Harry Marsh, a retired neurosurgeon, believed like many physicians that doctors don’t get sick, especially not terminally ill. They ignore their symptoms and then are shocked by the diagnosis. Harry Marsh had two shocks. He participated in a study requiring a brain scan. At seventy, he thought his brain was in excellent shape, but was surprised to see the withered, aging brain he possessed.
Marsh’s second shock came when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Now he was facing the prospect of his mortality. He reacted as most patients with a terminal diagnosis do going through the classical stages of grief. The book is almost written as a journal. The author expresses his deepest thought and fears, but often in a somewhat disjointed way that jumps around.
For me, one of the most interesting parts of the book was the discussion of the doctor-patient relationship seen from the perspective of someone who is experiencing both and can express his ideas and feelings in an open way. This book also looks at medical care and aging. It’s not a comprehensive look, but it does highlight many of the problems with elder care.
The book is relatively short and easy to read. I recommend it, particularly if you or a loved one is dealing with serious life-threatening illness.
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.
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