About the Book
In IN MY HANDS, surgical oncologist Dr. Steven Curley shares the empowering lessons he's learned over 25 years from his cancer patients' unique stories of struggle, perseverance, and triumph.
As Chief of Surgical Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Steven Curley has worked with cancer patients for over two decades. While his life's work has been to help his patients live longer lives, he found that they helped him in ways he never could have expected.
IN MY HANDS is a rare, often emotional look at some of Dr. Curley's real patients and real situations in modern cancer care. These stories of resilience, hope, and determination changed and inspired Dr. Curley, and he uses these same stories to encourage patients dealing with the fear and uncertainty coupled with a diagnosis of cancer.
Every story in the book has a theme inspired by his patients: Hope, Courage, Strength, Determination, Wonder, Cooperation, Creativity, Diligence, Service, Perseverance, Wisdom, Grace, Consideration, Gratitude, Discernment, Reverence, Resourcefulness, Faith, Beauty, Acceptance, and Empathy. Some are positive messages, reminding us of the importance of maintaining balance between family, work, and leisure activities. Others are examples of the remarkable resilience of the human spirit when facing the reality of and the surgical risks that accompany a cancer diagnosis. Realistically, despite remarkable advances in multidisciplinary cancer care, some remind us cancer is still a potentially lethal and destructive disease affecting patients and the family and friends supporting them.
While many people are told that there is no hope in their situation, Dr. Curley's patients taught him to always provide hope, to push the envelope and give people a chance, and that hope is a critical component of treatment and care. IN MY HANDS is medical narrative at its finest, and provides insight into medicine and patient care along with fascinating details about one of our most feared diseases.
About the Author :
DR. STEVEN A. CURLEY specializes in providing surgical care for patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancies. As Chief of Surgical Oncology and Cancer Center Associate Director for Clinical Affairs, he leads efforts at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) to build a world-class, multidisciplinary surgical oncology program with significant national and international outreach and stature.
Review :
"In My Hands gives a captivating glimpse into the daily life of a surgical oncologist. Dr. Curley describes the journey that a patient and surgeon travel together from diagnosis through surgery and hopefully for many years postoperatively. With patient vignettes, Dr. Curley poignantly illustrates how a battle with cancer is personal, an emotional journey for the patient, family, friends and the surgical team. They are stories of hope, of sadness, and often success, filled with caring, kindness, and love for patients struggling with this terrible and relentless enemy. It's a book for everyone."--Ronald J. Weigel MD PhD, University of Iowa
"In My Hands is a masterful presentation of how one of the leading cancer specialists world-wide approaches the patient burdened by malignancy. A series of vignettes describing actual patient encounters, informative and accessible to lay people and professionals alike, describe the approach that Dr. Curley uses in helping those in need of both his technical surgical skills as well as his unusual blend of insight, astute powers of observation, and understanding of this difficult terrain---all against the backdrop of personal humility injected with a powerful brand of humanism. A must read for those entrusted, and aspiring to be entrusted, with the care of other human beings confronted by the most serious of challenges."--Raphael E. Pollock, MD, PhD, FACS, Professor and Director, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
"In My Hands is a unique and special book chronicling the career of one of America's leading cancer surgeons with a special emphasis not on the surgeon but on his relationships with the extraordinary patients he has cared for as they battle some of the most formidable cancers known to mankind. The vignettes are poignant and heart wrenching, but all have in common the remarkable valor and courage these patients have as they fight for life and cure. The book is enlightening and educational for caregivers of any cancer specialty, and it is inspirational and encouraging for patients and families battling cancer."--Mark S. Talamonti, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem
"In My Hands, by Steve Curley, MD, is an extraordinary series of stories, reflections, and lessons drawn from three decades of experience as one of the world's most renowned cancer surgeons. Dr. Curley's lifelong mission to combat cancer through heroic operations and innovative research is brought to life through the remarkable stories of his interactions with patients. Anyone whose life has been touched by cancer will find meaning in these words."--Kelly M. McMasters, MD, PhD, Ben A. Reid, Sr., MD Professor and Chair, The Hiram C. Polk Jr., MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine
"A celebration of the human spirit. . . . [and] a celebration of the true heroes in the battle against surgical disease-our patients."--Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons
"A heartfelt, empathetic, and sometimes humorous look into the real lives of cancer patients and their interactions with a world famous surgical oncologist. Dr. Curley invites the reader into his emotional partnership with cancer patients as he serves as their sometimes surgeon, sometimes friend, and consummate doctor. His passion for his work and his love for his patients is tangible on every page."--Maria C. Russell, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Emory University Midtown
"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. Dr. Curley's book is the account of an incredible journey of a talented surgeon and his remarkable patients. It shows the unique perspective from the surgeon's view and the amazing bond he has with his patients. He not only cares for the whole patient, mind, body and spirit, but learns valuable lesions from his patients along the way. As Audrey Hepburn, who suffered from colon cancer, once said, 'Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, "I'm possible!' In My Hands is a must read for patients and physicians alike."--V. Suzanne Klimberg, MD, PhD, Courtney M Townsend, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Chair in General Surgery, Professor and Vice Chair for Administration, Chief of Surgical Oncology, Director of the UTMB Cancer Center
"Every so often a book enlightens the basis upon which we serve each other as humans, professionals, and as surgeons. Dr. Curley's sharing of many patients' stories - each with a message for living life; is a testament to the human spirit of how we confront our mortality and the grace of our species. You will be inspired by reading this wonderful book, as a patient, a surgeon, any medical professional or anyone alive."--David B. Hoyt, MD FACS, Executive Director, American College of Surgeons
"Few books written by physicians for a non-medical audience are as authentic as this; every page demonstrates Dr. Curley's love of his craft and genuine affection for those in his care."--Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, FACS, FASCO
"For those of us fortunate to have benefitted from Dr. Curley's mentorship and teaching, this book provides a poignant reminder of his amazing qualities as a physician and caregiver. It is a perfectly woven tapestry of stories that helps us recall exactly why we went into medicine and how special our patients are. It is a wonderful book with a cast of characters that represent a typical experience in his clinic on any given day. What a fun and moving read!"--Keith A. Delman, MD, FACS, Program Director of the General Surgery Residency, Emory University School of Medicine
"Our life is a story. Deep down we all want to be remembered as a 'good' story, whether happy or sad. Thank you, Steve, for taking the time to learn your patients' stories and to pass them on to the rest of us. In a time of increasing pressure to generate revenue, it's easy to get medical with a patient and their family to sound smart in route to getting through another clinic. IN MY HANDS poignantly and joyfully reminds us that we all have a story and that is important that it be told!"--Carlton Barnett, Jr., MD, Chief of Surgical Oncology, Eastern Colorado VA Healthcare System, Professor, University of Colorado
"Reading this book was like sitting down with Dr. Curley himself and hearing him personally telling me these wonderful and sometimes heartbreaking stories. This peek into his world is very revealing and shows, at least for this cancer survivor, that there are indeed compassionate, caring oncologists out there who know that by simply making a connection with their patients, they can make a huge difference in peoples lives."--Gail Pyne, Director, Capable Fitness, Canadian Fitness Professional
"Steve Curley's book is a must read, even if just for the lessons it teaches--lessons about how the average person reacts to a cancer diagnosis, how an expert cancer surgeon reacts to those patients, and even about cancer itself. It is a brilliant study of the fundamental human experience of life and, yes, death, narrated by an expert cancer surgeon. Steven Curley pays the ultimate tribute to his patients: he not only recalls their stories, but reveals what each of them have taught him about life, surgery, cancer treatments, innovation, and death. Anyone whose life has been impacted by cancer will find insight, courage, tears and humor in this book." --Russell Berman M.D. FACS, Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, NYU School of Medicine
"This collection of wonderful stories is a tribute to the indomitable spirit, courage, endurance and strength of patients with cancer and their families. Woven throughout the stories is a powerful, timeless message to all who care for patients with cancer: our job is to relieve suffering and maintain hope; hope should not die long before the patient."--Courtney M. Townsend, Jr. MD, FACS
"This is an inspiring book from a master cancer surgeon. In My Hands takes the reader inside the amazing world of contemporary cancer care, but more importantly the poignant stories show the healing power of the patient-doctor relationship. Although Dr. Curley practices at the height of modern surgery, his old-fashioned delight and appreciation for patients and their stories, shines brightly on these pages."--Susan Porie, MD
