Man to Man: Surviving Prostate Cancer

I had my surgery four weeks ago and found Mr. Korda's book fascinating to compare with my experience. It's an easy book to read and goes into the details and fears that other books mention in passing. Although Mr Korda's experience was a bit more dramatic than mine (I experienced relatively little pain and came home to an empty house after 5 days in the hospital)it was still interesting to me to compare how the surgery is done by the leading expert in the field at Johns Hopkins with how the surgery is performed at Baylor hospital in Dallas and to compare post surgery advice etc. Simply because he recounts an experience that was difficult for him is no reason to avoid reading this book. If nothing else, it gives the reader an idea of some of the questions to ask your surgeon. I was given a copy of the book by a stranger sitting next to me at my first cancer support group meeting and have enjoyed reading it.

This is a gripping book that starkly conveys his emotions upon learning of prostate cancer as well as his experiences deciding treatment and the process. I could not put it down, but can understand how others find it a disturbing read ahead of dealing with this problem.

My husband has just been told he has prostate cancer. While browsing the local library last week, we saw this book and checked it out. I suggest to every wife and husband to sit down and read this book together, there is so much information that will help both of you. As we have just returned from seeing Dr. Russo at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City, I can testify that all is exactly as Michael Korda tells in his book. Dr. Russo and his team are very efficent and very dedicated to the causes of this disease in men and this book is exactly what my husband and I are experiencing at this time. We at least know what is expected in the future and we hope everybody, whether they have been told they have this disease or not will read this most informative book. A must read for everyone, in our opinion.

Anyone facing this form of cancer will benefit from reading "Man to Man" I found the book entertaining and informative. It helped me face possibilities I was afraid to think about. I laughed and felt the pain of the experience personally! I feel fortunate that morphine was used to kill my pain after the operation. I have meet several people who for one reason or another were not given morphine. All of those people said they never felt relief from the pain. I feel that morphine enabled me to have maximum comfort during the most painful times soon after the surgery. I hope Doctors read the accounts of patients like Mr Korda. That may influence them to use morphine after serious surgery if no serious allergies would prevent it.

I received a copy of this book from a relative that knew I recently had a Radical Prostatectomy. I read the book, cover to cover, in 24 hours. Korda's book tells it like it is - the fears, the tears and the hope one finds on the way to recovery from prostate cancer. It should be read by all men over 40 and their significant others. The battle is not glossed over; it is one man's story of the struggle, and he details the emotional and physical complications of having your maleness attacked by cancer. I especially related to his description of how slow a response you get when you push a nurse's call button in a hospital - and Michael was at prestigious John Hopkins. I thought my wife and I got grumpy! I laughed until my stitches hurt when his wife faced off his famous surgeon. I really admire their courage in the face of the medical establishment. Two points of concern with the book. Michael Korda is wealthy; he gets more done with money than I certainly could in a VA hospital - private medical planes, home nursing, etc. My wife took care of me; and readers need to realize the author was not your average patient in the USA. Also, Michael never mentioned a faith, a religious support system from friends, priests or clergy. Prayer made a difference in my healing. Readers will need to look elsewhere for spiritual guidance during their cancer battle. Still this book is a must read for all men, daughters of men, and wives and friends of men over 40. Let it scare you into a PSA test!