As seen on Wired Media Reviews - United Kingdom

Any survivor of malignant cancer will recall the moment when they were told the prognosis and diagnosis. They will tell you the shock was so acute it seemed a roaring wind was passing by their ears whilst their brain tried to accept, make sense, of what they'd heard. They will say they sat stunned for moments before hundreds of questions spilled out, the two most important being, "Can I survive?" and "How long?"

In Mind, Body and Soul, nurse Nancy Hasset Dahm addresses the trauma, stress and physical aspects of both terminal patients and those who have recovered. Although written for those being treated in the United States medical institutions, it has valuable information and insights about treatments available and patient care. Much of what is written about lack of care in the American system is equally true of health care in Britain and some of Dahm's suggestions for combating this are applicable to both countries.

There are eleven parts to the structure of the book which take the reader from the first diagnosis through to possible death. The first deals with the indifference and desensitisation to death and the conspiracies of silence which sometimes occur between families and doctors. These can sometimes have an effect on the quality of care provided.

Two is mainly about the US system of health, but it does have the odd nugget of useful information which might be helpful to apply pressure if care is not of high standard.

Three deals with recognised treatments for the disease and the fear of them. Topics are chemotherapy, radiation and side effects, use of drugs, fear of change, loss of function, altered body image, altered roles and death.

Next is practical advice in overcoming the mental stress in dealing with the disease and everyone else who is interested in its outcome. The chapter about home care is very useful and carries wise advice for family members forced to witness the decline of their loved ones.

This leads to pain management and the fact that 90% of it in cancer patients can be controlled. This section is superb, it sets out in the detail needed, the ways of coping with a harrowing situation. Following this is a comprehensive review of the medications and treatment available for pain and their side effects.

Dahm does not shirk to share her vast experience of nursing terminal patients and directs us to the philosophers who can give comfort. She also objectively discusses patients who have apparently experienced ėmiracle' cures and as a Christian has faith in what is. This leads to the final chapter which deals with the death of the patient and loved one. This is sensitively and practically handled, containing medical advice and viewed from the aspect of Dahm's religious faith.

The appendix carries numerous addresses where information can be obtained, all based in the United States but in these days of the Internet not inaccessible. As George Harrison recently did, some may even be able to arrange treatment.

This is a very valuable book, jargon free and written fluently. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone confronted with the devastating implications of contracting cancer.

Rating (9 out of 10):

A VERY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION
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