Pancreatic Cancer: A Patient and His Doctor Balance Hope and Truth

Difficult to detect, quick to spread, and resistant to treatment, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Michael J. Lippe was diagnosed with it in 2007. This is his story, and the story of pancreatic cancer, narrated by Lippe and Dung T. Le, the doctor who is treating him. The book takes place as a conversation, with Lippe and Le writing alternate chapters. Lippe writes about the early signs that something was wrong; Le continues with a description of pancreatic cancer, its symptoms, and its treatments. Lippe talks about his prognosis, contemplates the prospect of death, and describes how he begins to cope; Le explains the importance, for both doctor and patient, of balancing hope and truth. Lippe speaks frankly about the toll the disease takes on his marriage and family; Le offers a general picture of what most patients can expect with their illness. The book concludes with what Le and Lippe both draw from this experience and the positive aspects that emerge from Lippe’s struggle. Together, the authors give readers an honest, yet hopeful, perspective. They offer clear explanations of what pancreatic cancer is, describe what people with the disease will feel physically and mentally, and discuss current treatments and future directions for research. Remarkable and reasoned, Pancreatic Cancer follows the journey many patients and caregivers will experience when facing cancer. The authors hope that this story will help the tens of thousands of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year.