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APS Bulletin • Volume 9, Number 1, January/February 1999

Resource Reviews

John D. Loeser, MD, Department Editor

Cancer Doesn't Have to Hurt

Reviewed by John D. Loeser, MD

P.J. Haylock, & C.P. Curtiss, Hunter House, Alameda, CA, 1997, 176 pages, $14.95 (softcover), $24.95 (hardcover), ISBN 0-89793-213-7

This is a very good book, aimed at the patient with cancer pain or pain resulting from cancer treatment. The organization is clear, and illustrations and examples are liberally used. The index and glossary are helpful. There are excellent lists of sources for additional assistance, including Internet sites, U.S. mail addresses, and telephone numbers. I particularly like the focus on what patients should actively do and request of their healthcare providers. (There is little question in my mind that a patient who is prepared with the correct questions and a modicum of assertiveness can obtain better information and treatment.) The writing style is clear and at an appropriate level for the average adult. No attempt is made to provide detailed information; instead, the authoritative sources have been used to create reader-friendly information and suggestions for action. This is a useful book to have in one's patient library.

John D. Loeser is professor of neurological surgery and anesthesiology at the University of Washington in Seattle.

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