"Positive Results", A Must Read for any woman @ High Risk!!

http://www.positiveresultsthebook.com/Positive_Results_The_Book/Home.html

About the book:

      "The words "breast cancer" and "ovarian cancer" strike fear into the hearts of most women.  But for women  whose mothers, sisters, aunts, or grandmothers have faced these diseases, the question "Will I get it too?" is a constant companion.  These are the cancers they fear most.  Women who learn that they carry a BRCA mutation have many questions and their health care decisions are complex.  For women with strong families histories of these diseases who do not have BRCA mutations, the decisions are equally difficult.  Positive Results fills a void by distilling the complex information needed to understand breast and ovarian cancer risk in a way that is easy to understand."

            "One part memoir, three parts guidebook, Positive Results explains in a clear and steady manner the myths and realities of "the breast cancer genes."  It lays out all of the options in clear, compassionate language.  It will help women decide if they want to pursue genetic testing.  It will help them interpret their genetic test results.  And it will help them make the life-saving decisions required to manage their risks if they discover that they are at high risk of breast or ovarian cancer.  Positive Results covers all of the cutting-edge medical options from genetic and genomic testing for breast cancer risk to the medical and surgical options for managing risk and beating the odds." 

           "Positive Results is organized for easy reference with chapters on genetics, genetic counseling, interpreting genetic test results, assessing risk, breast cancer surveillance (including cutting edge technologies), mastectomy techniques (with the pros and cons of each), breast reconstruction techniques, ovarian cancer surveillance and detection, ovarian surgery (hysterectomy/oophorectomy), managing menopause, and a full chapter on the cancer risks faced by men with BRCA mutations.  Although designed as a guidebook, Positive Results is far from a dry reference work.  It is more like a travel log to BRCAland than a textbook.  Along the way, it tells the story of Joi and other women (and men) who have made the gut-wrenching decisions required to survive in this world of astronomical risk.  These stories answer the question "What is it like ...?" 

           " When Joi learned that she carried a mutation on the BRCA2 gene she went searching for a book with answers to her many questions.  She wanted a book that she could read at night, dog ear the pages, and take with her to her medical appointments.  The vast quantity of knowledge needed to understand her risk and the various medical options was both daunting and confusing.  But there was no book to help guide her on her journey.   Positive Results was born out of Joi's desire to create just such a book for other women like her -- women fighting, facing, and fearing breast and ovarian cancer.  But to create a thorough medical guidebook Joi needed the help of a compassionate and experienced doctor.  Dr. Ora Gordon is a genetic counselor, medical geneticist, director of the Cedars-Sinai GenRisk Adult Genetics program, associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, director of cancer genetics at the Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, and Joi's doctor.  Together Joi and Dr. Gordon have created a truly unique resource for families facing the specter of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer."

            "Positive Results is Joi's memoir of her journey through the decision-making maze as well as the guidebook she so desperately wanted at the beginning of her journey.  It comprehensively reviews every decision, beginning with genetic testing and genetic counseling, provides history and perspective on breast and ovarian cancer screening, mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and ovarian surgery, and provides information on cutting edge research and potential future advances that may well change the decision-making landscape for women and men facing these hereditary cancers."

I had the most wonderful opportunity of meeting Joi over a year ago while she was visiting in NYC. We both share a common bond with hereditary cancers in our families. I was immediately struck by her warmth, compassion, and her charming wit as we spoke together about our risks. Both of us share another special bond for our love and dedication to FORCE, the only non-profit organization devoted to breast/ovarian hereditary cancers, through our Outreach coordinatorships as well. I applaud the strength, knowledge and determination of both authors in bringing forward the long awaited and over-due empowerment of knowledge needed for ALL women and men pre-disposed to breast and ovarian cancers. Thank you Joi and Ora for creating heightened awareness to the high risk community, like never before together in this single empowering book. Surely this will help not only previvors and survivors alike, but also to the healthcare providers for which we seek our specialized care! I urge all women at risk to read this amazing book!

For more info. on the FORCE organization, please visit www.facingourrisk.org

LisaMG