<DIV>This compassionate, informative, and essentially practical book will help fill the gap too often left in doctor-patient communication. Patients are often given only minimal information about their condition and its treatment, with the family left to adapt as best they can to the long-term demands of the illness. This detailed guide provides full up-to-date information about the symptoms of the disease and its possible causes; the process of diagnosis and the likely course of the illness; various types of treatment, including medication and surgery; the implications of the disease for work, daily activities, finance, and personal and social relationships; what both patients and families can do to minimize and cope with the stresses they will have to face; and support groups and other organizations that can offer help.</div>