Abnormal Pap Smears: What Every Woman Needs to Know
Author: Lynda Rushing
More than 4 million women each year experience abnormal Pap smears. This comprehensive guide discusses the relationship of cervical cancer to infection by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) and underscores how crucial Pap smears are for cervical cancer prevention. The authors cover the meaning of different Pap smear diagnoses, ranging from atypical to full-blown cervical cancer, while simple and clear line drawings illustrate pertinent female anatomy and normal-to-abnormal cell changes.
Vital to the book are interspersed personal interviews, which provide firsthand information on women's feelings about their abnormal Pap smears as well as their experiences with cervical disease. These personal vignettes offer insights into the social and emotional effects that often result from an abnormal Pap smear. Since suboptimal tests can produce misleading results, tips are provided to help women improve their chances of receiving the most accurate Pap smear.
New to this revised edition is the most current information on cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer and their treatments. It details the latest developments in HPV testing, as well as the new liquid-based Pap test. Last, the future of Pap smears and cervical cancer prevention is explored, with special emphasis on the recently approved HPV vaccines.
The first edition was chosen by Nurse Practitioner and Library Journal as one of the best consumer health books available. Now fully updated, this clearly written, very approachable guide fills a vital women's health need.
About the Author:
Lynda Rushing, MD, is a pathologist affiliated with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and a clinical assistantprofessor at Tufts University Medical School
About the Author:
Nancy Joste, MD, is professor of pathology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, director of anatomic pathology and cytopathology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and codirector of anatomic pathology at TriCore Reference Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Doody Review Services
Reviewer: Marilee M. Means, B.S., M.A., Ph.D. , SCT (ASCP) (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: This book attempts to explain the causes of cervical neoplasia, the treatment procedures used, and the terminology that a woman might encounter when being evaluated for cervical neoplasia after an abnormal Pap smear result.
Purpose: The authors express a desire to help women understand the significance of an abnormal Pap smear result as well as the role HPV has in the development of cervical cancer and its precursors. The book fulfills these objectives quite well.
Audience: The authors, both women cytopathologists with years of experience, have written an exceptionally clear and easy to use book for the lay audience. Patients often become quite upset when learning of an abnormal Pap result. This book is not only medically accurate and up-to-date, but also provides a much needed resource for patients.
Features: The authors begin with an enviably clear explanation of female anatomy, normal and abnormal histology of the female genital tract, and cytology and its role in evaluating Pap smears. Simple, easy to understand diagrams show the various stages of cervical disease. The authors discuss the relationship of cervical neoplasia to HPV, and how women can deal with the treatment needed to combat cervical disease. They share personal stories of women affected by the disease and offer advice in getting the best possible results from the test. There is a list of frequently asked questions as well as two appendixes listing both questions for one's doctor and additional resources. A glossary of medical terms is a most helpful feature.
Assessment: This well-written, easily understandable book for a lay audience is medically accurate and, most of all, a source of information and comfort for any woman going through the pain, anxiety, and uncertainty of diagnosis and treatment for cervical disease. At a time when the death rate from this preventable cancer is much higher than what is optimally possible, this book fills a gap in the public's understanding that can help women combat this quite personal and distressing disease.
Library Journal
Millions of women experience abnormal Pap smears each year, but how many of these patients know what the test screens for, what they can do to ensure optimal results, how laboratory errors can affect their results, what various diagnoses mean, and what to expect in follow-up and treatment procedures? Rushing, medical director of cytology and gynecologic pathology at Pathology Services, Inc., and Joste, a medical doctor and associate professor of pathology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, cover these topics and more. They also consider the link between cervical cancer and human papillomaviruses, new Pap smear technologies, suggestions on how to deal with a cervical cancer diagnosis, cervical cancer prevention, personal stories from women who have experienced abnormal Pap smears, and a Pap smear FAQ. Selected chapter references, a glossary, and a very brief appendix featuring general references, web sites, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers complete the book. The authors do an excellent job of explaining concepts, procedures, and test results, but the frequent, albeit necessary, use of medical terminology and acronyms may make some readers' heads spin. Still, this book fills a void in women's consumer health literature. Recommended for public libraries and other libraries with consumer health collections. (Index not seen.) Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Rating
4 Stars! from Doody
Go to: In the Company of Soldiers or Sex Trafficking
A Mind Apart: Understanding Children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Author: Peter Szatmari
"Dr. Szatmari shares the stories of over a dozen children and families with whom he has worked. He reveals that people with autism and AS live in a world without metaphors; a visual landscape, built of images, not language. It's a place where friendly small talk may sound like a foreign tongue, where tree branches are more intriguing than people, where hairbrush bristles can feel like nails on the scalp or a hug like the clamp of a vise. Drawing on decades of influential research and clinical experience, Dr. Szatmari combines "big picture" information - the nuances of diagnosis, what is known about possible causes, and what the future holds for children with these disorders - with finely wrought observations that let you see the world through your child's eyes." Of crucial importance, Dr. Szatmari also illustrates ways parents can "break through" to help kids start to navigate the wider world. An intense interest in the patterns on wasp wings may be mystifying, but such visual perceptiveness also can be channeled into artwork of math. A child fixated on death may be less afraid of loss than of change in general - a common form of anxiety that parents can help soothe. Hating to be touched doesn't mean your child doesn't feel affection, but that he is physically hypersensitive - and you can find other ways to encourage closeness and offer comfort.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer: Gary P. Dupuy, M.D., Doctor of Pharmacy (Ochsner Clinic Foundation)
Description: This is a book about understanding the basis and nuances of symptoms in children afflicted with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is a unique and well-written book that uses real life vignettes to describe and review the characteristic symptoms of autism and the social consequences and impact of these symptoms on family members and others.
Purpose: The purpose is to improve the understanding of peculiar behaviors and thought patterns of children with ASD so that others, including family members, loved ones, and healthcare providers, may have a better perception and approach to dealing with these children. Hopefully, this understanding will lead to a better outcome in the future and improved quality of life for all involved. The unique approach of this book and the high-quality presentation of the information meet this goal.
Audience: The target audience includes anyone who interacts with someone with autism spectrum disorders on a routine basis, including family members, loved ones, friends, or healthcare providers. It will also be useful for those who desire to improve their understanding of these conditions and the afflicted person's outcome. This book is written in a format that is easy to follow and understand for medical or nonmedical readers.
Features: The author, a child psychiatrist specializing in autism and Asperger syndrome, presents vignettes that are entitled with a patient's first name and subtitled with a peculiar characteristic specific to that person. On the surface, this may not sound very scientific, but this format is very effective in formulating a true feel for the origin of this child's peculiar behaviors by offering a perception from the child's eyes of why the behaviors occur. The author also effectively interjects definitions and evidence-based information into the vignettes making them educational and scientific. This approach leads to improved understanding and empathy on the part of the reader and, ultimately, improved outcome and quality of life for the child and family members.
Assessment: This is a must read for anyone involved in the life of a child with autism spectrum disorders. Its unique presentation offers unparalleled insight into the origin of the atypical behaviors of children with this affliction by entering their world, or "foreign country," as the author describes it, through their eyes so that these atypical behaviors are less confusing and disruptive to others. This, in turn, should lead to a more respectful and effective approach to dealing with children with ASDs. The book is well written, is easy to follow and understand, and complements other resources on this topic. Its true contribution and usefulness, however, lies in its powerful presentation that leads to improved understanding and empathy in the reader.
What People Are Saying
Bryna Siegel
This unique and beautiful book takes you on a voyage to the unusual world of children and young adults with autism and AS. In close and personal detail, Dr. Szatmari describes the struggles of families to understand their children and to understand how they themselves are changed by their children. At the same time, the book brings to life key principles in our scientific understanding of these disorders. This brilliant work should be read by all parents and all clinicians involved in helping children with autism and AS.
—PhD, author of Helping Children with Autism Learn
Patricia Howlin
We are far from having a complete understanding of autism and Asperger syndrome, but Dr. Peter Szatmari has done an unsurpassed job of shedding light on how children with these disorders feel and act. The cases he recounts in this book touch on many different aspects of autism, including both the numerous problems that children and their families face and the successes they can achieve. The book also bears witness to the courage and perseverance of parents who, all too frequently, must struggle to find appropriate support from clinicians and educators. An enlightening and welcome resource for many, many families, and one that should also be read by all professionals in the field.
—PhD, Department of Psychology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, UK; coauthor of Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-Read
Tony Attwood
A landmark book in terms of style and content. Dr. Szatmari explores and describes the world as perceived by people with autism to explain their unusual behaviour and abilities, and discusses scientific theories and current therapies as well as causes and prognosis. The book is written objectively and engagingly, with literary skill and a sense of optimism that will be particularly appealing to parents. Dr. Szatmari clearly appreciates and admires the minds of children with autism, and is able to explain those minds to parents while providing realistic advice on remedial strategies.
—PhD, author of Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
Ami Klin
Dr. Szatmari's book embodies the best of that singular tradition in which science is matched against disability, one child at a time. A clinician, scientist, and keen observer of human nature, Dr. Szatmari weaves a deeply empathic and comprehensive account of autism and related disabilities. The stories he recounts illuminate the daily challenges and triumphs that children experience, while revealing his passion for discovery and healing. The result is extraordinarily rewarding reading for families affected by autism and for the professionals who serve them.
—PhD, Yale Child Study Center
Rating
4 Stars! from Doody
Table of Contents:
| Preface | |
| Acknowledgments | |
| 1 | Stephen: The Eccentric Entomologist | 1 |
| 2 | Heather: A World That Revolves around a Different Axis | 16 |
| 3 | Justin: Listening to the Architecture of the World | 27 |
| 4 | Zachary: An Obsession with Death | 44 |
| 5 | Sharon: Seeing Other Minds Darkly | 59 |
| 5 | William: A World without Metaphor | 79 |
| 7 | Teddy: Incongruous Time, Incongruous Development | 96 |
| 8 | Sally, Ann, and Danny: Accepting the Enigma, Moving Beyond the Cause | 114 |
| 9 | Trevor: Mobiles and "Miracles" | 133 |
| 10 | Ernest: The View from the Bridge | 148 |
| 11 | Frankie: Learning and Forgetting at School | 160 |
| 12 | Sophie: Acceptance without Resignation | 174 |
| Bibliography | 189 |
| Resources | 199 |
| Index | 204 |
| About the Author | 210 |
