Living with Lymphoma: A Patient's Guide

by Elizabeth M. Adler, W. Jeffrey Baker (Foreword by), Michael R. Bishop (Introduction)

Overview

The second edition of this award-winning guide reflects profound shifts in the lymphoma landscape, including new treatments that are extending survival.

Winner, American Medical Writers Association Medical Book Award

When neurobiologist Elizabeth M. Adler was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma almost twenty years ago, she learned everything she could about the disease, both to cope with the emotional stress of her diagnosis and to make the best possible decisions for her treatment. In Living with Lymphoma, she combines her scientific expertise and personal knowledge with a desire to help other people who have lymphoma manage this complex and often baffling disease.

With the availability of more effective treatment regimens, many people with lymphoma are living longer; in fact, there are more than 700,000 lymphoma survivors in the United States alone. Given this change in the lymphoma landscape, the second edition of this book places a greater emphasis on survivorship.

The new edition includes the latest information on lymphoma diagnosis, treatment, and incidence and describes the most recent update to the WHO system of lymphoma classification and staging. Adler discusses new targeted therapies like ibrutinib and idelalisib and describes how other treatments, including radiation therapy and stem cell transplants, have been modified while others have been discontinued. She also addresses new developments, such as the possible role of lack of sunlight and vitamin D in the pathogenesis of lymphoma, and the use of medical marijuana. The book includes suggestions for further reading, including the latest material available online.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421418100
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	02/01/2016
Series:	Johns Hopkins Press Health Books (Paperback)
Edition description:	second edition
Pages:	480
Sales rank:	540,914
Product dimensions:	6.32(w) x 9.18(h) x 1.18(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth M. Adler, Ph.D., is associate editor at Science magazine's Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment (STKE).

Table of Contents

Foreword W. Jeffrey Baker xi

Preface to the Second Edition xv

Preface to the First Edition: Journeys in a Dark Wood xix

Introduction Michael R. Bishop xxv

Part I Living with Lymphoma? 1

Chapter 1 What Is Lymphoma? 3

Chapter 2 Symptoms and Diagnosis 15

Part II Treating Lymphoma 61

Chapter 3 Chemotherapy 69

Chapter 4 Radiation Therapy and Surgery 136

Chapter 5 Monoclonal Antibodies and Other Magic Bullet Therapies 151

Chapter 6 Stem Cell Transplants 181

Chapter 7 Unconventional Therapies 209

Chapter 8 Survivorship 247

Part III Understanding Lymphoma 261

Chapter 9 Basic Cell Biology and Cancer 263

Chapter 10 The Immune System 280

Chapter 11 Lymphoma Classification and Staging 314

Chapter 12 Possible Causes of Lymphoma 368

Afterword 393

Acknowledgments 395

Glossary 397

Index 425

What People are Saying About This

Michael R. Bishop

A stand-alone text for lymphoma patients. Keep it at your side along with all the questions you have (written down, of course), and come prepared to every visit, knowledgeable about your disease and your treatment. Knowledge is power. Elizabeth has provided you with an invaluable resource.

— Michael R. Bishop, M.D., from the introduction

Wendy S. Harpham

Elizabeth Adler offers a crash course on lymphoma that is remarkable for its clarity and compassion. As a physician-survivor, I’ve experienced how knowledge enables patients to help physicians personalize treatments and to optimize their own self-care between office visits. Living with Lymphoma empowers patients to open windows of opportunity to improve their outcome.

from the Introduction by Michael R. Bishop

A standalone text for lymphoma patients. Elizabeth has provided you with an invaluable resource.

Anne Atkinson

Adler's professional background and experience as a lymphoma survivor make her the perfect person to write this book. The author's explanations are a gentle guide and a thorough introduction to the basics that give us the confidence to handle decisions relating to treatments and other aspects of lymphoma.

— Anne Atkinson, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin disease survivor and coordinator of the Women's Cancer Group

From the Publisher

A wonderful work. I can sincerely recommend it to patients, caregivers, and health professionals who will benefit from its intelligence and wisdom.
—from the Foreword by W. Jeffrey Baker, MD

A standalone text for lymphoma patients. Elizabeth has provided you with an invaluable resource.
—from the Introduction by Michael R. Bishop, MD

Elizabeth Adler offers a crash course on lymphoma that is remarkable for its clarity and compassion. As a physician-survivor, I’ve experienced how knowledge enables patients to help physicians personalize treatments and to optimize their own self-care between office visits. Living with Lymphoma empowers patients to open windows of opportunity to improve their outcome.
—Wendy S. Harpham, MD, author of Happiness in a Storm: Facing Illness and Embracing Life as a Healthy Survivor

from the Foreword by W. Jeffrey Baker

A wonderful work.I can sincerely recommend it to patients, caregivers, and health professionals who will benefit from its intelligence and wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

Highly recommended for any patient or family member seeking a clear health book with the latest facts.
—Midwest Book Review

Reading [Living with Lymphoma] is an enlightening experience and all nurses caring for lymphoma patients should ensure it is on their reading list.
—Nursing Standard

I strongly recommend this book for relatives and friends with a diagnosis of cancer.
—Reference Reviews

From the Publisher

I strongly recommend this book for relatives and friends with a diagnosis of cancer.

Reference Reviews

Highly recommended for any patient or family member seeking a clear health book with the latest facts.

Midwest Book Review

The most comprehensive book I have seen on the subject, short of a medical text.

Oncolink

The most complete explanation of what goes on... I highly recommend it for patients, loved ones, and anyone who would like to understand what is lymphoma.

Lymphoma Information Network

Lymphoma survivor Adler (associate editor, Science magazine's Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment) combined her personal experience with her neurobiology background to create this well-researched guide for lymphoma patients. Her book is divided into three parts: "Living with Lymphoma," which focuses on symptoms and diagnosis; "Treating Lymphoma," which details chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and other therapies; and "Understanding Lymphoma," which provides a deeper explanation of the biology of cancer cells and the immune system. Adler's personal experiences are integrated into the medical material. Extensive footnotes for each chapter, a glossary, and illustrations in the third section aid in understanding. The book's reading level is quite high, falling somewhere between that of Lorraine Johnston's Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas: Making Sense of Diagnosis, Treatment & Options and an oncology textbook. While this makes it inappropriate for many readers, those desiring a more in-depth treatment will appreciate it. Recommended for larger public and consumer health libraries.-Eris Weaver, Librarian on the Loose, Cotati, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Reading [Living with Lymphoma] is an enlightening experience and all nurses caring for lymphoma patients should ensure it is on their reading list.

Nursing Standard

As a patient, I feel the need to learn all I can about any new diagnosis... this is the most comprehensive book I have seen on the subject, short of a medical text... OncoLink highly recommends this guide.

Oncolink - Carolyn Vachani

It is the most complete explanation of what goes on I've found and is excellent... I highly recommend it for patients, loved ones, and anyone who would like to understand what is lymphoma.

Lymphoma Information Network - Mike Barela

A wide range of library holdings will want to make this a basic reference; from public libraries to college health collections.

Bookwatch