Tumor Books

As a psychologist for 30 years I have read many professional texts and self-help books. This is a valuable book for people entering the healing professions as well as for patients and their caretakers because, throughout, it touches on a man's path to recovering from brain damage. It touches on his creating a personal philosophy to see him through, skills he learned along the way, including self-assertion, and finally the love he's learned along the way.
Dick Schmelzkopf's book, Brain Damage: Overcoming adversity with wit and humor, challenges us to observe what is, to most of us, the mundane choices of life, what to wear, doing chores, and handling finances through his brain-damaged mind. This book is a practical, no-nonsense, road map outlining the rehabilitation process of a brain-damaged man ... and more. In addition, the author describes what one can expect to experience along the way and shares his views that will help people understand what tools one needs on such a journey. It will make the trip easier for all who make this journey and those who accompany them. Reading this book illuminates our lives and can only make us more tolerant, compassionate, and caring. I'm a better psychologist for having read it.
Philosophy
From his first thoughts after surgery, Dick Schmelzkopf psychologically reframes how he sees life. Dick's advice to "Add Quality of Life to your personal credo" will shake the whininess out of anyone's "pity party." Many who have died on the operating table and are brought back to life also make this shift in their thinking through the transformational experience.
Dick avoids sliding into non-productive funks when he admonishes us, "Don't beat yourself up ... Remember it and learn by it." Combine Dick's advice to us all that we "... need challenges and interests. If you don't have one, get one," with his personal stance, "I will never, never give up," which explains much of his success. Dick's dogged determination to master whatever functions his brain surgery left him is a model to everyone, with or without brain damage. Dick's prior work as a salesman has, I believe, contributed to his use of affirmations like, "I have a positive attitude that guarantees success." Dick adapted the adage, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade," into his personal mantra, "If you're given brain damage, write about it." In addition to being great rehabilitation therapy for him, it gives his life meaning and purpose that this book "... will give somebody an idea of how to help themselves or someone they love."
Skills
This book has many techniques for the brain-damaged person to use to enhance the quality of their life and the lives of their caregivers. His recitation of his abilities, pre and post- surgery, can be an instruction manual, both for the patient and for caregivers. Whether discussing the impact on his decision-making or judgment, Dick lays out the roadmap of how a brain-damaged person can regain control of whatever is left by the surgeon's scalpel. Dick constantly reminds us of the need for the acceptance of the "slow and arduous task" of rehabilitation by patients, caregivers and health care professionals.
Dick teaches us by example. His strategy of linking his interests in darts to solving a math problem clearly shows how a brain-damaged person can learn how to cope. He serves up the problems he's had, like pattern recognition, then follows up with helpful hints for dealing with his "broken recognizer." Dick's rituals, for rebuilding his vocabulary, are his menu for finding and using what works for him. Dick's "Rule number one" for the cognitively challenged (and their caregivers) is proof that his "... pen is mightier that the surgeon's sword." Dick's comment about his re-learned poker skills are a warning to us all, should we ever find ourselves across a poker table from him.
His determination to define himself in his new life is a triumphant assertion of the human spirit and will. Dick's response to people who treat him as less than equal is a prime example of a psychologically healthy outlook, succinctly put, that others see him as a person of worth and dignity, handicap be damned. Dick's admonition that "Brain-damaged means we may be a little slower in some areas, but don't count us out," works as well for those with an aging brain as it is instructive to caregivers and health care professionals alike.
Love
This book is as much a love story of two people committed to each other in ways only a few lucky people will ever experience. It emphatically says, "Take heart, caregivers," when Dick tells caregivers, "You are important," and you feel it when he says throughout the book, "Ain't love grand?" You will find this book is full of heart, love, compassion, humor and common sense that prove that to overcome a handicap, the wisdom of the heart trumps intelligence. Every time. The two pages discussing Grief is worth the price of the book alone. Its lesson is the power of compassion, love and illuminates the author's humanity, or, as his wife says, "ECCE HOMO," which translates as "Behold, A Man."
Dick's rehabilitation journey is not complete, nor will it ever be. After a year of rehab work he has found, however, the best path for himself. He's currently busy on many writing projects. We wish him God-speed and Dragon's Luck.

This is one story that will inspire many people and give them hope for recovery from brain injuries. The author uses humor and wit and weaves his story of how he over came and coped with his "brain damge". It is a positive message about a serious concern. The book is a great read even if you do not have anyone in your lfie with brain damage - it really is about attitude and how you can cope with whatever happens to you in your life.

I totally recomend this book to all readers. It will add something to your life in a positive way. It is uplifting!

What can I say....I laughed, I cried (rest in peace, Shardak), and then I laughed again (out loud, alone in the room, 1 AM). I saw myself and wondered why anyone who has ever lost their car keys is not in the same program right along with the "Rehabbers". Dick shares some very personal moments with his readers (some of these things it would never occur to me to share with some of my closest friends). He really grabs you and makes you think.....and laugh....and cry.... I felt like I was sitting and sharing secrets with my best friend. Truly inspirational, in many ways!! Thanks for sharing yourself with the world!!

Brain Damage is an amazing journey. Both the story and its author are testaments to the indomitableness of the human spirit in its quest for wholeness. However, the author's pilgrimage, compelling in its own right, is but a subplot to a recurring theme throughtout the book. This is a love story, marriage the way God intended it. "For better or worse, in sickness and in health"--vows often spoken but not always honored, expecially when tested the way these were. You will love this book, and you will love the way these two people love each other. Enjoy their journey, then I challenge you. See if you can ever again be angry with your spouse for ignoring the budget or failing to lower the toilet seat.

Dick Schmeltzof's very personal book, Brain Damage, is both heartwarming and informative. He treats a very serious subject with humor, wit and compassion. It is difficult to imagine the drastic changes that have occurred in Dick's life since the emergency surgery to remove a tumor on his pituitary gland. But through his carefully constructed narrative, we can "feel" his frustrations and also revel in the incremental -- yet moving forward -- progress that he makes. His is a story of great courage, hope and love; a lesson for Humanity. Thanks to Dick for sharing this moving and insightful story of life after brain surgery. Readers will laugh. They will weep. And finally, they will applaud this incredible human being. Dick demonstrates a real gift for storytelling through this book. Let's hope he delights us with "Brain Damage II".

The idea for this book came from all the fun, interesting and informative emails Patty had written to us. I'm so glad she listened to Roswell Park and not her husband. Buy it - you will LOVE it!

I read Patty Gelman's book to better understand my mother- in -law's struggle with chemo, I ended up making a friend. You'll finish this book feeling like you just hung up the phone with a treasured girlfriend from college, or from your first job in the City. You know, the one who could always make you laugh.

Patty Gelman leaves you feeling hopeful; about marriage, about having kids, about middle age, without sugar coating a thing.
She's funny, unflinching and funny, and I can't wait till I hear from Patty again.

If one finds themself on Cancer Road personally or because of a loved one, they need to read this book. Patty provides a detailed map on how to cope, laugh, and most importantly...be informed. She revealed so much of what she went through...we had no idea!!! Thanks Patty, for helping others.

Best Lesson....ASK QUESTIONS!!!!
What exactly is this poison going to do to my cancer cells and my body??????

This is compulsory reading for anyone who has been touched by breast cancer. It provides a perspective that supports patient, family and friends. It transcends medical application and bridges generations.

This book is will make you want to hug Patty Gelman or anyone as funny as she is! It makes one feel great about family, friends, and conquering adversity. Patty Gelman is a beautiul writer who portrayed in this book what it means to not take yourself too seriously - a very important lesson for all of us!

This book is amazing! The plot is twisted enough to get the reader guessing, the characters are well rounded and well developed and the attention to detail is first rate. I finished it in 2 days! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read interesting books that have unique points of view, which this one does. This book is definitely a great one if a reader wants to be entertained!

I completed 'Traveling with an Eggplant' in a day. This is the first time--in a long time--that a book has kept my undivided attention. The story is seamless and not full of filler-footage. Every word written has revelance. And the writing is smart, which makes you think, but not in an i-have-to-take-an-exam kind of way. More so in the 'Zen and the Art of Motorcylce Mainteance' way. Just not as heavy.

Alycia Ripley also did an amazing job in bringing the reader into Alison's (main character) world. I felt primarily connected to Alison and had a fun time watching the story unfold in my head. As a thespian, I understand how important it is to keep your audience connected with your character and Ms. Ripley displayed that extremely well in her novel. Also, being a child of the 80's and from Long Island, I could easily associate my own life to various references about the 80's the LI in 'Eggplant'.

I highly recommend 'Traveling with an Eggplant' if you're looking for something different. It's a quick read and I believe most will definitely find a connection to the story.

I'm pleased to say that I briefly knew the author of this book while mutually attending Syracuse University. She was a friend of a friend whom I met at a lively campus bar and often went to see perform in the SU comedy troupe. You could always tell what material was hers because it was so on the mark and on the money. The voice she used while making fun of our (oh so visible) campus stereotypes was unique, articulate and fast as bullets. Although that was comedy and this book is more drama, I can still hear her voice in my head and see her when reading some of the descriptions and images. This book is really engaging and fascinating. The characters are so alive and the circumstances so vivid that I sometimes found myself looking around the room I was in to make sure that I was still alone. There are several parts that kept me awake and freaked me out. If you enjoy a good story, some fresh characters, and having to actually use your brain, you will like this book. Congratulations Alycia for succeeding at what you wanted so much to do! It's really great to see someone from SU making their name in the arts.

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (2/06)

In her stunning debut novel, Traveling with an Eggplant, author Alycia Ripley takes the reader on a wild ride through the life and mind of Alison Olson. Alison finds herself revisiting her past, both literally and figuratively. She finds herself haunting the remnants of her college life, aimlessly wandering around her old campus and apartment. As she haunts her old life, her old life begins to haunt her. She lives with an onslaught of memories, as well as a hallucinatory soundtrack running through her head at random. As she attempts to deal with her past, she struggles with the present; her tumultuous and maddening relationship with Seymour, her friendship with her best friend Tara, and her fight for respect and recognition at her job where she is one of a handful of females working in a male-dominated world.

The characters in this novel are so well developed, it is hard to forget they are not actual people. The writing is so vivid and detailed that you can easily imagine yourself taking this journey with Alison. When she begin hallucinating, your mind is right with hers as she dances the line between what is real and what is our imagination. As you watch Alison deal with finding herself, finding her destiny, and commit an amazing act of heroism, you can't help but cheer her on. Your heart breaks with hers, but she gives you a reason to believe there is hope in midst of the chaos we call life. In the end, you celebrate with her as she faces her demons and realizes that to move forward in life, you have to ultimately deal with your past.

Traveling with an Eggplant is a incredibly bizarre book, yet so beautifully written you are never confused about what is happening. It takes you on a journey from the present to the past to the dream world and back again, but is written so smoothly that never once does the reader feel lost. Alycia Ripley has done a splendid job of writing a novel that not only acts as an escape, but as a catalyst for examining our own lives. Alison Olson is a character that we can all identify with, and can all admire for her strength and heroism.

My favorite thing about this book is its great dialogue. With many books the dialogue just sort of reads and you accept it because you have to but in this book, the dialogue is really alive and once it was done, I wanted the characters back. The main character, Alison, is a music journalist with a problem- she's thirty something and doesn't know why she's wandering her college campus and hanging out near her old college apartment. She has a strange relationship with a guy named Seymour who in college once cautioned her about an on coming storm and from then on, the book takes off to her career in New York, writing for a Rolling Stone type magazine and the difficulties in breaking into the business as a woman and as a 'rock encyclopedia' who desperately wants to achieve her goals. Her relationship/friendship with Seymour, now a neuroscientist, veers from charming and sweet to frustrating and maddening! To top it off, she starts hearing voices and songs in her head and being assaulted by a ghost version of someone she knew long ago....Her best friend becomes sick, Alison begins hallucinating (or not) and all this is happening as she deals with becoming a bit of a celebrity. I loved this book- the ending was such a surprise and the dialogue is realistic, hilarious, and engaging. The character of Seymour has to be experienced to be believed! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

This is a fantastic book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I didn't know a lot about Tug McGraw when I picked it up but came to really enjoy his humor - very funny stories in the book. But also felt for him having to endure his terminal battle with cancer. This book ties it all together well and is a touching story. Tim McGraw also adds comments in the book and tells of his broken relationship with his father. All around, this is a great book and enjoyable read.

I grew up a Met fan in the 70's but his career in NY was a bit vague to me. I knew him better down the pike in Philly while unfortunately having to root against him. I learned so much about him while turning every page and he made me laugh and later brought me close to tears. The book was splended and showed many of his peaks and valleys, reminded me and informed me of his baseball career. Its often said that "this (one) is unique," but Tug truly was one-of-a-kind and apparently a joy to many. The adversity he experienced was wide-spread and unfortunately it may've trickled down to his children, specifically the now renown, Tim McGraw. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those that knew him during his sports career; the final 100 pages were riveting as you get a front row seat at his final months riding a bad roller-coaster.

First off I will admit to no small amount of prejucice when it comes to this book. I have been a Phillies fan since the 1970's and was a huge fan of Tug Mc Graw's growing up. In saying this perhaps this book had a deeper effect on me than the average person as I was aware of a lot of the events that Tug relates in this narrative of his life. What I was not aware of was his incredible courage while he was fighting this illness and the amazing warmth and generosity of his son, C&W star Tim Mc Graw. I feel you have to have grown up as part of Tug's generation to understand his motivations and behaviors. I am not saying that excuses the mistakes he made but it did help me to understand the WHY of what he did. In addition it made me appreciate all the more the courage it took him to admit those mistakes and the effort he put forth trying to correct them. This is an extremely moving and emotional tale with tremendous highs and lows and should effect everyone who reads it. Also this is an incredibly honest insight into the psyche of professional athletes in the 70's and 80's. Highly recommended for its' passion and honesty.

Tug McGraw has had a shameful life story that not many people have known about. He had done some very bad things like neglecting his son, country singer Tim McGraw, because he refused to believe that he was his son. When he was dying he forgave everybody and was nice to all of his relatives, and admitted to all of the wrong things he did. He really showed that he was sorry for everything and he would have changed a lot if he could.

I was truly impressed by how he handled everything when he was dying. He is definitely an amazing man, in more than one way.

He had many family-related problems that he got through. He was a little crazy too, but a motivational speaker really got him to the World Series by telling him, "Ya Gotta Believe!"

Tug McGraw was a bonafide original. From his thigh slap to his screwball to his love of a good time, Tug did things his way. But as he says during the book, sometimes his way was the selfish way. The most compelling part of the book for me was him discussing his relationship with his son Tim. From refusing to acknowledge his fatherhood to completely ignoring him (other than one visit in Houston) to finally coming around and taking responsibilty for himself and his son.

That's a main theme in this book, taking responsibility. Unlike his ex-teammate Pete Rose who seemingly blamed everyone under the sun for his problems other than himself, Tug steps up and admits his mistakes. He says that he was not a good husband or father. He was determined not to make the same mistakes with his youngest son Matthew. His children all rallied around him as he battled brain cancer.

Sadly this story doesn't have a happy ending as Tug passes away in January of 2004, a month before this book was released. The final chapter of this book is very touching as Don Yaeger describes Tug's final days. This book shows that it's never too late to say you're sorry and it's never too late to make things right. An excellent book, highly recommended.

Valuable insights into the world of the disabled from many angles by a respected professor with progressive spinal cord disease. Highly recommended to persons with disabilities and to the general public who often encounter them.

As a graduate student in anthropology, I came to know and respect Bob Murphy more than any other scholar. Of the texts he wrote, The Body Silent, stands apart in that it says much about the man, anthropology, disability in American society, and life itself. It will deeply touch a wide variety of readers, and for those that knew him, will bring tears to their eyes. As to its impact on what is now known as disability studies, it put the discipline on the academic agenda. As such, it is a seminal text and is a must for anyone thinking of entering the field.

This is one of my books that I bought and put aside to read later. I don't remember how long ago I bought it but I am certainly glad that I gave it a second chance to read it before discarding it. I am now not planning to sell this book, as it is too important a volume on disability in society, and it certainly applies to the bioethical and eduethical work I do on the side of my 'regular' job of teaching and writing.

Murphy is unlike me in that he came upon his disability later in life, while I was born basically deaf and remained that way for the first 13 years of my life before getting a hearing aid at the age of 13. Murphy had to deal with a slow-growing tumor that entwined itself into his spinal cord. Unlike many tumors that can be excised with surgery, his was such that the possibility of removing it also came with the possibility of losing everything else, including his life or the ability to continue to do his important work. Like many of us who have chosen not to take the risk of surgery and who don't believe that to be disabled is worse than to be dead, Murphy worked with and around his progressive disabling and was able to give the world another 15 years of his wisdom in cultural anthropology.

This book is a must-read for any person with a disability, no matter when they became disabled. Murphy had the background of an academic anthropologist, with many years of successful teaching and writing for major journals in anthropology and culture. He had also written major books, one of which continues to be used in most universities on women and gender in primitive societies. So in coming into the genre of disability studies, he brought to the field a first-rate mind and ability to write so others can understand difficult concepts.

Murphy's book is not the usual autobiography that one usually expects, but rather explores disability (specifically his, but he introduces others and also the culture) without a single shard of either self-pity or 'hey, look at me' attitude that is so often written about in media (where the media puts someone with a disability on a pedestal that is unrealistic of the very real problems that those of us with disabilities face daily). He writes presenting his disablement as a fait-accompli, dealing with the problems as they arose...and in some cases, he ignored his health situation to the point of putting him at risk for infection from bedsores because he was too busy teaching. Like Murphy states, that wasn't courage as often as it was just not wanting to take the time to have his physical body get in the way of what he was trying to do. In treating his disablement with this attitude, he did become the courageous person that he presented to the public...and I wish so badly I had had the opportunity to meet him and hear him speak. Like so many others such as Michael Fox and Christopher REeve, Murphy was a non-disabled person whose close encounters with his own disablement led him to become a voice in a minority that has long been voiceless. He died much too soon, but in giving his last fifteen years of work to physical disabilities in society, he has provided us with an ongoing voice. I certainly intend to use his words and his writing in my work in hopes that it will inspire others as it has inspired me.

Karen Sadler

Bob became paraplegiac at a late age, after having enjoyed a long, brilliant career as a professor at Columbia and an anthropologist who, with his anthropologist wife Yolanda, lived among Amazonian Indians and Saharan camel nomads. He was too clever to be overwhelmed with self-pity. This book was written from the perspective that he loved most: what you'd think is true is probably just the opposite. We expect paralyzed people to get better, like other "sick" patients, but the problem is, they don't: they're damaged selves. Hey--just like everybody else. We all have to come to terms with life's damages and our isolation and loneliness as we attempt to cope with it. Who would ever have thought it possible--we can all learn something compelling about our normal selves, viewing life from the wheelchair! Ironically (and this is the kind of twist that styles Murphy's ideas) the disabled are a mirror for the rest of us: "The paralytic is, quite literally, a prisoner of the flesh, but most humans are convicts of sorts. We live within walls of our own making, staring out at life through bars thrown up by culture and annealed by our fears. . . .[that] induces a mental paralysis, a stilling of thought." Murphy has never sold his soul to an illusion: he speaks candidly as a participant observer of his own encounter with symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and transformation. Always the fox, he transcends the smoke screen that our cultural prejudices force upon us, and hears his own body and its message with astounding clarity and patience. This is a book that students read eagerly, in both anthropology and sociology classes, because its message is provocative, and its ethnography is true. It teaches us all to listen to the sound of our own struggles with personal identity and mortality, and to smile with the knowledge that we are not alone.

Ten years ago since the American Disabilities Act went into effect, the disabled still feel that they are isolated from the real world. Former professor of anthropology at Columbia University Robert F. Murphy examines from his personal perspective the life of a disabled person in a world where he was independent and zealous of life. The reader will discover what it is like for a disabled person to battle besides the inability to carry out everyday function we take for granted. The Body Silent is unlike other books written by the disable. The Body Silent is an excellent book full of prose and not journal entries of how fortunate the non-disabled really are. This book (recommended to me by anthropologist Dr. James Trostle) will change your perspective and outlook on how it is like to grow up again and learning how to walk, one step at a time.

Hat's off to Lisa for sharing this personal story in such an open, eloquent and touching manner. Although I was brought to tears frequently in reading this book, it touched me deeply and strengthened my own faith in God and my appreciation for every moment here on earth. I later found the audiobook at audible.com where the author reads the book personally... a great way to experience this story directly from the author's audible words. Highly recommended reading or listening!

As a mother, this book was painful to read but also heartwarming to finish. Often blinded by tears, I couldn't not finish this book. Thank you Lisa for having the courage to write this book as a testament to His great love. I have recommended it to all my friends.

A very well written saga of a young girl, Kelly Bair, and her quest to carry Jesus in her heart every remaining day of her life. Kelly's parents, family and friends are carried through life with a twist of events when their daughter and friend is diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

The wondrous quality of this book is that readers discover there in no ending to this story of life that we lead - only a beginning. Little Kelly Bair is truly the missionary that she imagined herself to be. Her life story will bring more and more people to the Table for Two. Through Kelly, more will be able to dine with Jesus.

Recommended for the entire family. A very resourceful book for families coping with the death of a child.

This book is a mother's heartfelt experience of parenting her young daughter who has a brain tumor. Although we are encouraged by the faith and spiritual experiences of the child, we also cry with the mother who so wants to help her child through this difficult time. The book addresses the frustrations of dealing with hospitals and procedures, the joys of having the support of friends, family and sympathetic nurses, doctors and child life specialists and, probably most importantly, the way this family chose to talk to their child about death. This book is not trite and does not present just the "warm family memories" but allows us to see the ups and downs of dealing with this crushing disease. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who has a child with a terminal disease or who has a friend with a child with a terminal disease.

After I lost my seven-year-old son Timmy to a brain tumor, I spent the first two months or so reading every book I got my hands on by other parents who had lost children. It was a type of therapy, I guess. Later, I found A Table For Two, and it has become one of my favorites because I can identify so strongly with Alisa's experience. This is a REAL book. It seems to me that these children who are destined for abbreviated lives are often specially graced with an unusually deep faith. It was true for my son and others as well as for Kelly. Thank you for writing the book, Alisa, I know how painful it was to relive the experience in order to do so. Rest assured that Kelly's memory is living on, and that her faith still speaks. I'd like to write our story too, someday.

This is an excellent book. I see Dr. Zashin for Sjogren's syndrome and he is an excellent Doctor. I found the book to be very knowledgeable.

This book has all the information that anyone could ever want to know about Arthritis and the TNF blockers. I was very impressed. Even after dealing with RA for over 30 years I still learned alot that I didn't know.

outstanding, detailed book on the new Beta-Blocker pharmaceuticals - very useful

I am extremely happy that I found this book. I was looking for information on how these drugs, more correctly, biologics, are manufactured. I could not get a clear understanding of this from either the maker's literature, at least not literature that I could find, or literature on the drugs that I was given. I did find a complete description of the manufacturing process for each of the drugs in Dr. Zashin's book to the depth that I was interested.

Dr. Zashin also includes a great deal of background material on various types of arthritis. Most sources that I have found focus primarily on rheumatoid arthritis and give other forms a footnote or two. This is almost a primer for the arthritis patient in itself.

He has written this book in a very readable style making it comprehendible for the layman without being condesending. I found that I was actually reading this book before I went to sleep instead on my usual fictional material because it was that easy to read.

Dr. Zashin includes experiences of some patients on these medications in their own words. Most make the reader optimistic but there are a few that deal with the problems of obtaining these drugs due to their expense that are not. I would rather get an objective view of what to expect however than an unrealistic but rosy one.

An individual chapter is devoted to each of the three TNF inhibitors Remicade, Embrel and Humira. The same categories of information on each drug is presented and the pros and cons of each. Dr. Zashin also provides reports of clinical trials as appendices and a chapter on issues of delivery of the drugs such as issues with self-injection.

A surprise for me was the information he included on the (high) price of the drugs. It is of course, good to know.

The only two things I found lacking about the book were first; that the copyright date showed it to be a year ago that it was updated. Normally, for a bound text this is relatively recent however a great deal can happen in a year such as a drug might be approved for more uses or more clinical trials may have been completed showing more efficacy of one drug over another for a given condition. Second, I would like to have seen more patient stories. As I said, I found these to provide a feeling of optimism.

This book is awesome. I only wish I had known about it sooner! I've had RA for 15 years, and was a patient in the clinical trial for Enbrel. Enbrel gave me back my life. But after 7 years, the effect has tapered off even after my rheumy added methotrexate. Last appointment, he said we ought to think about changing to a different TNF blocker. He recommended Remicade, which is an IV treatment, and told me to think about it. I wasn't quite sure what to think.

So I went web surfing. I read a good review about this book on the "About Arthritis" web site (arthritis.about.com/od/brms/gr/tnfblockers.htm), and bought it immediately. I couldn't put the book down! It is packed with the kind of information that would be otherwise hard to find in a single place. It offered all the pros and cons of TNF blockers, and has a "test" to help you decide if the therapy is for you or not. It compares all three TNF blockers head to head, after devoting a chapter to each. What a terrific resource! Not only did I learn things about Enbrel that I never knew, but it also answered questions that no one could really ever answer to my satisfaction (like why is it necessary to INJECT Enbrel?). Better yet, I learned ALL about Remicade, and other option called Humira (which is an injection like Enbrel, but only 2 shots per month!). The book gives pros and cons of all three treatments, and is very balanced. It's also an easy read, and the patient stories make you feel like you're not alone in this struggle.

Bottom line, I really felt like I got totally expert AND unbiased advise about what to do next...and I now feel confident, excited and HOPEFUL that I still have options.

So if you have RA, and don't know about TNF blockers, buy this book. If you have RA and are already on a TNF blocker, buy this book. And if you're like me, and your current TNF blocker is losing its effect, buy this book. Then run to your rheumy and get living again!

This book is by far my favorite of all Erma Bombeck's books. I suspect this book is not as popular as her other writings because it's about kids with cancer, but Bombeck does an amazing job of taking such a heavy subject and finding the bright side of it all.

My son was diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 8 years old with three brain tumors. We were told her would die in surgery and if he did live he would be a vegetable. The doctor was wonderful and he lives and is doing wonderfully! I have been involved deeply with brain tumor suppport now for 11 years. I talk to families at least once a week. This book gives great insight into how the kids feel about their disease and the experience that goes with it. The most important part of this book is the section that the fathter's discuss their feelings. Dads have a very difficult time knowing how to help and "fix" it as they think they must! This chapter is priceless. Good Book, Good Information, Important learning here!

This book is a wonderfully humorous and insightful look into children's experiences with caner. Although it certainly is not a humorous subject, the book really shows the powerful spirit of children and demonstrates the importance of humor in illness. And no matter what they go through, kids are still kids. I read this for the first time in college, and now I am a pediatrician.

Having grown up in an era when "the 'C' word" meant a death sentence, I was taken aback when a friend of mine suggested this little-known work of Erma Bombeck's. Why would a humerous writer tackle such a depressing subject? Kids with cancer? The book was not depressing at all. Sure I cried, but they were tears of joy. I laughed at the antics of some of the kids. I praised the professionals who dedicate their time and money to these kids. Cancer is no longer necessarily a terminal disease. People beat it all the time. I was unaware of this until I read this book, and no one could do it like Erma. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but it is especially uplifting to someone who has a friend or family member with cancer.

Erma Bombeck became renowned by highlighting the amusing aspects of the terrene. She did not usually make what are typically called "jokes"-just offbeat observations. Her columns more often initiated a satisfying smile than a hearty belly laugh. But even on the occasions that she was painfully funny she showed respect for her subjects and her audience. It was the proud acknowledgement that she was one of us that allowed us to chuckle at family life, grocery shopping, housework, and all the other quotidian errands that compose the bulk of our lives. Regardless of the subject she found some aspect that was good for a "laugh with" not a "laugh at."

How about the subject of children battling cancer? The thought of jocularly treating such a topic sounds comparable to the depraved entertainment regurgitated by the likes of Howard Stern. Surely, Erma Bombeck-the avatar of wholesomeness-would never approach such a subject. No, but it approached her. She was asked to write this book, and at first the thought of it repulsed her. Momentarily dropping her guard, she allowed herself to be talked in to attempting this work. We should all be thankful that she caved. The result is a reverent; inspiring read that has had a propitiatory impact on many, many children and adults battling cancer---not to mention legions of us who are blessed with good health.

Treading with great veneration for her subject, she produced a book overflowing with warmth, encouragement, and-as unbelievable as it may seem-tasteful mirth. It stands a proud addition to her rich legacy.

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.

A terrific read. Brian really hits it on the nail. As a sales training company owner, and book author myself, who is at a crossroads right now in his life, Brian King's story and advice is one for any 30 something. An extremely perceptive individual, Brian reminds us that our "issues" are everyone's issues. His lessons remind us to not wait until we are confronted with physical crises before we address our emotional crises. Lessons such as helping others - WITHOUT THE GOAL TO BE HELPED BACK - are huge. His "Hara" of the only two things you can control- Who You Are and What You Do is dead on accurate. For anyone who has ever thought they are alone in the world and seeking human fulfillment, this is a must read.

Todd B. Natenberg<

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who truly wants to improve themseves and the quality of their lives.The book is written in a interesting and sometimes humorous way so that it is not like an average self help book.I would say this book is an absolute must for anyone with Cancer or any other life altering disease.It is widely known in the medical field that attitude is largely responsible for survival of a dread disease.This book can help you Cure your negative feelings to enable you to work on getting well.

While the title is decidedly ominous, the author doesn't really mean to suggest that we are all doomed to suffer the ravages of a life-threatening illness. Rather, we are given a poignant account of a young man's encounter with testicular cancer. We journey through the author's passage from physical illness to physical and spiritual wellness, beginning with an emotional narrative of his disease and how it affected his life as well as the lives of those around him. But the underlying metaphor, in fact, the reason for this book lies in the subtitle: "Cures for the Negative Thoughts That Are Cancerous to Our Lives."

Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, many of us are looking for a wizard to help light our way, to provide answers to better help us cope with life's pitfalls. And, like Dorothy, at the end of a long, and sometimes arduous voyage, (King does suggest a bit of homework) the reader discovers that true power and wisdom come from within.

Then why bother to take this trip? Well, for many of us, the answers we seek are not as accessible as we would like. King imparts a perception that helps us tap into a component of ourselves that is sometimes cleverly hidden. He becomes a friend, offering compassion and a beam of light, so that we know we are not alone in our travels. And, if given the choice, most of us would rather travel with a companion.

"Everybody Has a Tumor" is an inspiring book about this authors ordeal with testicular cancer and how he overcame it. I recommend this book not only for all cancer patients and their families, but for anyone who has been through anything tragic in their lives. Overcoming tragedies in life is not easy - this book offers COMFORT and HOPE for all who read it! While it teaches anyone suffering from an ailment that they must not allow their minds and their spirit to feel the same way their body does, it also teaches those whove suffered a tragedy in life to move on and not allow that tragedy to break their spirit.

Brian King's personal story is not only inspirational but offers the most important component of overcoming, and that is hope. Without hope we have nothing. Brian also shares some of his wisdom , based on his personal experiences, to guide us along the way. Take the journey and experience the hope.