There are many books on cancer. Why is this one different? This book is a pocket guide. This book was written to be something that you, as a patient or as someone acting in the role of caregiver or advocate to a patient, can easily carry around, and yet it still is substantive enough to have the basic information that could help you make decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. My goal is to empower you as a patient or caregiver in a short amount of time so you can join in a partnership with the doctor and take ownership of the treatment plan. This book is meant to be used by patients to help promote an open discussion with their physicians about their care plan. It is a reference tool. It is not meant to replace the capacity or responsibility of a patient's own physician to prescribe care for him or her, nor is it meant to promote the use of any particular facility or type of therapy for treating cancer. If you have been diagnosed with cancer or you suspect that you have cancer, I urge you to seek the advice of a physician in planning your care.