Skin-Cancer Books

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.

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.

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 provides an accurate reference for someone interested in this subject. It can be too truthful for someone faced with this awful disease. Therefore beware of giving it to a sufferer or carer whom you wish to shield from the facts.

this book was full of good info and good photos of stages of skin problems. This is a must own book for all Southern Californians.

This book is for anyone who has been diagnosed with Melanoma. It is written in a way that is easy to understand. Knowledge is needed with this disease since it is so different from other cancers. I found answers I haven't been able to find from my husbands oncologists. Excellent book!

I got this book because I have moles and wanted to learn more about them and understand the diagnosis and treatment for melanoma.

The glossary and index were very helpful. The best aspect for me was the photos of moles and the chapter on skin warning signs.

Part I of the book starts with recognizing and preventing melanoma. Part II of the book focuses on Melanoma and the treatment. Part III is the less common types along with research.

I found this book to be a wonderful resource as I hit 45. The diagrams are useful as well.

This book was an encellent source for me and my family regarding my recent diagnosis of Melanoma. I read the entire book in one day and refer back to it very often! Highly recommended reading that is on a level everyone can understand.

In the introduction, the author says she wrote this book because she wants you to "be prepared" before the siren blows, announcing the disaster.

Say this out loud: One in every two American men and one out of every three American women will get cancer over the course of their lifetime (pg. 1). Now does the author have your attention?

Quoting from the British Cancer Control Society, "...treating disease is enormously profitable, preventing disease is not."

If far more money is spent to treat than prevent, and physicians are restricted by managed care--now is the time for us to know more and advocate for our own health. Other money issues concern how our food is produced (what is put on our plants to increase yield and what animals are fed to grow faster).

As consumers we will spend whatever is needed to treat illness, but we do not spend time and money to educate ourselves about avoiding the disease in the first place. And yet ... "80-95% of cancers that have a environmental component, only one third are due to smoking."

However: "One thousands Americans stop smoking every day--by dying." (Author unknown)

Chapter 2 starts with 25 questions--and now I AM concerned because I answered yes to too many--and my ignorance is showing. You may feel the same when you answer them.

The authors left no cancer-causing stone unturned. Through charts, graphs, lists, recipes and action suggestions, you will understand your body and your environment--and how what you eat and drink and do can affect your health. The back of the book has worksheets, very helpful appendices, a carcinogen list, references and index so you can find things easily.

Author Lynne Eldridge, M.D. is a medical doctor who has studied human exposure to pesticide and has practiced family medicine with an emphasis on prevention. David Borgeson has a Masters in epidemiology and is a practicing physical therapist that emphasizes health promotion.

The authors have asked us to make many changes in our lives to live longer and cancer free--and some are easy and some will be hard. They do not want us to become overwhelmed and do nothing--just start with what you can change today.

Armchair Interviews says: The contents can--and should frighten you into action and change. Maybe then you will never have to hear the words: You have cancer!

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/07)

Cancer touches countless lives every day. Chances are that either you or somebody very near and dear to you has had to fight it at some point in your life. While medicine has certainly advanced greatly in the past, mortality rates from cancer are still high and still scary.

While it seems to me that the American way of medicine tends to be geared much more towards curing the disease once it manifests itself than to preventing it in the first place, I found "Avoiding Cancer One Day at A Time" a very refreshing departure from the usual pattern. Extremely well researched and comprehensive, this incredibly readable book leads the reader through many facets of possible cancer prevention. While it is obvious that the authors have done an incredible amount of serious research, the book never gets too technical for an average reader. From a simple introduction to cancer prevention to an eye-opening Cancer Prevention IQ Pretest and a chapter on what cancer is and what causes it, the authors alert us to numerous things that we could do to increase our chances of not being one of the scary cancer statistics in the future.

While authors primarily focus on primary cancer prevention - as in before it actually happens, there is also a chapter on secondary prevention (finding cancer and preventing it from spreading) and some notes on tertiary prevention (support methods for individuals with cancer). Each of the chapters concludes with a list of practical points, and if you start your journey just by reading those, you'll have to agree that there are very many simple and eminently sensible steps we can take to increase our chances of staying healthy. If any of the topics discussed in the particular chapter really intrigue you, there are very comprehensive lists of resources and further online information available for advanced research.

Chapter 10, the "Avoiding Cancer Recipe Collection," features not only mouth-watering, yet sensible recipes, but also stories of people whose lives were changed by cancer forever. Do take a particular note of the conversion table for the recipes there: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care.

The book concludes with Appendices, the first Appendix being the worksheets for applying cancer-prevention principles, the second one a scarily long list of carcinogens; and a nearly 30-pages long list of references.

"Avoiding Cancer One Day at A Time" was a fascinating read, which showed me how little most of us know about proper cancer prevention and how easy a great majority of those prevention steps really are. This book should find a permanent place in every American home, where it should be read, re-read and used often.

Paranoia would be a perfectly logical response to this cancer-prevention book. You might be tempted to rifle through your medicine cabinet and laundry room shelves, disposing of any product that isn't vinegar, baking soda or bottled water. You may never use an air freshener again or allow another French fry to pass between your lips. In fact, Dr. Lynne Eldridge and her brother, epidemiologist David Borgeson, warn against becoming fanatical in attempting to reduce carcinogenic threats in your environment. But they aren't apologetic about presenting a wealth of valuable information that could help prolong your life. The authors admit that links between certain chemicals and cancers are inconclusive, and they judge the medical establishment pretty harshly. Then they present the most current information based on studies and statistics, and leave it to you to accept or reject their recommendations. We recommend this book in the belief that much of what the authors cover makes sense. Don't get scared; get busy.

"In 2004, the medical world was shaken a bit when scientists found a link between the incidence of breast cancer and antibiotic use... There has been much debate about this study, but given the increasing resistance of microbes to antibiotics, it generates further concern over the overuse of antibiotics in the United States." Written by Lynne Eldridge, M.D. and David Borgeson, MS, MPT, Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer is a health and wellness guide to preventing cancer through avoiding carcinogens and implementing lifestyle and diet practices that can reduce cancer risk. From a healthy sex life to the right amount of sleep to maintaining a proper weight, choosing one's medications carefully, and much more, Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time covers reasonable, practical strategies with a strong benefit for overall health. Written in plain terms for lay readers, Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time is highly recommended for its solid health and lifestyle improvement advice.

Dr. Lynne Eldridge and David Borgeson have written an authoritative, good-humored and remarkably practical book on how people can alter their lifestyles and add years to their lives. "Avoiding Cancer: One Day at a Time" is about do-able prevention, and sets a needed example for American health care, where research and resources disproportionately address diagnosis and treatment to the neglect of keeping people healthy in the first place. This is an easy read, loaded with practical information - from everyday environmental hazards, to avoidance of carcinogenic lifestyle choices, to a deep and useful discussion of preventive nutrition. And there is a terrific "Avoiding Cancer Recipe Collection" which could be expanded into a book of its own. In sum, the best reader-friendly cancer prevention book I've ever read.

Dad was suffering from Melanoma Cancer and I bought this book for Mom, who doesn't have internet access. After doctor appointments, she'd find herself with more and more questions she should have asked. This book answered so many of them. It also prepared her for what to expect as the cancer progressed. I'm very thankful I purchased this book for Mom. She felt prepared for the possibilities of what was to come. It also, in some ways, helped her stay strong knowing that certain side effects would occur. Melanoma is such a painful cancer and more awareness is definitely needed. This book should be read by anyone with small children and by those spending a lot of time outside in the elements. Maybe hearing about the side effects of melanoma will get us all to wear sunscreen each and every day. Anyway, if you are caring for someone with Melanoma or have a family member or friend who has it, BUY THIS BOOK and read it cover to cover.

I am at high risk for skin cancer being pale skinned, light eyed, blonde and living in San Diego. I never knew it was better for me to use sunblock and stay out of the sun instead of trying to go for a base tan, especially in a tanner. Tans only have a suncreen of SPF 5, come to find out. And even people with naturally dark skin need to wear sunblock because they can get skin cancer too, often in parts that go unchecked due to the fact people think their darker skin isn't at risk! These are two of the many "myths" brought out in this guide. Everyone should read this book so they know the facts about these horrible diseases.

This book blew my mind. I have found out the difference between UVA and UVB (and UVC) rays, how to protect myself from the sun and how to check myself to make sure I don't have skin cancer. I am not a real sun lover, but I amazed at all the myths people have about how the sun is healthy and how it is ok to hang out in the sun...people worry more about terrorism and serial killers than the sun and more people will die from skin cancer than dying, let's say, in a plane...it confuses me how people can be so little informed.

This book was written well. It is easy to read and it is sectioned in a way that it is easy to get to the answer you need. I was only going to read the first half, since the rest is about what to do if you have skin cancer, but I read that too, because it was interesting and I would rather know and be prepared if it happens in my future than not know. Like I say, this should be given out at schools in the San Diego area since many of them make the kids eat outside, which is the worst thing for them.

This book is a must for any melanoma patient or their family.

As a one-year survivor of Stage II melanoma, this book was great in helping me deal with my diagnosis and what could have been ahead.

Dr. McClay also happens to be my personal oncologist and he's a fantastic and caring doctor.

If you've been diagnosed with melanoma, this book is a must! The day I was told I had cancer, I was so frightened and confused. The doctor asked me if I had any questions, and I couldn't think of anything! The word "cancer!" just kept going through my mind. After reading this book, I was able to clear my head and not only ask questions, but ask the "right" questions. The only thing it didn't cover is the fact that it is sometimes difficult to diagnose melanoma. Sometimes the results are not black or white...there are also grey areas. But all in all, this book was extremely informative. Highly recomended.

Bill Cameron is a master when it comes to characterization and description. I'm scratching my head over the PW review, because I loved the main character, and I loved the premise of a detective battling cancer while trying to solve a series of crimes. Skin Kadash is tough and thoroughly likable in a Hawkeye Pierce sort of way. Excellent police procedural.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cameron's first novel, Lost Dog, and looked forward to his second book, Chasing Smoke. I was not disappointed. For me the heart and soul of this book was not the murder plot, but the character of Skin Kadash, the detective being eaten away by cancer. In Chasing Smoke (a wonderful and appropriate title, by the way), we not only get to follow Skin's thought process as he untangles the deaths of a group of cancer patients, but his struggle, both emotional and physical, with his own illness. Well done!

The main reason I liked this book so much was because the main character and narrator, Skin Kadash, is one of the most intriguing characters I have come across recently in a novel. He is so flawed, so self depricating, so frustrating, that the reader has really has nowhere else to go but to like him. He is a character you love to hate, hate because he is so much of a pain in the you know what. Good story, good mystery, but most of all good characters. Enjoy.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reading copy of Bill Cameron's Chasing Smoke several months ago ... and the book has haunted me ever since.

A chilling, completely original premise--what if fellow clients of your oncologist are dying under suspicious circumstances?--that lays bare psychological and physical vulnerability in a darkly elegiac and beautifully written fashion. Expert character study, almost unbearably suspenseful pace, evocative Portland setting, and textured, realistic detail. This book is a masterwork, building on the promise and success of Cameron's first noir crime novel, Lost Dog.

Read Chasing Smoke ... you'll find images lingering long after you've finished the novel. Hollywood, are you listening?

this is the best comprehensive review of this topic that has been published

There are more skin cancers than all other cancers combined in the US! For that reason alone, there is a critical need to have a text that comprehensively presents this topic.

CANCER OF THE SKIN fills that need and more. All aspects of this cancer from diagnosis to treatment are fully reviewed. Of particular help was the atlas chapter on "The Many Faces of Melanoma" showing common and unusual presenations.

A must for anyone interested in skin cancer!

I wrote a very long review on this book for the American Journal of Dermatopathology in 2002 (Am J Dermatopathol 2002; 24:169-179). In brief, if you are interested at all in neoplasms of the hair follicle, this is the book to read. This is a great historical work that will set the groundwork for all future thought in this area of dermatopathology.

I have a bookshelf of dermpath texts but keep Bernie's silver book on my desk. His writing is pithy and lucid. I prefer the format of this new edition to that of the "gold book" (edition 1) since all information on an entity is in one place. I recommend this text for residents and practising physicians.

The authors do an outstanding job of showing the different types of histology that will be seen when performing Mohs surgery. I just wish the book had been published many years ago when I was learning how to do Mohs surgery.

I have given this book to many friends before undergoing chemotherapy and it has helped them tremendously in choosing a wig at the right time, what to expect when their skin and nails change, etc. The author's philosophy, from her own personal experience, is that if you look better, you feel better. This has proved true with everyone I've talked to who has read the book. Another friend reluctantly took the book and after reading it wanted to give it to all her friends undergoing the same thing.

This text is a summary of Mohs's experience from the early days. It gives great insight into the origin of Mohs surgery, especially the chemosurgery. It may still be the largest summary of the experience, broken into regions of the face and body. All Mohs surgeons need to read this book.