Radiation-Therapy Books

The Best News About Radiation Therapy takes a very open, personal approach to making its readers feel comfortable. The author affirms the anxieties that the reader confronts, thus making the reader realize that it is normal to be so scared. That alone makes the reader feel better.

By methodically and humanistically going through the entire sequence of events a person encounters in a radiation therapy environment, the author demystifies and destigmatizes radiation treatment. The author's upbeat approach is infectious! The inspirational quotes that accompany each chapter cheer the reader. I salute the author for writing this informative book.

Besides being easy to read and understand, the virtual tour of radiation therapy via the clear photos in the book rendered "Best News" an asset. There are no boring graphs or tables, just reader friendly information.

Dr. Kornmehl uses lots of clinical vignettes througout The Best News, to which people can relate and derive a sense of light through the darkness.

Dr. Kornmehl's book exudes compassion and hope along with comprehensive information. I'm so glad it was available in my doctor's office and easy to acquire on my own.

Excellent Book
This book is written so a non-medical person can comprehend this difficult subject. The book is one of a kind. A must for anyone who needs radiation therapy. A great motivator for hope in a world of dispair.

A well written book,easy step-by-step instructions.

"You do not have to believe in Guided Imagery for it to work
You just have to have an open mind each time you do it"

I bought Steve Murray's cancer imagery dvds and decided buy the book also. The book took the mystery out of cancer imagery and made it simple to start a program. I recommend the book and getting one of his dvds or videos on cancer imagery. It would be money well spent.

I would highly recommend Steve Murray's Cancer Guided Imagery Programs for anyone currently on the journey of recovery from cancer. I am a current breast cancer patient that was looking for a complimentary therapy to help me reduce my stress level while I was going through chemotherapy.

My doctor recommended that I explore a method that focused on mind, body and spirit. I stumbled upon Steve's dvd series and was amazed at how it put me in a calm state almost immediately. The guided imagery sections were so soothing and relaxing that I felt completely at peace and any tension that I was holding was one. As a result I have not had any of the side effects that most people have with chemotherapy. The visual images are absolutely beautiful and vibrant. During one of the segments, I was convinced that the images leapt off of the screen and surrounded me with healing light. Everytime I watch the dvd, I am further empowered to be able to fight this disease.

My oncology staff at UCLA's Cancer Center acknowledge the effective support the mind/body connection have as an aide in fighting this disease and Steve had perfected the tried and true art of visualization. I have been asked to speak at an awards dinner for the American Cancer Society, in which we will honor 5 individuals who have made great strides in promoting cancer awareness and patient support and I will certainly speak well of Steve Murray's Cancer Guided Imagery programs.

Kim Smith

Well-written, well-researched, well-reasoned and at times, more than a little funny. I think this book is a must for all lupus sufferers frustrated with currently approved FDA treatments. We're lucky that Mr. DeBartolo, a great investigative journalist, got sick. The 3 years of research he did to find a treatment that worked for him - UVA1 photo therapy - benefits us all. What I do not fully understand is why the work of Dr. McGrath at LSU has been so "long-ignored." Is it really because the big drug companies can't make a dime off his work? Makes me want to move to Canada! Especially useful (and informative) is the book's extensive reference of UVA1 lupus therapy research. Thank you, Mr. DeBartolo. You've given me some hope!

I have reviewed this book twice. I review books for a National Foundation. It offers more information for the treatment of Lupus (withholding drug treatment) than any other book I have reviewed. The information provided in this book allows a person with lupus to "look outside the box" of conventional drug treatment for lupus. Understand that in doing this the person may meet with some resistance from physicians. Who rightfully are doing what they know, what they have been taught. This treatment has not received the attention it deserves. Nor has the physician who heads this research, Dr. Hugh McGrath. The author is amazingly informed of the technology involved. He tells of his own battle and appears driven to regain his health. In searching what may help him, he finds this amazing treatment for the immune system, an approved NIH study, not a fly-by-night theory. I am grateful that the author, Anthony DeBartolo, was inspired to share with us this fascinating technology. Since the treatment doesn't involve drugs, the pharmaceutical companies are not interested. So people, rise up and claim your health, read this book. It may save your life.

I've had lupus for 10 years and have read everything I could get my hands on. This is positively the most helpful book I've read. What is so surprising is that the UVA1 light treatment has also been around for 10 years. Like I just read in another review, I guess I'm lucky that a investigative journalist got sick. This is one lupus book I'm sure the money-grubbing drug company cartel didn't want written. Thank you!

Dr. Daniel Cukier has been a radiation oncologist for over thirty years, and works with other oncologists and health writer Virginia McCullough on Coping With Chemotherapy And Radiation: a consumer's guide to everything from common side effects to preparing physically and emotionally for treatment and managing pain. While some of the details on specific drug effects may become outdated as they're replaced over time, the book's overall value won't decline anytime soon - as long as cancer remains and chemo and radiation are the preferred method of treatment.

Dr. Daniel Cukier has been a radiation oncologist for over thirty years, and works with other oncologists and health writer Virginia McCullough on Coping With Chemotherapy And Radiation: a consumer's guide to everything from common side effects to preparing physically and emotionally for treatment and managing pain. While some of the details on specific drug effects may become outdated as they're replaced over time, the book's overall value won't decline anytime soon - as long as cancer remains and chemo and radiation are the preferred method of treatment.

I am happy with my rad ther purchase. it got to me in a timely manner and the book was flawless until about 2 wks in2 class when i began to use the hilitr.

Mr. Washington,whom I know personally as Charles, did any staff member who works in a radiation oncology department, or any student who wants to work in radiation oncology, a great service by revising and updating his three books and combining them into one. As a therapist learning dosimetry this has been an awfully good reference book. I gave my brand new copy as a graduation present to a recently graduated radiologic technologist student who wants to become a radiation therapist. I can't tell you how much he appreciated it.

This new book "3-D Conformal and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy: Physics & Clinical Applications" in radiation therapy provides a comprehensive overview on the physics & clinical applications of 3-D CRT and IMRT. It covers full range of detailed topics and cutting edge information on recent clinical application of 3-D CRT and IMRT treatment planning. This book presents the physics and clinical information you need to implement and practice 3-D conformal and intensity modulated radiation therapy techniques and their applications in your radiation oncology center. It includes step-by-step descriptions of methods necessary for practicing full 3-D CRT and IMRT using precise imaging techniques for tumor localization, targeting, and treatment planning. This book on 3-D CRT and IMRT describes clinical and biological plan evaluation and various imaging methods in the technical implementation and the clinical aspects of 3-D CRT and IMRT treatment planning.

It consists of topics covering:
Physics:
* IMRT treatment planning * 3-D RTP plan evaluation * Biological indices in plan evaluation * TCP & NTCP calculation * Image segmentation and volume display for 3-D RTTP * CT-Simulation and 3-D planning process * Image fusion for 3-D CRT * Imaging in IMRT * Geometric uncertainty in 3-D CRT * Patient immobilization for 3-D RTP & virtual simulation * MLC as a field shaper * The convolution algorithm in IMRT * A non-convolution dose model for high energy photon beams * Monte carlo dose calculation for 3-D RTP * Commissioning of photon dose calculation algorithms for 3-D RTP system * Computer optimization and objective functions * Corvus optimization algorithm in IMRT * Helios optimization algorithm and IMRT planning * Commissioning and QA of the Peacock, Elekta, Varian, and Siemens IMRT system * Patient specific IMRT QA * Beam calibration using standards of absorbed dose in water * Clinical implementation of electronic portal imaging * Radiation oncology medical information systems & PACS * Advanced topics in IMRT * Helical tomotherapy

Clinical:

* Prostate 3-D CRT: Mallinckrodt, M.D. Anderson, and Fox Chase cancer center experience * 3-D CRT & IMRT: UCSF and Memorial Sloan-kettering Experience * Prostate IMRT: Baylor University & New-England medical center * Head and Neck IMRT: Washington University, New-England medical center, Stanford University, and Baylor University experience * 3-D CRT RTOG 94-06 update * Clinical dose-volume endpoints for Pneumonitis and Esophagitis * Pediatric & selected CNS IMRT * QA for 3-D CRT/IMRT multi-institutional clinical trials * Cost benefit of 3-D CRT/IMRT Clinical data analysis of NCTP modeling for normal lung & tumors

Contributors Include:
J. A. Purdy, PhD, W. B. Harms, Sr., BS, J. M. Michalski, MD, W. R. Bosch, DSc, Mary Ann Lockett, MBA, K. S. Clifford Chao, MD, Daniel A. Low, PhD, Eric E. Klein, MS, Beverly J. Kobeissi, MBA, Daniel A. Low, PhD, Todd H. Wasserman, MD, and C. A. Perez, MD; Radiation Oncology Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine
Mary V. Graham, MD; Radiation Oncology Center, Phelps County Regional Hospital, Rolla, Missouri
Mary K. Martel, PhD, Randall K. Ten Haken, PhD, Kelvin Li, PhD, and Marc L. Kessler, PhD ;University of Michigan Medical Center, Radiation Oncology, Division of Medical Physics
Lynn J. Verhey, PhD and Mack Roach III, MD ;Dept. of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
David E. Wazer, MD, Thomas DiPetrillo, MD, Jen-San Tsai, PhD, Mark Engler, PhD, Teresa Boyle, MD, Celine Godin, MD, and Paul Pagnini, MD ;The Lifespan Radiation Oncology Service, New England Medical Center Division, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Brown University School of Medicine and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
Walter Grant III, PhD, Bin S. Teh, MD, Barry M. Uhl, MD, E. Brian Butler, MD, J. Kam Chiu, MD, Shiao Y. Woo, MD, John McGary, PhD, and Paul S. Nizin, PhD ;Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Charles A. Pelizzari, PhD ;Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Isaac Rosen, PhD, Alan Pollack, MD, PhD, H. Helen Liu, PhD, and Lewis Smith, MD, Helen Liu, PhD ;Department of Radiation Oncology, U.T.-- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Quynh-Thu Le, MD, Lei Xing, PhD, and Arthur L. Boyer, PhD ;Radiation Oncology Department, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Steven A. Leibel, MD, Chandra M. Burman, PhD, Zvi Fuks, MD, Michael J. Zelefsky, MD, Margie Hunt, MS, Henry J. Lee, MD, PhD, Chen-Shou Chui, PhD, Spiridon Spirou, PhD, Jie Yang, PhD, Linda Hong, PhD, C. Clifton Ling, PhD, Gikas S. Mageras, PhD, and Ellen D. Yorke, PhD ;Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Radhe Mohan, PhD and Qiuwen Wu, PhD ;Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Richmond, VA
M. Saiful Huq, PhD ;Radiation Oncology, Kimmel Cancer Center of Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
Andrzej Niemierko, PhD ;Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Kathleen Brunsden, MBA ;Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
Mahendra Gupta, PhD and Nicholas Dupoch, PhD ;John M. Olin School of Business, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Katharina E. Sixel, PhD and Katherine Mah, MSc ;Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre
Andrew T. Turrisi, III, MD ;Radiation Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
D. A. Jaffray, PhD, D. Yan, DSc, J. H. Siewerdsen, PhD, John Wong, PhD, Michael Sharpe, PhD, Di Yan, DSc, Yan Wu, MS, Brett Miller, BS, Donald Brabbins, PhD, and Alvaro Martinez, MD ;Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
Michael G. Herman, PhD ;Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
T. Rockwell Mackie, PhD, Gustavo Olivera, PhD, Guang Fang, PhD, Jeffrey Kapatoes, MS, Edward Fitchard, PhD, Paul Reckwerdt, BS, David Shepard, MS, Kenneth Ruchala, MS, John Balog, PhD, Stacy Aldridge, MS, and Julie Zachman, MS ;University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Lynn J. Verhey, PhD Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco
Gerald E. Hanks, MD, Timothy E. Schultheiss, PhD, Robert Price, PhD, Shawn McNeeley, MS, Wayne Pinover, DO, Eric Horwitz, MD, and Alexandra Hanlon, PhD Deptartment of Radiation Oncology; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

This is an invaluable and essential reference for radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, treatment planning system developers, and other professionals who need in-depth information about the physics and clinical implementation and practice of 3-D conformal and intensity modulated radiation therapy.

This concise book is well-writen and very clear.
A must read for any one concerned with his prostate!

"Coping With Radiation Therapy" has been an invaluable resource for my Dad and I. It is very detailed in all aspects of radiation therapy as well as providing information on other types of treatments and cancer itself. What I found most helpful was the sections on the specific areas of radiation (such as to the chest or brain); it lists detailed information that includes symptoms and diagnosic techniques, treatment outlines, sides effects, and follow-up/outlook. It also includes answers to the 25 most commonly asked questions.

There are very few books on these treatments; most I've found haven't been worth the paper they were written on... but this is definitely not in that category. It eased my father's mind a lot by explaining the process of radiation therapy and, basically, making the unknown seem much less frightening. He knew what to expect when he began his treatments and was well prepared for it. That in itself is worth the price of this book many times over.

Helpful information divided up into chapters to prepare a woman for surgery and follow-up radiation treatment for breast cancer. Simple and straightforward. Comforting. Takes the mystery out of the process and reduces the fear level.

This was a very helpful book to increase awareness of Electromagnetic Radiation in our everyday environments.