From Publishers Weekly
When NBC’s Katie Couric put colon cancer awareness on the map by having a colonoscopy done on the Today show, Pochapin was her family specialist. The gastroenterologist cared for Couric’s late husband and is now Medical Director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, which is dedicated to her husband’s memory. In this practical, conversational volume, the doctor contends that, when found early, colorectal cancer can be cured 90 percent of the time. He gives a comprehensive overview of the disease, detailing its causes and risk factors as well as the foods and life-style changes that can help prevent it. For those already diagnosed, Pochapin also provides an easy-to-follow guide to surgery and treatment options, clinical trials and recent advances in research. (Handy explanatory charts throughout the book help readers to digest all this information.) Above all, however, Pochapin champions colonoscopy screenings. "Please don’t let your apprehension, anxiety or embarrassment rule your common sense," he pleads; colonoscopy screenings are the best weapon against America’s second deadliest cancer. Unlike a mammogram or PAP smear, the test can both discover and remove cancer-causing polyps before they become problematic—yet most patients undergo the test too late to take advantage of its extraordinary effectiveness. An estimated 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year alone, and 57,000 of them will die from it. This clear, compassionate book is an invaluable all-in-one resource for those who want to prevent, or are currently confronting, the disease. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Each year, nearly 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and over 50,000 men and women die from this surprisingly common disease. The amazing truth is that colorectal cancer is often preventable. And when found in its earliest stage, cancer of the colon and rectum can be fully cured 90 percent of the time. So why is the mortality rate for colorectal cancer -- one of the most treatable and preventable cancers -- so alarmingly high? How can you fight this disease? Find out...

Now Dr. Mark Pochapin, a colon cancer specialist and a nationally renowned screening advocate, will explode the myths and misconceptions about the third most common -- and second most deadly -- form of cancer in the U.S. Learn the latest scientific findings on: Prevention: How knowing your family history, a diet rich in folic acid, a regular exercise regime, and decreased alcohol intake can help reduce your risk of getting colorectal cancer. Screening: the importance of screening at age 50 -- and how to know if you should be checked earlier. Detection: Which colorectal cancer test is right for you, including colonoscopies, virtual colonoscopies, and FOBT tests. Diagnosis: How to cope emotionally with test results and find support. Treatment: The benefits, side effects, and risks for traditional, alternative, and cutting-edge therapies. Aftercare: How to stay healthy and vigilant for the warning signs of recurrence. With this potentially deadly disease, what you don't know can hurt you. Don't let apprehension, anxiety, or embarrassment overcome your common sense. Take control over your health with What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Colorectal Cancer.

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