How Not to Be My Patient ― A Physician's Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis

“Creagan responsibly and compassionately covers the many steps readers can take to give themselves the best odds of surviving or avoiding cancer and other diseases.” — Publishers Weekly The facts are clear. If you want to be healthy for life -Learn to talk so your doctor will listen.-Understand every diagnosis—and realize that you can survive bad news.-Follow Dr. Ed's 8 simple commandments for living well—and you'll live long enough to cash in your 401(k).-Separate hype from hope, especially with perplexing medical headlines and confusing Internet information.-Get insight into what your doctor wasn't taught in medical school.-Combine the best of traditional and complementary treatments.Dr. Edward Creagan has been treating very sick patients for more than 35 years. This book is not just about lifestyle choices, although these are important aspects of Dr. Creagan's healthy living plan. It is about using your precious minutes in the exam room (the average doctor visit is about 16 minutes), forging the right kind of relationship with your care providers (because that world is changing quickly), and understanding and using the health care system—instead of having the system use (and often abuse) you.

Edward T. Creagan, M.D., F.A.A.H.P.M., is a professor of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic Medical School. He holds the endowed chair as the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine. Most recently, he was named outstanding Educator from the Mayo Clinic School of Continuing Medical Education and has received the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award--Mayo Clinic's highest honor. He completed an elected term as President of the Mayo Staff. Dr. Creagan was the first Mayo Clinic consultant board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.