SURVIVING ARROGANCE By: S. David Nathonson This memoir shows how an arrogant surgeon, whose worldview was entirely dependent upon scientific dogma, was startled into a new way of thinking, a new way of understanding himself, his patients, and the world, and how he became grateful, more human, more compassionate and more creative, enhancing his ability to heal patients with potentially lethal cancers and to use his creative research thoughts to introduce new ideas into his profession. The key to his transformation was provided by a young woman, dying of a rare abdominal tumor, but who miraculously survived after aggressive Western-style treatment. She believed the most important part of her treatment and recovery was the mindset she developed from alternative non-medical treatments, and he, initially skeptical of her beliefs, discovered truths that his medical training had not taught him. The author hopes that readers will see how modern medicine can and should incorporate empathy from doctors for their patients and a belief that they are not superior, despite their more advanced education.
After nearly three decades of providing medical care for women and men facing breast cancer, surgeon S. David Nathanson calls the survival rates today an ordinary miracle. Ordinary because the vast majority of patients now do live at least 20 years after diagnosis due to enormous progress that has been made in medicine; and a miracle too because of the intangible qualities such as faith and hope that seem key to success in battling the disease. In this book, survivors describe their experiences, emotions, and means to overcome the disease. S. David Nathanson is an esteemed, longtime surgeon who calls the survival rates today for women and men facing breast cancer nothing short of an ordinary miracle. Ordinary because the vast majority of patients live at least two decades after diagnosis, due to great advances that have been made in early detection, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But also a miracle because we know that key elements for a woman or man succeeding in a personal battle against breast cancer include completely intangible qualities of courage, fortitude, trust, persistence, faith, and hope. Although science cannot completely explain it, a supportive network of family and friends with those qualities also empower patient survival and recovery. In these pages, Nathanson shares stories from his patients, teaching us about the experience of breast cancer and explaining how they found and fueled the will and power to defeat the disease. Even surgeon Nathanson himself cannot fully describe what goes through the hearts and minds of breast cancer patients as they discover, deal with, and finally triumph over the diagnosis. So in this book he acts as a narrator, letting his ordinary yet miraculous cancer survivors tell their stories, certainly filled with fear of the known and unknown, and with pain, but opening up to courage, love, sometimes humor, and finally hope. It is hope that firms up their resilience; hope that initiates their fortitude. Hope is an important component of healing, says the surgeon. Seventy-one survivors, including one man, tell their stories to ilustrate every step of the experience.
The Concealed Revealed: Searching for the Hidden Lymph Node By: S. David Nathanson, MD This elegantly written and totally absorbing memoir describes renowned physician-scientist Dr. Nathanson`s passionate and exciting search for a hidden lymph node in breast cancer and melanoma patients. We share his scientific/medical discoveries which have eased the trauma and complications of many patients. We share and absorb his excitement of scientific discovery. Read it and you will be transported to the wondrous world of medical science and patient care at its best. - Michael Chopp PhD, Zolton J. Kovacs Chair in Neuroscience Research, Henry Ford Health System; Distinguished Professor, Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI This delightful memoir is a wonderful window into the exciting world of biomedical research. It relates the story of Dr Nathanson’s persistent fascination with lymph nodes and the lymphatic system which enabled him and others to identify the sentinel lymph node, allowing the eventual use of this new knowledge to optimize the care of breast cancer and melanoma patients world-wide. - Margot LaPointe PhD, Vice President for Research, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA Doctor Nathanson’s memoir is a vivid, exciting and invaluable reflection on his unique insights into the scientific discovery of the sentinel lymph node, providing the reader with a clear understanding of the fascinating world of scientific discovery that has advanced the management of breast cancer and melanoma. - Stanley P. L. Leong, MD, FACS, Chief of Cutaneous Oncology Center for Melanoma Research and Treatment California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute A succinct description of a lifelong devotion to understand how cancer spreads to lymph nodes. More important to the general reader might well be the excitement and fascination of the clinical and scientific discovery of hidden knowledge. - Rupen Shah, MD, FACS, FSSO, Surgical Oncologist, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan Motivated by his patients and driven to find a better way, Dr. Nathanson shares his inspiring journey of discovery to spare cancer patients the awful fate of lymphedema, a life-altering complication of lymph node surgery for cancer. Using heartwarming stories from his own life as well as raw conversations with patients who he treated along the way, this memoir shows how basic science can improve the lives of millions. - Timothy Padera PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA A superbly written, uninhibited, wonderfully and delicately interwoven set of experiences that culminate in a gripping story of how a curious mind is transformed by a fascination with the human lymphatic system. The memoir is an example of how tenacious and repetitive enchantment with the process of discovery contributed to sentinel events that have forever changed how cancer care is delivered all over the world. - David Kwon MD, FACS, FSSO, Physician in Charge, Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion; Director, Surgical Oncology, Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan USA. The Concealed Revealed is a memoir of S. David Nathanson’s contributions to the development of the sentinel node biopsy in cancer management, a procedure that has completely changed the way we treat breast cancer, melanoma, and other forms of cancer. Nathanson’s excitement and determination is evident throughout his time investigating better methods for cancer patients in providing them with a better quality of life than previous treatments, which left patients with life-altering swelling and loss of limb functionality. From his early years in South Africa to his move to the United States, we follow Nathanson on his tireless journey in understanding the complexities of cancer treatment. His curiosity and innovative spirit are inspiring and will encourage readers to follow their own passions.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.