Book about triple negative breast cancer

Oxford University PressOct 19 2012

Hope, Treatment, and Recovery by Patricia Prijatel is exactly that-an encouraging guide to surviving a disease often referred to as, "a particularly aggressive and difficult to treat form of cancer." Prijatel is a health journalist who, at the age of 60 was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer [TNBC] a disease which disproportionately affects young women and women of African descent. No book existed on TNBC at the time of Prijatel's diagnosis. "The book you are holding is my attempt to share what I have learned so you do not have to start from square one as I did," Prijatel writes, "Through education, I have learned how to help myself, how to keep myself focused on health and not fear. I hope that reading this book does the same for you." SURVIVING TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER delivers research-based information on the biology of TNBC; the role of genetics, family history, and race; how to navigate treatment options; and a plethora of strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence, including diet and lifestyle changes.

Prijatel provides a fact-filled guide to understanding a pathology report and a vast array of scientific studies. Woven throughout the book are stories of women who have faced TNBC. These are mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters who went through a variety of medical treatments and then got on with life-one competes in triathlons, two had babies after being treated with chemo, one got remarried in her 50s, and one just celebrated the 30th birthday of the son she was nursing when she was diagnosed. These stories provide inspiration and a sense of camaraderie throughout the book, consistently reminding readers that this is a disease that others have fought and won.

Topics for discussion include:

• How is TNBC different from other forms of breast cancer?
• What role do diet and exercise play in fighting TNBC?
• If someone is diagnosed with TNBC, what questions should they ask their doctor? What should they expect in terms of initial screenings and other tests?
• In the book you mention some great tips for getting your records organized. Why do you think this is important?
• What are your thoughts about alternative treatments such as yoga or acupuncture?

Writing with honesty and humor, Prijatel delivers an inspiring message-that TNBC is a disease to take seriously, with proper and occasionally aggressive treatment, but it is not automatically a killer. Most women diagnosed with the disease do survive. SURVIVING TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER is a roadmap for women who want to be empowered through their treatment and recovery.