Gerald Chodak (1947–2019)

I would suggest that every man in this country get this book. I have a family history of cancer and so I investigate all types and this book was eye-opening. I have talked with my husband and his family along with the men in my family about this cancer. It is devastating to get the diagnosis that you have cancer, but this book gives you the information you need to make reasonable decisions on how to proceed with the treatment. I again would suggest any man to read this and his loved ones also so they know what to expect.… (plus d'informations)

By curious happenstance, I received this book at a time just prior to the doctor's suggestion that my husband should have a prostate biopsy. Neither of us expected any unwanted news, but the book still promised to be interesting in that neither of us were very well versed on the subject of prostate cancer at all. As it turns out, this book was indespensible in the decisions that became necessary with the result of my husband's biopsy. This book explains so much, and so thoroughly (sometimes to the point of repetition), that by the time the diagnosis of prostate cancer was given to us, we had a clear roadmap of questions to ask. The book doesn't tell you the course of treatment to choose; no book can do that. What it does do is explain what the experts know about prostate cancer, the varying courses of treatments, possible side effects, and probable outcomes. It also explains that each case is individual, and each person will react to a given treatment differently. This is such an informative book, and I really recommend it for all men and for the spouses and families of those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.… (plus d'informations)

Every man should be required to have this book, as it is said that if a man lives long enough, he will contract prostate cancer. The book is extremely helpful - Dr. Chodak provides the reader with explanations of the various forms of the disease, the treatments available, and the current state of knowledge as to how effective the treatments are.

Perhaps most frustrating is the amount of repetitiveness in the book. In his effort to organize the material effectively, and to provide the material in a comprehensive fashion, nearly every chapter contains much material that has already been explained, or that will be explained (again) later - or both. The result is that after you've read half the book you feel like you're just re-reading the book point by point.

What is also frustrating - but not because of Dr. Chodak - is the lack of research that has been done in a way that would provide some sort of definitive data about the disease. Dr. Chodak is careful to note when the studies that have been done are helpful in making decisions, and when the studies are not helpful at all.

For all of its faults, the book is, nevertheless, invaluable. No man should be without this book.… (plus d'informations)