1^st place

From both ends of the stethoscope:  getting through breast cancer by a doctor who knows. By Dr Kathleen Thompson.

(published by Faito Books)

‘Such a wonderful idea to bring doctor and patient together – like making a connection between the two worlds of Alice’s looking glass….  It is both accessible, well written and honest.’  Felicity Trew. (Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency)

Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

We forget, perhaps, that doctors can also become patients. Dr Kathleen Thompson suspected something was wrong. She hesitated – surely not her? Finally, and reluctantly, she sought a diagnosis. It was indeed breast cancer.

Kathleen looks back on her cancer with honesty, humour and compassion, and with the benefit of her medical understanding and knowledge of the system. She uses her experience to guide the reader through diagnosis and treatment, both when things go smoothly, and when they don’t.

She explains medical research and how to assess the credibility of the numerous treatment claims, and what we can all do to protect ourselves from cancer.

Judge’s comments: If you know anyone who has breast cancer, if you yourself are suffering, or if you just want to know more about the commonest UK cancer, then this could be the book you didn’t know you were looking for. It will give you the comfort of knowledge, of good advice, of reassurance that cancer is not an inevitable death sentence. It will also empower you to take control of your condition.

It is such a wonderful idea to bring doctor and patient together – like making a connection between the two words of Alice’s looking glass. As a doctor, Kathleen Thompson knows how to interpret medical information, how to challenge another doctor for answers and how to interpret what her body is telling her. Or so you would think. What made this book immediately appealing was the sheer humanity of her first reaction to discovering something ‘not quite right’ with one of her breasts. She ignored it. After that it was an easy step to  join her as she adjusted to being on the wrong side of the doctor’s desk and most people would want her to be with them in the consulting room at critical moments. Failing that, just take a friend and this book.

The book does not tell you what you should do or how you should feel. It offers strategies, explains what you can expect and what you can ask for – and what you should not tolerate. It clarifies jargon and gives you choices. It tells you what you can do to help yourself in terms of diet and exercise and rest, but does not make claims that any one thing will ‘cure’ you. It’s all right to be tired, and frightened and angry. It’s not all right for doctors to tell you ‘not to worry’.  And most breast cancer sufferers survive.

From Both Ends of the Stethoscope is both accessible, well written and honest. For someone who’s enduring the after-effects of chemo- or radio-therapy, it makes life a precious fraction of a degree easier.

All of which makes this book an unassailable 1st place winner.

About Dr Kathleen Thompson:

Kathleen is not only a writer but a physician, specialising in pharmaceutical drug research.

A few years ago her life changed completely, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This became the inspiration for her book, ‘From Both Ends of the Stethoscope’.

She has a passion for sharing her medical expertise and writes regular medical features for Frost e-Magazine. She has also written guest features for Fabafterfifty e-Magazine and a guest blog for Breast Cancer Care.

She learned a great deal from having cancer herself, and is keen to provide this insight to her readers.

She adores ballroom dancing and enjoys adventures. She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, walked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago and cycled through rural Rajasthan and in the mountains of Kerala.  During some of these activities she raised funds for Women v Cancer –which provides funding for three cancer charities, including Breast Cancer Care.

She has two long-suffering children, who tolerate their mother’s crazy projects, and regularly rescue her from IT catastrophes.

Kathleen is delighted to support Words for the Wounded which does such fabulous work.