Breast Cancer: What You Should Know (But May Not Be Told) About Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment

"This book is a fine resource for every doctor, patient, and family who has to confront the reality of breast cancer."—Bernie S. Siegel, M.D., Author of Love, Medicine, and Miracles

Attitudes about breast cancer diagnosis are changing, and women and their families are becoming more assertive about managing their disease. They know that more choices are available now than ever before, and they are willing to make them.

This book encourages you to take control. Cathy Hitchcock and Steve Austin, N.D., have written a book for women who are ready to actively participate in their diagnosis and treatment.

A husband and wife team, Hitchcock and Austin walk you step-by-step through each part of diagnosis, treatment (both conventional and alternative), and prevention (including prevention of a recurrence). With the help of a flow chart, they examine different diagnosis options. They also suggest questions to ask your doctor and offer checklists, summaries, and overviews.

Interwoven with all this information, Cathy shares her personal story as a breast cancer survivor. She describes her ordeal upon discovering the lump and the transitions she has gone through to live with the diagnosis in a life-affirming way. Unlike many other breast cancer patients, Cathy didn’t simply accept the choices offered by medical doctors. Instead, with the help of her husband, she studied the research and made her own decisions about conventional and alternative treatments.

Cathy Hitchcock, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., has a private counseling practice centered on women’s issues.

Steve Austin, N.D., is a licensed naturopathic physician and Professor of Nutrition at National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon.