Posted on April 14th, 2017
Reading about other people's experiences with the same disease is often very beneficial and even therapeutic, as acknowledging that there are others who went through similar hardship may help you cope better with your diagnosis.
Today, more and more people are aware that they might have been exposed to asbestos at some point, to their workplace, in their homes or their communities. Asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, or lung cancer, are very difficult to cope with. A cancer diagnosis can affect physical health, mental well-being, and even relationships with loved ones.
Books - a valuable source of asbestos-related information
Having access to reliable educational resources is vital when you are likely overwhelmed with questions, fears and conflicting information. Books about cancer, about struggle, about loss and grief, have been written for people who are facing terrible diagnoses and who naturally need answers. Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. recommends 10 remarkable books written by cancer survivors, physicians, or motivational experts, for patients with asbestos-related cancers who need the right information in order to understand the course of their uphill journey.
Starting from a prognosis of 6 months left to live, Carl Helvieis now a proud cancer survivor. In this book, he gives answers to several questions that might arise when faced with a cancer diagnosis, emphasizing the benefits of using alternative and integrative treatments for this disease.
The author also provides information on how to put an end to the possible causes of cancer like smoking, poor nutrition or asbestos exposure. Moreover, he shows how someone can overcome cancer without conventional treatments like surgery and chemotherapy by developing a healthy lifestyle and focusing on natural treatment options which include vitamins, physical exercises and a positive attitude.
Trusted Source: Buy "You Can Beat Lung Cancer: Using Alternative/Integrative Interventions" by Carl O. Helvie
Contrary to the title, this book is great for people facing any type of cancer as it offers hope and guidance to those in need. In a practical way and with a subtle touch of humor, the author successfully combines information on conventional treatments that doctors tell their patients with vital pieces of information that they might willingly or unwillingly omit. It also provides healing techniques and explains how to approach the side effects of this disease in order to reach an optimal health state. Described as an inspirational book who has helped people change their diet and lifestyle, this "practical 12-step plan" can give a powerful kick-start to anyone battling cancer.
Trusted Source: Buy "How to Survive Lung Cancer - A Practical 12-Step Plan" by Michael Lloyd
Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at just 36 years old, Paul Kalanithi turned, in the blink of an eye, from a bright neurosurgeon to a terminally ill patient. As a literature lover, Paul decided to document his fight with this devastating disease and writes an inspiring book, committing to paper how facing death "changed nothing and everything" at the same time.
The author also describes how he managed to better understand the doctor-patient relationship from the perspective of a man who experienced both and successfully turns "When breath becomes air" in a powerful book which presents Paul's struggles to find the answer to one very important question: "What makes life worth living?".
Trusted Source: Buy "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi
"An empowering guide to lung cancer" is a great book, providing extremely useful information about this disease in an easy to read and understand manner. From diagnosis to treatment options, Dr. Presser approaches every aspect of lung cancer, leaving no stone unturned. In this book, he presents the conventional cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but he also talks about alternative therapies that have worked well for his patients. The author successfully manages to write a complete and very educational book addressed not just to cancer patients, but to caregivers and people facing other devastating diseases as well.
Trusted Source: Buy "An Empowering Guide to Lung Cancer" by Eric Presser
This book can be an incredibly helpful resource for a better understanding of how the use of asbestos has evolved throughout time. The central point discussed by the author oscillates around the positive and negative aspects of asbestos use and whether this mineral, now known to be extremely dangerous, has saved more lives than it has actually taken. Rachel Maines tries to give people an insight of the fire-caused disasters which have been or could have been prevented through asbestos use. She explains that the realization, understanding and acceptance of the possible consequences the increasingly evolving technologies imply is a "collective responsibility".
Trusted Source: Buy "Asbestos and Fire: Technological Tradeoffs and the Body at Risk" by Rachel Maines
Andrea Peacock successfully turns a report into what a reader calls "a complex tale of heartbreak", a great book about the tragedy of the people working in a vermiculite mine, owned by the W.R. Grace Company, and their families. The author shares the devastating stories of the people of the "Chernobyl of U.S." experiencing serious health problems due to asbestos exposure and reveals the ignorance and disrespect of a company that knowingly sentenced its workers to death, struggling to uncover the human side of both parties involved.
Trusted Source: Buy "Libby, Montana: Asbestos and the Deadly Silence of an American Corporation" by Andrea Peacock
The purpose of this informative book is to help people who struggle to live with this awful illness, as well as scientists interested in asbestos-related health problems. Its knowledgeable authors provide a complete review on what a mesothelioma diagnosis really means. They succeed in writing a comprehensive mesothelioma guide that contains information on every aspect of the disease, starting with its early detection and progressing to its development and diagnosis. The usefulness of this guide is additionally increased by the treatment options and the medico-legal aspects which are also discussed in the book.
Trusted Source: Buy "Mesothelioma" by Bruce W S Robinson and A Philippe Chahinian
Barry Castleman is currently one of the best asbestos experts in aspects concerning medical and legal issues. As a consequence, this comprehensive book has become a great resource for health professionals, lawyers and agencies dealing with environmental problems. The author provides a broad history of asbestos, from its heavy industrial use in the past to the health complications people are facing at the present moment. "Asbestos: Medical and Legal Aspects" represents an informational supply for a long list of matters, including topics like asbestos-related diseases, compensation eligibility and company owners' awareness of asbestos hazards.
Trusted Source: Buy "Asbestos: Medical and Legal Aspects" by Barry I. Castleman
"Asbestos and Mesothelioma" is another essential book, providing information on the link between asbestos and various diseases, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, and discussing the possible influence of genetic mutations on people's risk of developing the latter-mentioned one. The author successfully interconnects the medical and legal aspects of mesothelioma and creates a volume which presents multidisciplinary information. The book tackles various topics, from diagnosis methods and up-to-date treatment options, like new surgical approaches or targeted administration of chemotherapeutic medication, to the legal rights of the people suffering from this devastating disease.
Trusted Source: Buy "Asbestos and Mesothelioma" by Joseph R. Testa
Written by experts in the asbestos-related health problems area, this book represents a valuable resource recommended to recently diagnosed people and to other mesothelioma patients who want to learn more about this merciless disease. The book provides information on the molecular mechanisms of diffuse malignant mesothelioma and includes reports of the latest improvements in the medical imaging field. In this succinct but broad volume, Timothy Craig Allen also discusses matters relevant to surgeons, radiologists or other healthcare providers, such as epidemiologic, immunologic and histologic aspects of the disease.
Trusted Source: Buy "Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma" by Timothy Craig Allen
