Melanoma: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment; Second Edition

This book was very useful in understanding melanoma. My mother had the disease and I have many moles that on occasion worry me. THe photos and text dispelled many of the myths I had heard about getting melanoma and now I know what to look for when I worry about a mole changing. I don't panic about my moles as much and now I'm armed to discuss anything with my doctor in an intelligent manner.

Written by a journalist who herself had melanoma and a medical doctor, this concise book aims at helping those who have contracted melanoma or who fear they might. It is also valuable for those whose spouse or other loved one has this frightening disease.Poole follows the plan implied in the title, showing how melanoma might be prevented, how it can be detected as early as possible (which is absolutely essential in this disease, because it is the spread, the metastasis, that kills), and how it can be treated. She adds some resources including web sites, helpful organizations, publications, and a glossary. The photos showing what melanoma looks like include shots of moles that may be spots where melanoma may begin. The prints are ugly and scary, but very helpful. There is some technical material, especially about the staging system for melanoma in Appendix A, but for the most part the emphasis is on practical information and guidance presented in a straight forward and readable manner.I wish the information in this book had been widely available twenty years ago so that my mother who died from the disease might have understood what the spots on her skin were and had them removed before they spread to her brain. For myself, I note that of the five most important factors in gauging who is most likely to get melanoma (p. 21), I have all five.The good news is, although once it has metastasized melanoma is a very deadly disease, if it is caught in time, the cure rate is very high, in some case approaching 100% (p. 39).What's beautiful about this book is that the information it contains will surely save lives.

This book was an indispensible resource during one of the most trying times of my life. It helped me to appreciate the seriousness of this disease and increased my understanding of my pathology report and treatment options. Thank-you Ms. Poole and Dr. Guerry.

This book was very helpful in explaining what melanoma is, what questions to ask my doctor and what the answers meant. It was recommended that I have some "suspicious" moles checked and read the book to gain a better understanding of what they were looking for and the consequences of what might be found. As a layman it's hard to know where to begin and what you should be asking. This book gave me the answers - I strongly recommend it.

This has to be that best melanoma book I have read yet. The information is given clearly, and without being overly technical. I would strongly recommend this book to patients, families, caregivers, or anyone dealing with melanoma in ther life.