Prevent, Survive, Thrive

Prevent, Survive, Thrive

"When it comes to achieving optimal care, women must be prepared to take charge of their health— which includes knowing more about their breasts than some physicians." John G. West

Dr. West provides advice that I would probably never have learnt of. He writes of how "...Yearly MRI screening should start as early as age twenty-five. Yearly screening mammography should start as early as age thirty."

Dr. West encourages self examination (of the breasts), and that this should be done monthly. This is something that really can't be stressed enough. In my case, I was extremely lucky to have had a school nurse speak about this, as well as have our school arrange for an expert from an outside agency to come in and speak to us of how to conduct a self exam, how to recognise a lump, what would be classed as abnormal growth or strange development. For those who have not had these lessons, a book of this kind is ideal.

On self exams, West tells us to get into the habit early. He writes: "Learning what your normal breast feels like should be started months, if not years, before becoming pregnant" And he advises that "If, during the self-exam, one area seems to stand out from the rest, it should be rechecked daily for a few days.

But the book covers a greater range of topics: breast mastectomy, biopsies, nipple discharge nipple reconstruction, plastic surgery, the possibilities of breast cancer in young children, in men (he writes that "a breast lump can be the first sign of a hidden testicular cancer), teenage girls and older women....

With such a range of topics, I appreciated that the book was structured so well. First the author provides a general overview, some characteristics of whatever the issue being discussed is (e.g. MRI scans, mammograms, x-rays, Breast pain, identifying malignancies for oneself etc.) This overview spans a handful of pages, and is neatly divided into sub headings- allowing for you to find a particular problem easily. This is followed by some tips, treatment options and advice throughout. We get a concise summary of something we may not be as familiar with, for example a particular technology. And this is fit into the page as a more detailed key word definition.

With this book, I was glad for the 'What I'd tell my daughter' section at the end of every chapter. It was a practical thought, and while the writing is accessible on all fronts throughout the book- as difficult a task I imagine that must have been, it was this section that sort of condensed the chapter. It was an informal 'things to takeaway' bit, and could be effectively used to decide whether I needed to read that particular chapter.

Of course though, this semi- informal approach was a reassurance to help me feel comfortable in what I was learning and I feel that if it weren't accessible in this way, it is likely I wouldn't have consulted it quite as much as I have over the last month. The knowledge is invaluable, there's a lot out there that is with knowing- stuff that could potentially save a life, from how to detect malignancies, to how to possibly prevent such issues in the first place. There's a thorough process and advice for who you should speak to, what steps to take, recommended treatment types, your options, and some background on the issue. Together, it goes a long way in helping you make sense of something as cruel as cancer.

Whether you're dealing with these issues or not, this book is worth buying. As someone who went through a phase where I was abnormally paranoid about my health, thinking the worst every time, I have to say this is a book you must have in the home. For example, I'd have those one-off occasions when I'd experience a sharp pain in my breast, very infrequently, but suddenly your thoughts are all over the place. It's those moments when a book of this kind is handy, it'll guide you in how you should go about discussing the issues with a physician, the author provides information on questions you should ask, stuff you should know, and what you can expect. You could perhaps keep it in the bathroom, and ensure it's accessible to your daughters. They may not be ready to speak of any issues without self confirmation, or the knowledge that there are issues to speak of. I'd say a book written by a breast care surgeon is far better than consulting Google, especially because of the breast care controversies all over the web. I'm extremely grateful that this book is out there.

I received this book through NetGalley.