Living With Colon Cancer: Beating the Odds

by Eliza Wood Livingston

Despite the efforts of Katie Couric to draw attention to the importance of colonoscopy screening for the detection of colon cancer, this cancer still does not receive the publicity devoted to breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Yet colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy in the world and is the second leading cause of death from cancer next to lung cancer. As a result of the silence surrounding this disease, colon cancer patients and their families can feel isolated, without the support and information networks available to those coping with more publicized illnesses.In this helpful and inspiring book, Eliza Wood Livingston provides a wealth of practical information about colon cancer while telling of her own heroic battle against this challenging disease and her survival after a bleak diagnosis. Designed to provide both vital information and emotional support, Livingston's story will help anyone faced with the difficult ordeals of surgery, chemotherapy, colostomy, and the emotional roller coaster that patients often experience. At every stage of facing these challenging hurdles, she describes to readers what they can expect, guides them to be their own advocates and ask the right questions of medical personnel, and effectively conveys the comforting message that they need never feel alone. A very reader-friendly text, with many useful sidebars highlighting important points, makes this accessible book easy to follow for average readers.Livingston points out that while society seems more willing to recognize and openly discuss other life-threatening illnesses, a sense of shame and secrecy persists regarding colorectal cancer. Her personal story of courage and complete candidness about her condition go a long way toward dispelling the fear and embarrassment often associated with colon cancer. Most important, she gives fellow patients and their families hope that they too can triumph over this serious disease.

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2005

Reviews

[Lyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a powerful resource. Eliza shares her own journey with Colon Cancer and as a health care professional she also explains along the way, and in a way that the average non-medical person can understand, all the terminologies, plus providing helpful hints to try and make the experience a little more bearable, not only for the patient but the carer, family and friends.
So much can be learned from Eliza's book about treating all aspects of this insidious disease - physical, mental and emotional - because true healing does need to encompass all.
I enjoyed her honest opinions and suggestions for health care providers on how they too can contribute to best possible outcomes for patients simply by the manner in which they deliver their care.
The dreams at the beginning of the chapters did not do much for me personally but may help others.
A well written, honest and compassionate voice of lived experience.