Liver-Diseases Books

As a two time cancer survivor, I wish I had found this book 10 years ago and I might not have had to go through all I have. The author is a wonderful physician and writes in a manner that is clear and understandable. The material is so important for anyone to maintain a high antioxidant status for overall health. Thank you, Dr. Berkson.

Everyone in America needs to read this book!! Anyone in America that has a liver problem, from Hepatitis C to liver cancer can get get better from taking this product. We have been to Dr. Berkson's office, and he is a marvelous Dr.!! You should have some kind of review to let people know about this book.

If you've heard of alpha-lipoic acid and its being extremely helpful in treating diabetes, liver illnesses, mercury intoxications, or as an anti-oxidant, you may want to know more about it before taking it. This book, by Burt Berkson (MD, PhD) is an excellent answer to your worries. Berkson describes how he got to be interested by alpha-lipoic acid, it's safety record ("FDA"-approved in Germany for 50 years), it's uses, and, perhaps most interesting, his views on medicine.

Not only does Dr. Berkson come across as a very competent and compassionate physician, especially in regards to lipoic acid, on which he is America's leading expert, he is also an outspoken critic of what he correctly sees as problems in modern American medicine. In the first chapter, he describes how he almost ended his career when he saved the life of a dying patient against the wishes of his boss, and how he would do it again. No insurance policy and few doctor's visits can provide the benefits of his invaluable candor, which serves to immunize his readers with a large and healthy level of cynicism about medicine as it is practiced in the United States today.

One thing that this book does not contain is advice on what dosage of lipoic acid to ingest. This may be a sign of great wisdom; in Germany, where Dr. Berkson worked at the Max Planck Institute, and where lipoic acid has been on the market for decades, neurologists who exclude a potential heavy metal poisoning in their patients are not regarded with the sort of wonderment that mermaids and unicorns otherwise garner. Those with a heavy metal problem can suffer some extremely unwelcome and perhaps permanent side-effects if they take the sort of dosages that others easily tolerate. By not giving any advice on this subject, Dr. Berkson certainly isn't giving any bad advice on this subject.

I heartily recommend this book.

Dr. Berkson has put his research and findings into terms that all can
understand. I had hepititis and recovered, but suffered from minor
liver malfunctions which triggered constipation and poor digestion of
fats. Merely the addition of Alpha Lipoic Acid has helped restore my
liver function and aleviated my problems. I've gained much usable
information from his book about preventing heart disease, a family
problem....I am thankful that I have finally found a supplement that
has helped me with those continuing liver related problems.

If only the author had used twenty pages to say what he has said in whole, long, 155 page book. It is too laborious to get essential facts- like optimum dosage for example is nowhere to be found easily, if at all. He knows his stuff, but must it take so long and why no summary page? Also it is a one size fits all- how do people survive all the diseases he outlines without this potion?

This book is a "must have" for ANYONE whom is either dealing with a liver disease, has a relative that is, or even a medical professional! Considered the "liver bible" by those of us dealing with liver diseases.

Excellent book to help those who have liver disease or family and friends of those with liver disease. The books answers questions
that arise when your personal doctor may not be available. Or that
you may forget to ask during your office visit!

This book is very insightful. It explains a lot about what is going on with several different liver diseases. It answered some questions that general physicians were unaware of about rare diseases.

i bought this book for my mother who has cirrohsis and recently had a ct scan show up with what appears to be a tumor on her liver. There are no heptologists in our area and the dr's around here don't even seem to care. this book gave my mother some concrete advice how to eat and how to
live. Since going on a super reduced salt free diet, my mother is feeling 100% better. She has lost 30 pounds and has really been encouraged. i am extremely grateful this book was written.. Overall it was written in easily understandable terminology.

Since being diagnosed with Hepatitis C, I've read Dr. Palmer's book, & continue to review it as questions come up. It is irreplaceable as a resource book.

For anyone newly diagnosed with Hep C the initial reaction can be one of shock and the result can be deep depression. This book helps to shed light on some of the common stages of accepting this disease.

Excellent book for patients. I would also suggest any patient, friend, or family alos read "Hepatitis C - through a patient's eyes", written by Suzy Smith, who went through the treatment, and wrote her book to help others with hep c get through the process with a positive outlook.

I work as a therapist in a teen counseling program, and one teen girl has just been diagnosed with HCV. She's experienced all the common reactions: denial, grief, "This is a death sentence and God doesn't want me to be happy," and fear. I bought this book for her and she devoured it. Her entire affect changed, and now she's teaching US how to relate to her, how to talk about this diagnosis, why certain things WE say are insensitive or incorrect (without knowing it), and what emtional and lifestyle changes she needs to make for health. This book alone reduced her fear in half, and made her feel confident rather than powerless.

This is an excellent work for the layperson with very little
knowledge about Hepatitis A,B, C or the more exotic strains.
The authors describe a 6-7 week incubation period. Those
persons exposed have a 75-80% chance of infection with the HCV
virus and a 70% chance of developing the chronic form of
the hepatitis virus. In addition, there is a 10-20% chance of
developing the liver complication cirrhosis over a 20-30 year
period and a 1-5% chance of dying from a chronic liver condition. Hepatitis C is an RNA virus as opposed to a DNA
strain. Vaccination helps for the Hepatitis A and B strains
wherein 3 shots are administered over a 1/2 year period.
To reduce the likelihood of the disease, it is necessary
to reduce smoking , as well as exposure to all toxins.
The disease may be monitored with tests for bilerubin, albumin,
PT time and the anti-HCV antibody test. Treatment is enhanced
with reducing stress, commitments and responsibilities
until the condition is well under control. This work is perfect
for the layperson who seeks to prevent the disease or treat it
in the event of exposure and relevant symptomatology of
the disease process.

Although I think this is a good book to start with if you have recently been diagnosed, I find it lacking the depth I was looking for. It gives some great resources which is why I think it is a good book to start with, but at the same time, I would also suggest that you buy the following in addition to this. These are essential:"The Hepatitis C Helpbook"by Misha Ruth Cohen OMD and Robert G.Gish MD, "The Liver Cleansing Diet" by Dr Sandra Cabot, "Herbs for Hepatitis C and the Liver" by Stephen Harrod Buhner, and see if you can find "Who Gets Sick;How Beliefs, Moods, and Thoughts affect your health" by Blair Justice. The treatments out there are scary and can hurt you more than help you, so if you don't feel like poisoning yourself with a biotherapy, this is where to start.

I cannot recommend this book any stronger to anyone dealing with Hep C, directly or indirectly. This book changed everything I thought I knew about this horrible disease. It will help me save the life of someone very close to me that battles with this biological terrorist everyday. The only appalling thing about this book is that it is so cheap. The author was so thorough it almost seems like a steal. YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK...

This was very helpful for me. Easy to understand. Would be a great gift to give to family and friends for helping loved ones with Hep C.

The Hep C handbook gives an extensive medical perspective for anyone dealing with hepatitis C. Though somewhat more technical than other books available on this subject the book is a comprehensive resource including many testimonials from those living with thie disease.

I undertook a two-year very brutal drug treatment for HCV, and was recently miraculously cleared of the disease. There were times I felt like giving up, but relied again and again on the encouraging information I gleaned from this book. It is informative, well-written, and emotionally supportive. My Doctor wanted a copy too, since sadly, there is little information availible in the medical community. I highly recommend this book for anyone considering a treatment approach, or wanting a supportive source of compassionate and concise information.

This book is a must have for all who work with people with the hepatitis C, have Hepatitis C, or loves someone who has it. This book saves lives ! Thank you Mr. Dolan.

I cannot overstate how helpful this book was to me. My daughter was diagnosed with Wilms (kidney) cancer 14 months ago. This book was given to me several days after her initial diagnosis and I turned to it many, many times over the long journey to recovery. Even today, with my daughter happily in remission, I turn to it for help in dealing with late side effects and the emotional consequences of the rollercoaster that is childhood cancer. Of all the books I have read over the past 14 months (and there have been many - I'm an avid reader), this one was absolutely the best. If I could, I would buy up all the copies and give it to every parent of a child with a solid tumor.

I am a Pediatric Oncology Nurse that buys these books to give to the newly diagnosised families. All of them have told me that it is a wonderful tool.

If you have found yourself catapulted into the nightmare of having a child with cancer, this book will help you to understand much of the journey to come. No matter what stage your child is in treatment...beginning, middle, finished treatment, relapsed, or palliative...this book is an indispensible resource. Personal stories peppered throughout the book help you come to realize that you are not alone in this battle. This book also has a wonderful list of resources to help families through this hard time. Buy one for yourself, family members (especially in-laws!), your child's pediatrician, your child's teacher, and your closest friends so they can have a glimpse into what you and your child are facing and can help you along the way. This book should be given to EVERY parent when they hear those horrible words, "Your child has cancer..."

This book was recommended to me after my daughter was diagnosed with nueroblastoma. It explains it all. The book is broken down by topic (ie radiation and chemotherepy) and also by tumor.
The language used was easy to understand. The book was my map through the world of childhood cancer.

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation fully endorses this book and places it on the 'must have resource list' for any parent whose child is diagnosed with any type of solid tumor cancer. This comprehensive guide provides extensive information on the diagnosis, prognosis, procedures, treatment and side effects of neuroblastoma, Wilms Tumor, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and bone sarcomas. Included is a thorough explanation of the various chemotherapy drugs used in treatment and their common side effects. Detailed information on radiation therapy, surgery and bone marrow transplantation is also included. Additionally, the book provides practical advice to families on related issues such as nutrition, returning to school and the end of treatment. The book addresses the emotional impact that such a cancer diagnosis places upon the child, their family and friends and offers practical insight on how to cope. A comprehensive list of childhood cancer websites, support organizations and additional reading materials is listed at the back of the book. The authors'extensive interviewing of families who have 'walked down this road' offers hope to those whose 'journey' has just begun.

The author has done a wonderful job conveying a complex set of issues in a user friendly manner. This killer disease is the subject of intense research and it was good to get an up to date perspective on the topic. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in being empowered on the subject.

Excellent! Up-to-date information in understandable terms! The new edition of Hepatitis C, The Silent Epidemic gives basic explanations and also features recent breakthroughs in the use of PEG Interferon treatments. This paperback brings valuable and hopeful news!

This book let me finally understand where my doctor was coming from. I read the book three times, I found it so useful. Being able to understand both the potential dangers that lie ahead and how to avoid them has made me a stronger person as I confront this disease. I have read several other books on hepatitis C, and I liked this one the best. I really liked learning about the PEGYLATED Interferons as well as the safe use of alternative antioxidant treatments along with the ones my doctor is prescribing. This book seems really up to date. I am pumped about it.

A non-technical, easy to read approach. Short chapters cover the realm of topics and FAQ's. This may not be the only book you read if you want an in depth knowledge of the disease but it is excelent starter book. The information is current and timely. Timely information is important on this subject.

This book reads like a conversation with a concerned, experienced and optimistic doctor! It describes Hepatitis C and its life threatening effects with the sincereintention of making the public "...aware of the potential danger lurking within thelivers of so many unsuspecting Americans..." For those of us who may already beinfected, it gives easy-to-use tables listing diagnostic tests, people who should be screened, treatment side effects, and more. In addition, there is understandableinformation about everything from the newest research to alcohol consumption, to nutrition, and even to "alternative medicine" discussion. If you have Hepatitis C,if you think you may have Hepatitis C, if you are thinking about getting a tattoo,this is the book you've been looking for!

This is a very good book, from a patient' perspective. However, I would recommend reading this book, then reading another similar book, MORE DIRECTLY RELATED TO PATIENTS, by the title of "Hepatitis C - through a patient's eyes",by Suzy Smith, author

All the information you could ever need to take control of Hep-C. It answers all questions you could think of. Easy to access information. Very clear,understandable, and easy to use. A must have!

I gave this a five because I really like the Dummies books. I've read other books, so the info isnt really new to me. This book though is still resourceful. A good first step about learning about HCV.

I panicked when I first learned that my close friend was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Thanks to this book, I am better informed of the disease, its treatment(s), and what to expect. As with other "Dummies" books, it is concise, informative, and easy to understand. I highly recommend it!

This book is so informative ! Information at your fingertips that you can just pick up and scan and read bits a pieces at time. When you have a loved one living with this you feel helpless and a little lost and this book really helps you see how to understand what the person with this disease is living with each day. Comprehensive basic information that you can ask intelegent questions, because without this knowledge you don't even know what to ask or how to be there to help and be more compationate. No one wants to say 'I wish I had known more about this so I could have helped"... after the fact.
Thank you, Nina Paul for caring enough to do this !
Now we know .

Reading the person problems that the Yomtoob's had living with Liver Transplants has helped us as a family to deal with the situation. It is NOT a helpless journey, just a very long and difficult one. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

I was amazed and touched by this book. Well-written, thought-provoking and heart rending....you feel the triumph and tribulations of this family and their journey with each page!! You will definitely think very strongly about writing a living will and becoming an organ donor.

This is a great book with useful medical information about the transplant process as well as a heart warming account of the struggles of waiting for an organ donor and receiving a liver transplant. I could hardly put the book down after I started reading. Emotions and events are described so well that you feel you are part of the family and therefore part of the journey.

I recently read this book and found it to be a particularly moving experience, expressing a remarkable commitment between mother and son and family. Even though the topic illness is liver failure and liver transplant, I felt that thoughtfully reading The Gift of Life 2 would be very helpful to a family coping with any serious illness.
Sincerely,
Susan K. Farley

As the mother of a multiorgan transplant daughter, we were very fortunate to be under the care of Debbie Weppler and the transplant team at the University of Miami. My daughter recovered from a very difficult transplant by following Debbie Weppler's advice. If you or a loved one is facing a transplant, read this book so you will know what to expect. It will be a tremendous help for you and guide you through the process.

As a medical student who has scoured all of my pathology and microbiology texts for useful information regarding HBV, I was pleasantly suprised to find a book that was so informative. Mr. Green refers to himself as a patient-expert, and he does not disappoint. The information that he provides in this book is very helpful for the newly diagnosed. He explains every detail in an understandable way and provides you with tools that will help patients combat this disease.

I was suprised by what little information I could find regarding the treatment of this disease. I explored the HBV websites, pathology textbooks, and other HBV related books and was amazed by what little help they provided regarding treatment as well as self-treatment of HBV. Mr. Green provides tips on exercise, diet, and supplementation which for me was key. He also provides keys to reading your blood work, biopsies, and other labwork that you are destined to go through again and again as an HBV patient. It is a little dated in some of the drug now used in the treatment of HBV, which is expected because of the constantly changing and advancing pharm. industry.

As a future healthcare provider I will suggest this book to any HBV patient that I encounter in practice. As an HBV suffer it is a must if you plan to help your doctor by self-management of this disease. As a patient you have to do your part in the management of your disease.

Whether you are newly diagnosed or have had hepatitis B for a long time, this book is an excellent source of reference and uncommon knowledge about a virus that is confusing to many patients as well as their doctors. More importantly, along with the easy to understand chapters on interpreting your test results and information on seeking treatment, the book is equally devoted to the everyday hurdles of coping with Hepatitis B as a chronic illness. Mr. Green gives a clear and realistic picture of what having Hepatitis B is really like and recognizes the need to be proactive as well as optimistic.

A very well written book by someone who really understands what is is like to have Chronic Hepatitis B. Mr. Green is EXTREMELY informative on ways to cope with the chronic hepatitis B infection. He breaks down the sections of the book by months and describes everything in simple english. He points out the important things to do during the first few months and makes you feel like you have some control over your illness. After reading this book I realized I was not alone with my symptoms. The book is very comforting and has loads of resources and information on the virus as well as support groups. I have learned how to interpret my own bloodwork and feel knowledgeable enough to sit down with my doctor and ACTUALLY understand everything he is saying. This is a must have book for someone with chronic Hepatitis B!!

A proactive patient who also happens to be a gifted writer writes a gutsy, compassionate and informative book on how to cope with the chronic hepatitis infection.Written for other patients like himself, Will Green's approach takes the diagnosis step by step and untangles the web of confusion around this virus simply and meticulously.The book is full of helpful observations and inspirational words of wisdom from patients who choose and keep their eye on survival in the face of a life-threatening but also life-affirming predicament.The clinical course of the disease,mechanism of the virus, and treatments good and bad are dissected in simple easy to understand terms.If you or a loved one has chronic Hepatitis B ,I urge you to buy this book.

The recipe found in this book "Basic Homemade Meal for Liver Disease" is really working for our dog! Although, I did minor changes to the recipe...

The recipe called for tofu, cottage cheese and macaroni. I used the substitution of 1/2 cup of Chicken Liver and Organic Potatoes since both are found in nature.

The recipe also called for the vegetables to be boiled or steamed. I varied the recipe by very lightly pan frying my Organic Vegetables (chopped to tiny morsels with a hand chopper) with a very low flame I served the vegetables almost raw to keep the nutritional value.

The recipe also called for preparation of the Chicken Liver to be boiled which leaves most of it's nutritional value in the water. I varied the recipe by baking the Chicken Liver in my toaster/oven for 15 minutes at 250 degrees then placing the Chicken Liver in the same pan as my pan fried Organic Vegetables and then frying them together in a very low (almost off) flame for a few minutes.

It would have been helpful if there were instructions on how to prepare a Fresh Artichoke. I grew up in a household of vegetarian parents. I've never eaten an Artichoke!!!

So, I went to my local grocery store and examined what Canned Artichoke Hearts looked like so I knew which part of the Fresh Artichoke I needed to give my doggy.

Combined with my Veterinarian prescribed "Denamarin" and feeding my dog with the recipe "Basic Homemade Meal for Liver Disease" found in this book, in less than two weeks the levels in my dog's liver went significantly down almost a thousand points!!!

Although, I still give full credit to The ALMIGHTY LORD and HIS Healing Power WHO is healing my dog...I still recommend the recipe for the Basic Homemade Meal for Liver Disease found in this book. I will continue to feed my dog home cooked food and will never touch commercial dog foods again!!

My 10 year old Shetland Sheepdog, Trevor, was diagnosed with liver disease 2 years ago. Over that time the vet has been unable to determine its cause. Getting progressively sick & unhappy, Trevor was quickly approaching the end of his rope. The vet had no suggestions except Sam-e & milk thistle supplements...which were not working on their own. His liver values kept increasing, fast.

Searching for help I stumbled on this book. I read it cover to cover several times & eventually made notes & highlights for my own use. Trevor has many food allergies so I was surprised that many of the food suggestions he could have. Within a week, I had completely weaned him off of his (high grade) commercial kibble.

Over a two month period my family noticed a big difference in his attitude and play drive. He seemed happier and more energetic. Encouraged, my vet referred me to one of the top animal nutritionists for confirmation. After analyzing Trevor's home-made diet, she only tweaked the vitamins & supplements a bit. We were on a healthy course.

With fingers crossed we re-ran his liver values for the first time after 2 months of the home-made diet. His Alkaline Phosphatase went from 724 to 344! That is still outside of the normal range of 0-140, but for a dog that had this value doubling every month, this was amazing news! Another key value, ALT dropped from 184 to 102. Normal is 10-120.

We will re-test him again in two months. Again, fingers crossed that the positive trend continues. Regardless, this book has offered Trevor a happier quality of life. This book offers sound nutrition approaches & offers what it says...hope. Thank you!

Our dog was given Carprofen (Rimadyl, Novox) TWICE, the last time causing major liver damage. We found Cyndi Smasal's book on the web, and decided to help our vet by helping with the treatment for the liver disease. The information in this book has been terrific. About two months ago, our vet called US to get a copy of the diet that we are using, since he was so impressed with the outcome of the treatment, and readily admitted that he credited much of the success of recovery on the diet. As far as commercial foods, look at "[...]" for some eye opening information of some of the "garbage" foods out there. Thank you Cyndi for your dedication to your dog. Our's has flourished from that information. Our lab is reasonably well, and the damage has been reduced to manageable. We expect to have her around for some years to come. Again, thanks.

This book is a must for any one battling liver disease in their dog. It offers hope and a wealth of knowledge and valuable information. I highly recommend this book. My dog benefitted greatly from this book and I am most appreciative and grateful to this author. It was clear that the author thoughtfully researched and wrote this book as a labor of love for her dog.I Would give this book 10 stars if that were possible.

Diane Reilly
Boston, Ma.