How We Survived Prostate Cancer: What We Did and What We Should Have Done

MORE THAN JUST A PERSONAL MEMOIR, THIS TOUR OF DUTY FROM THE WIFE OF A PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR IS PACKED WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION ON THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE, CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS AND THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING A PHYSICIAN. BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND A COUPLE, THE HALLERMANS MADE MANY MISTAKES-FIRST AMONG THEM WAS DEAN'S DECISION TO HIDE HIS DIAGNOSIS FROM HIS WIFE-AND THIS GUIDE BENEFITS ENORMOUSLY FROM THEIR HONESTY (POET VICTORIA NARRATES, DEAN CONTRIBUTES SHORT PERSONAL ASIDES). FROM TREATMENT DECISIONS MADE WITHOUT ADEQUATE INFORMATION TO THE DRASTIC CHANGES IN THEIR SEX LIFE, HALLERMAN IS BLUNT AND UNFLINCHING REGARDING THEIR MORTAL AND MARITAL CRISES, AND EXPLICIT IN HER ADVICE TO AVOID DESPAIR, SELF-BLAME AND ISOLATION. THOROUGH, CLEARLY WRITTEN GLOSSARY AND APPENDICES COVER TREATMENTS, SIDE EFFECTS, RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION AND SUPPORT, CURRENT RESEARCH AND A CHECKLIST OF ""MUST DO'S"" FROM DEAN'S CURRENT UROLOGIST (WHO ALSO PROVIDES A FOREWORD). THOUGH DEAN SUFFERED HORRIBLY BEFORE FINDING A DOCTOR AND REGIMEN THAT WORKED FOR HIM, THIS MOVING AND HIGHLY USEFUL BOOK PROVES HIS SETBACKS WERE NOT IN VAIN.