Publisher's Synopsis
The second edition of the book on colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) in the Intelligent Patient Guide series. Patients who take an active part in making decisions about their treatment are better able to deal with their illness than are patients who give control to their doctors. The book provides information on all aspects of colon and rectal cancer and equips patients with the knowledge needed to take an active part in their treatment. Topics include: what cancer is, the symptoms your doctor watches for, how you can prevent colorectal cancer, which screening test is best and when it should be started, when to have surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, which treatments to avoid, what actually happens when you undergo surgery, possible complications of surgery, side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, alternative treatments, and psychological effects of colorectal cancer.
