The Thinking Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer: Take Charge of Your Recovery and Remission

When Dr. Janet Maker was diagnosed in 2011, she, like most people, knew almost nothing about breastcancer. What she did know is that she didn’t feel safe simply following her doctors’ advice. She needed tounderstand for herself all her treatment options, the statistical outcomes for each option, and all thepotential side effects, so she could make informed decisions. Because of her academic background andexpertise as a researcher, she discovered a great deal about the disease and its treatments that few laypeople are aware of.The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer is the story of her journey and the things she learned alongthe way. This information helped her to make informed decisions about her treatment, and it also helpedher to make the lifestyle changes that she hopes will keep her in remission. This is the book she wished shehad before, during, and after her treatment.Topics that will help readers take charge of their recovery include how to find the best doctors andhospitals; how to build a support system; and pros and cons of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, andhormones. Topics that will help readers stay in remission include how to make the body less receptive tocancer, including changes in diet, exercise, supplements, and stress reduction. Readers may not make thesame decisions that Dr. Maker did, but the information in the book will empower them to make thedecisions they consider best for themselves and their loved ones.

Dr. Maker received her B.A. in English from UCLA, her M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University,and her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California. She began hercareer as a social worker, child welfare worker, and psychiatric social worker (LCSW and MFT).