Childhood Brain & Spinal Cord Tumors: A Guide for Families, Friends & Caregivers

by Tania Shiminski-Maher, Catherine Woodman, Nancy Keene

Overview

Each year about 4,000 children and teens in the United States are diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumor. The illness and its treatment can have devastating effects on family, friends, schoolmates, and the larger community. This newly updated edition contains essential information families need during this difficult time. It includes descriptions of the newest treatments, such as computer-assisted surgery, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapies as well as practical advice about how to cope with diagnosis, medical procedures, hospitalization, school, and finances. Effective ways to form a partnership with the medical team are provided, as are resources for medical information, emotional support, and financial assistance. The poignant and practical stories from more than 100 children with brain or spinal cord tumors and their parents show the personal side of diagnosis and treatment. Parents who read this book will find simply explained medical facts, advice to ease their daily life, and tools to be a strong advocate for their child.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781941089002
Publisher:	Childhood Cancer Guides
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Edition description:	Second edition
Pages:	560
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Tania Shiminski-Maher, a pediatric nurse practitioner, has worked for more than 30 years with children and teens who have brain and spinal cord tumors. She lives in New York City. Catherine Woodman is a physician who has published peer-reviewed papers on ethics of pediatric research and late effects of treatment for childhood cancer. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Nancy Keene is the author of several books, including Chemo, Craziness, and Comfort;Childhood Cancer; Childhood Leukemia; Educating the Child with Cancer; and Your Child in the Hospital. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.

Editorial Reviews

"For parents, there are few childhood diagnoses more frightening than a brain tumor. This is exactly the book to have in that situation. . . . It maintains a nice balance between providing solid clinical information and sharing stories of emotional support. . . . Highly recommended for all public and health-related libraries."  —Library Journal, starred review

"This book should be handed to every family at the moment of diagnosis. Its unique power is that it unites state-of-the-art medicine with state-of-the-heart care. Everyone who cares about a child with a brain or spinal cord tumor, and everyone who cares for them, will find this book essential and indispensable. "  —Fred Epstein, MD, Beth Israel Medical Center

“This book is loaded with information you NEED to know to help you understand the disease, what the doctors are talking about, sources of information, the problems that pop up along the way, as well as tips to help make the child much more comfortable. This should be the first book you read on the subject.”  ––Al Musella, DPM, president, Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc.

“Offers the practical and technical information parents need, interwoven with stories of families who have shared the same struggle."  ––Brain Tumor Society

"This book fills an extraordinary void for families in whom a child has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Written in comprehensive and straightforward prose, a family will learn virtually everything needed to deal with this most frightening diagnosis. This book is a gifted and welcome addition to the field of pediatric neuro-oncology. It will help countless families and healthcare providers alike learn all the ramifications of diagnosing a brain tumor in a child and the incredible turmoil that is subsequently produced in a family. This book should be on the shelf of every health care professional that deals with children with brain tumors and should be made available to every family in whom a brain tumor is diagnosed."  —Henry S. Friedman, MD, professor of Neuro-Oncology, codirector the Brain Tumor Center at Duke University


"This book provides an educational, supportive, and practical guide for those affected by the diagnosis of a child's brain or spinal cord tumor. In a clear and concise format (with excellent diagrams as well!), the reader is introduced to the basic anatomy and function of the central nervous system. Even better than the review of terminology, anatomy, and treatment is the practical description of a child's experience during therapy. The book really can benefit all members of a family (or those close to the family) of a child with a central nervous system (CNS) tumor. As a physician and a member of a family that has been affected by cancer, I found this book incredibly insightful and valuable. I would highly recommend it."  —Allison King, MD, Washington University Medical Center


“This comprehensive guide to pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors offers a wealth of useful information for patients and their families. . . . This valuable resource belongs in consumer health and public libraries.” —Barbara M. Bibel, Consumer ConnectionsNewsletter, July 2014 Medical Library Association


"This is the must-have book for all families who are faced with the diagnosis of a brain or spinal cord tumor in a child. The blend of factual information with family stories makes this a very readable book." —Sylvia Pellitier, Executive Director, Childhood Cancer Lifeline of New Hampshire

From the Publisher