts a "human" face on the disease one in six men will face in their lifetime and helps the reader to understand that it's not only OK to discuss the many aspects of their disease and it's treatments, but it's healthy for them, especially when spiced with a little humor.

One more note. I take exception with DS Nash who wrote a July 7, 2007 review of Mr. Marckini's book, saying she laments that he did not cover robotic assisted surgery in his book and that it was "less invasive" and an "important" development. I believe she has missed the point. It's still surgery and with surgery all kinds of things can go wrong. One little bump of the robotic arm, for example, could cut through a man's urethea (which runs through the prostate) and/or the seminal vessles. She also laments no discussion of IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), although Mr. Marckini does cover photon radiation of which IMRT is a type. Again, she misses the point. "Photon" radiation is all the same generally, whether it is through seed implants (Brachytherapy) or through IMRT.

Read Mr. Marckini's book before you do anything else about your diagnosis of prostate cancer. If you are a certain age, read it now before you become the one in six who will develop prostate cancer. It will help you immensely if you are diagnosed.

PS: My husband is doing very well. PSA at .01

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You Can Beat Prostate Cancer

I'm a 70 year old Colorado ski instructor in darn good shape. I was recently diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. In reserching my various treatment options, I came across the book: "You Can Beat Prostate Cancer" (without surgery,) by Robert J. Marckini. This book contains a wealth of information about the subject. It's easy to read, written in story form mixing in technical information that every man and his significant other should know about. It explains various treatments and includes testimonials from men who have been through some of them. I learned that bicycling, which I do, can skew the results of a PSA test. Why didn't my primary care phsician or urologist ever mention this? I highly recommend this book to anyone who is touched by prostate cancer.

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Beating Prostate Cancer

This book gets my highest personal rating! Mr. Marckini's book thoroughly described his Proton Radiation Therapy for prostate cancer, and was written for the average person to understand. This book enabled me to tackle the emotions that one feels upon hearing the "C" word, as well as develop the resolve to proceed with Proton therapy. In this book, you will find information that is not openly discussed by Urologists. Mr. Marckini speaks from the heart, and truly has your best interests in mind. I am so thankful to have read this book. Mr. Marckini saved me from the regret and anguish of radical prostatectomy surgery, and instead, instilled in me the confidence to pursue Proton Therapy. If you are considering your options for prostate cancer treatment, you must read this book.

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Proton Beam Therapy at Loma Linda Medical Center

This book is an excellent resource for those who wish to pursue proton beam therapy for prostate cancer. Written in the first-person, the author describes the process of his diagnosis of prostate cancer, what the various tests mean, how they are interpreted, and then how to select an appropriate treatment.

The treatments for prostate cancer are many, and how you are "steered" by your urologist is largely dependent on his/her comfort level with the various forms of treatment, and his/her previous training. For instance, some urologists "push" surgery, for that is how they learned to treat the condition in medical school. Other urologists may steer you to external beam radiaion, cryosurgery, or implantable radioactive seeds. Again, there are a variety of options in regards to treatment, and one needs to hear all the options and be an informed consumer before a final decision is made.

Unfortunately, too few urologists are aware of the cutting edge treatment of prostate cancer through proton beam radiation, and this is the gist of this book. The author relates how he had his prostate cancer treated successfully at Loma Linda Medical Center with proton radiation. He tells his entire experience there, not only of the actual procedure of proton beam radiation, but also of the opportunities for fellowship and group support that are unique to Loma Linda.

I have prostate cancer, and after reading this book, I decided on proton beam therapy. (My urologist was not informed on this procedure and did not include it in his list of recommended treatments). I could not get into Loma Linda (they were undergoing a revamping and upgrading of their tretment bays), so I elected to be treated at Bloomington, Indiana, at the Midwest Proton Research Institute (MPRI). The treatment is the same, just a different location. There are 4 active proton beam centers in the USA at the time of this writing, with more being developed. Chicago will open a site in 2009.

Proton beam therapy is not for everyone. The cancer must be a relatively early cancer, with a Gleason score of 7 or less (this value indicates the aggressivebess of the cancer).

In the end, each man has to choose his particular mode of therapy based on his stage of cancer, his tolerance to the various forms of treatment, and the side-effects of each treatment. It is a very important decision that must be made after all the information is considered. The great thing about this book is that proton beam therapy is given as a valid and effective means of treating prostate cancer.

I rank this book as a "must-read" volume for any man with prosate cancer. It is very well written and includes resources to call at the end of the book. Excellent and informative book - make sure you read this if you have prostate cancer!

Jim Koenig

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

The task of choosing the right prostate cancer treatment is daunting. It is further complicated by conflicting information the patient receives from physicians and the Internet. This book is written by a prostate cancer survivor who now runs an international prostate cancer support group. It?s about his journey and the important things he learned along the way. It is the book the author wishes had been available when he was diagnosed 6 years ago. It is intended to provide specific information for men who are at risk or have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. All major treatment options are examined and the pros and cons of each are summarized. A relatively new, non-invasive, highly effective treatment is highlighted. It is an option that cures cancer as well as any other option, but generally leaves the patient with a higher quality of life and fewer, if any, side effects. This book has been endorsed by several physicians as well as other highly respected people from all walks of life.

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