When the Focus Is on Care: Palliative Care and Cancer

Book Review When the Focus Is on Care: Palliative Care and Cancer Kathleen M. Foley, M.D., Editor Atlanta: American Cancer Society, 2005, 337 pp. The American Cancer Society publishes a wide range of quality books on cancer. This one was written by a variety of MDs, PhDs and other experts. Most cancer books are written by individual patients, doctors or good journalists. Those written by a highly-qualified group are unusual, thorough and valuable. This book focuses on the needs of the patient in the latter stages of the disease rather than the earlier phases of treatment and cure. As death becomes more visible and likely, the patient needs special care to maintain quality of life when cure is no longer possible and the success of treatments is fading. Other problems now must be dealt with: serious illness, new legal and financial matters, caregiving and all the heavy issues related to death and grief. The book is as much for caregivers as it is for patients. It is said that there should be caregivers for the caregivers, who go through many emotional, financial and activity management problems of their own. This book provides the expert information and advice that will help both patients and caregivers solve problems, maintain hope and positive attitudes and prepare for final days. Every year in America, more than 500,000 people die of cancer. Most of them will face the problems covered in this book. As I deal with my own cancer, survey the literature and research and write a book about how to fight the disease, this essential book rises to the top of my recommended list. John Roberts (www.CanFighter.com)

This book is great in that it is easy to skip through as you want to focus on specific chapters or topics without reading the whole thing. I do recommend reading their introduction and definitions of palliative and hospice care. The writing style is easy, very matter of fact, not overly academic, but doesnt talk down to the reader. The book talks about types of care, choices for the person who is ill or dying, and for their family. And very helpful: what various stages of dying look like emotionally/psychologically/ and physically. Being a learner who needs both book learning plus hands on experiences, this book helped me alot as my mother was ill and dying. The hospice organization who helped us was tremendous and had some resources too but this book has it all.