In My Hands
In IN MY HANDS, surgical oncologist Dr. Steven Curley shares the empowering lessons he's learned over 25 years from his cancer patients' unique stories of struggle, perseverance, and triumph. As Chief of Surgical Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Steven Curley has worked with cancer patients for over two decades. While his life's work has been to help his patients live longer lives, he found that they helped him in ways he never could have expected. IN MY HANDS is a rare, often emotional look at some of Dr. Curley's real patients and real situations in modern cancer care. These stories of resilience, hope, and determination changed and inspired Dr. Curley, and he uses these same stories to encourage patients dealing with the fear and uncertainty coupled with a diagnosis of cancer. Every story in the book has a theme inspired by his patients: Hope, Courage, Strength, Determination, Wonder, Cooperation, Creativity, Diligence, Service, Perseverance, Wisdom, Grace, Consideration, Gratitude, Discernment, Reverence, Resourcefulness, Faith, Beauty, Acceptance, and Empathy. Some are positive messages, reminding us of the importance of maintaining balance between family, work, and leisure activities. Others are examples of the remarkable resilience of the human spirit when facing the reality of and the surgical risks that accompany a cancer diagnosis. Realistically, despite remarkable advances in multidisciplinary cancer care, some remind us cancer is still a potentially lethal and destructive disease affecting patients and the family and friends supporting them. While many people are told that there is no hope in their situation, Dr. Curley's patients taught him to always provide hope, to push the envelope and give people a chance, and that hope is a critical component of treatment and care. IN MY HANDS is medical narrative at its finest, and provides insight into medicine and patient care along with fascinating details about one of our most feared diseases.
Surviving Arrogance
SURVIVING ARROGANCE By: S. David Nathonson This memoir shows how an arrogant surgeon, whose worldview was entirely dependent upon scientific dogma, was startled into a new way of thinking, a new way of understanding himself, his patients, and the world, and how he became grateful, more human, more compassionate and more creative, enhancing his ability to heal patients with potentially lethal cancers and to use his creative research thoughts to introduce new ideas into his profession. The key to his transformation was provided by a young woman, dying of a rare abdominal tumor, but who miraculously survived after aggressive Western-style treatment. She believed the most important part of her treatment and recovery was the mindset she developed from alternative non-medical treatments, and he, initially skeptical of her beliefs, discovered truths that his medical training had not taught him. The author hopes that readers will see how modern medicine can and should incorporate empathy from doctors for their patients and a belief that they are not superior, despite their more advanced education.
No Stranger to Tears
"Here are the stories of a world-class surgeon who has been on the frontlines of medicine for over fifty years. In a candid, moving, and often funny memoir from behind the surgeon's mask, he recounts episodes in a life that stretches from his roots on the Lower East Side of New York City to the glittering international worlds of science and the arts." "A family tragedy touched off the young Cahan's desire to be a doctor. He studied at Harvard, expanded his experience in the Air Corps during World War II, and ultimately joined the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. While his training introduced him to medicine's underworld of anti-Semitism, he emerged from it with a strong will to succeed and with an obsession to conquer cancer, which he calls the "ancient, guile-ridden, unsentimental" disease. In addition to developing innovations in surgical techniques, he detected a connection between exposure to radiation and cancer that led him to become a lifelong sleuth in the mysterious realm of carcinogens - and the tobacco industry's fiercest enemy." "Always, however, at the heart of his work are his patients. He movingly describes the intense and delicate doctor-patient relationship, which, although often too full of heartbreaks, frustrations, and failed dreams, is also marked by triumphs that testify to the curative power of sustained optimism and hope." "Dr. Cahan writes engagingly of the people in his life. Married first to the daughter of the legendary stage star Gertrude Lawrence, and now to Grace Mirabella, publication director of the magazine that bears her name, Dr. Cahan has counted among his friends and/or patients such well-known personalities as Alan Jay Lerner, Leonard Bernstein, Anthony Eden, Mario Lanza, Yul Brynner, Babe Paley, Melvyn Douglas, Hubert Humphrey, and Babe Ruth." "This book is also the story of Dr. Cahan's two sons: Chris, who chose a different career as a television producer, and Anthony, who followed in his father's footsteps but created an identity all his own." "The education of more than one surgeon is told here, drawing the reader into the operating room, the lab, the thinking, the politics, and especially the heart of medicine."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
When God & Cancer Meet
A book of powerful stories about cancer patients and their families who have been touched by God in miraculous ways—some in their bodies, others in their minds, all in their spirits—offers inspiring testimony that, when God and cancer meet, cancer is conquered. The author, herself a cancer survivor, gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of 18 personal encounters with God. Here's what others are saying about When God & Cancer Meet: “Lynn has captured the essence of hope in this book; captured hope in ways that I have always taught in my professional world as well as in my spiritual community. This book is a treasure to those who struggle with the fears of cancer and I want to keep it close at hand for those reasons.” —Judy Lentz, RN, MSN, OCN, NHA Executive Director, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association “I co-lead a cancer support group at my church, and we have been looking for “just the right book” to study and discuss. Guess what?! Lyn wrote it! I was truly touched by all the stories; of course being a cancer-survivor myself, I saw myself in one of the stories, as if Lyn were writing my own personal story. I was truly impressed with the way she incorporated scripture, and God's viewpoint into every story. I think that is of utmost importance for anyone facing this disease. Lyn's book is “Real-Life”; some quickly are healed of the cancer, some deal with it over a prolonged period, some deal with recurrences, some, mercifully, die rather quickly. I share Lyn's belief that GOD sometimes chooses to heal in different ways: physically, emotionally and spiritually. In the process of surviving a primary brain tumor, surgery, Chemo, and radiation, I gave my life to Christ, realizing that my physical health was not GOD's main concern, my Spiritual health was the biggest victim of a disease that needed attention and this was the way He FINALLY got my attention. Lyn's book alludes to this fact in every one of her stories. In this day and age that we are living, where it is against the rules to even mention GOD ( unless we mention His name in vain) it is refreshing to have a book written, praising Him for His care and concern for us; written by a woman who has experienced the disease firsthand, and continues to minister to others with cancer, and to work for a Doctor! who isn't ashamed of his Faith ! WOW!! Obviously, Lyn's book has my highest reccomendation, and my support group will be purchasing multple copies, and we plan to invite Lyn to speak with us. Lyn is a wonderful person, and I thank God for allowing our paths to cross. I'm sure this book will touch many lives,and give many a new perspective and hope with their cancer.” —Chris Winand, cancer survivor
Love Is the Strongest Medicine
"This book puts music, laughter, and heart front and center, and the results are magical." - Mark Hyman, M.D. In Dr. Steven Eisenberg's oncology practice, the enemy is cancer, but it's also denial, anger, and fear—draining emotions that can interfere with the effectiveness of treatment. Every day, Dr. Steven helps patients fight cancer using both time-tested conventional therapies and innovative medical technologies. At the same time, he helps them overcome negative emotions by cultivating acceptance, love, and self-compassion in a deeply personal way, through laughter, empathy, and the music he plays and sings for and with them. In Love Is the Strongest Medicine, Dr. Steven shares: Compelling, highly readable stories that chart his journey on the front lines of care Practical wisdom that readers can use to navigate their own journeys and get through what they’re going through right now A road map for bringing humanity back into traditional medical practice A blueprint for patients, families, and caregivers to live each day with hope—no matter what the day brings “When everything else falls away," Dr. Steven writes, “whether you are in a hospital exam room or tucked in bed at home, whether you are sick or well, patient, caregiver, or medical professional—the love that remains is the miracle.”
