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Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer
BOOK REVIEW
Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer P. C. Walsh and J. F. Worthington Warner Books, New York, New York, 2001, 480 pages, $25.95, ISBN 0-446-52640-1
A world expert on prostate cancer, Dr. Patrick Walsh, Professor at Johns Hopkins, directs this book to patients and their family members who are struggling to find scientifically accurate but easily understandable information on one of the leading male cancers— carcinoma of the prostate. The medical details of this book are toned down to layman’s understanding by the coauthor, Janet Worthington, who not only is an excellent medical writer but also has seen prostate cancer in a loved one. Although the book was not written for physicians, the facts are so succinct, accurate, and detailed that many urologists and primary care physicians will benefit from the depth and width of information presented. The book touches on several scientific breakthroughs, which have affected the management of prostate cancer in more than one way. Most of the patient issues are covered in a very balanced manner. While emphasizing the pioneer work done at the Johns Hopkins University, the authors have also included works of other experts. They have highlighted the importance of surgical treatment, which by itself is a quite controversial subject due to the lack of published data from randomized trials comparing various treatment options. I am sure that in future editions recent data from the Swedish randomized study comparing watchful waiting to surgery will find its place in
© 2003 ELSEVIER INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
the book. The discussion of radiation therapy, while sufficiently detailed, is proportionally short in comparison to that of anatomic prostatectomy. However, the book does provide a list of additional resources for the avid reader who wishes to peruse radiation therapy. Not surprisingly, the book discusses in detail the technique and results of nerve-sparing prostatectomy, which was developed and pioneered by Dr. Walsh. The chapters on causation (chapter 3) and prevention (chapter 4) of prostate cancer are brilliantly written and would interest most readers. Complete with diagrams and charts detailing the results of biopsy, the book provides an exceptionally complete overview of the disease. It also provides a useful glossary of clearly explained medical terms. Overall this book is an outstanding source of practical information, which most patients look for in order to make an educated decision about the treatment and follow-up of their prostate cancer.
Ashutosh Tewari, M.D. Mani Menon, M.D. Vattikuti Institute of Urology Josephine Ford Cancer Center Henry Ford Health System Detroit, Michigan doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(03)00155-9 © 2003 ELSEVIER INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
UROLOGY 62: 1153, 2003 • 0090-4295/03/$30.00 1153
Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer P. C. Walsh and J. F. Worthington Warner Books, New York, New York, 2001, 480 pages, $25.95, ISBN 0-446-52640-1
A world expert on prostate cancer, Dr. Patrick Walsh, Professor at Johns Hopkins, directs this book to patients and their family members who are struggling to find scientifically accurate but easily understandable information on one of the leading male cancers— carcinoma of the prostate. The medical details of this book are toned down to layman’s understanding by the coauthor, Janet Worthington, who not only is an excellent medical writer but also has seen prostate cancer in a loved one. Although the book was not written for physicians, the facts are so succinct, accurate, and detailed that many urologists and primary care physicians will benefit from the depth and width of information presented. The book touches on several scientific breakthroughs, which have affected the management of prostate cancer in more than one way. Most of the patient issues are covered in a very balanced manner. While emphasizing the pioneer work done at the Johns Hopkins University, the authors have also included works of other experts. They have highlighted the importance of surgical treatment, which by itself is a quite controversial subject due to the lack of published data from randomized trials comparing various treatment options. I am sure that in future editions recent data from the Swedish randomized study comparing watchful waiting to surgery will find its place in
© 2003 ELSEVIER INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
the book. The discussion of radiation therapy, while sufficiently detailed, is proportionally short in comparison to that of anatomic prostatectomy. However, the book does provide a list of additional resources for the avid reader who wishes to peruse radiation therapy. Not surprisingly, the book discusses in detail the technique and results of nerve-sparing prostatectomy, which was developed and pioneered by Dr. Walsh. The chapters on causation (chapter 3) and prevention (chapter 4) of prostate cancer are brilliantly written and would interest most readers. Complete with diagrams and charts detailing the results of biopsy, the book provides an exceptionally complete overview of the disease. It also provides a useful glossary of clearly explained medical terms. Overall this book is an outstanding source of practical information, which most patients look for in order to make an educated decision about the treatment and follow-up of their prostate cancer.
Ashutosh Tewari, M.D. Mani Menon, M.D. Vattikuti Institute of Urology Josephine Ford Cancer Center Henry Ford Health System Detroit, Michigan doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(03)00155-9 © 2003 ELSEVIER INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
UROLOGY 62: 1153, 2003 • 0090-4295/03/$30.00 1153