Dr. Abrahm has written a book that is at once clinically sound and widely accessible. The premise is plain: "Suffering can be prevented or treated whenever it occurs, whether at diagnosis or during curative therapy, or if the cancer recurs."

In the chapters to follow, Dr. Abrahm makes good on this claim, not only by answering practical technical questions with skill, but also by including specific experiences and verbatim dialogue. Communicating with patients is no small part of helping them and their families.

The book contains basic information about common pain types and treatments. It also includes careful discussion of how to manage difficult pain syndromes and other symptoms of cancer.

Because the chapters are well-referenced, one quickly gains guidance beyond pharmacological symptoms and treatments. The inclusion of information about nonpharmacologic care; the importance of the care team (nurse, social worker, oncologist, pain specialist); and, finally the specifics about religious considerations, advance directives, and grief and bereavement give the book its true handbook value for clinicians.

If you are early in your medical career, or interested in understanding pain and other symptom management, or if you are trying to understand and help a loved one with cancer, this book is a wise investment.

Dr. Abrahm has written a book that is at once clinically sound and widely accessible. The premise is plain: "Suffering can be prevented or treated whenever it occurs, whether at diagnosis or during curative therapy, or if the cancer recurs."

In the chapters to follow, Dr. Abrahm makes good on this claim, not only by answering practical technical questions with skill, but also by including specific experiences and verbatim dialogue. Communicating with patients is no small part of helping them and their families.

The book contains basic information about common pain types and treatments. It also includes careful discussion of how to manage difficult pain syndromes and other symptoms of cancer.

Because the chapters are well-referenced, one quickly gains guidance beyond pharmacological symptoms and treatments. The inclusion of information about nonpharmacologic care; the importance of the care team (nurse, social worker, oncologist, pain specialist); and, finally the specifics about religious considerations, advance directives, and grief and bereavement give the book its true handbook value for clinicians.

If you are early in your medical career, or interested in understanding pain and other symptom management, or if you are trying to understand and help a loved one with cancer, this book is a wise investment.

For years, doctors have focused on curing the objective aspects of illness or disease, but have ignored -- or downplayed -- the subjective aspects, principally pain. Society's hypersensitivity to the misuse of drugs has only made the problem worse. Finally, one of the country's leading oncologists takes the problem seriously. This book, although designed for clinicians, should be read by every person who must confront pain either in themselves or a friend or relative. Written clearly and compellingly, this book now becomes the authoritative source on this important and overlooked subject. Put another way, any physician who is not familiar with this book simply is not being fair to his or her patients and is not staying current on a central part of current medicine.