Great insight into the development of the disease
595796
Nostalgic yet hopeful.  Great insight into the development of the disease.  Simple yet complex
3450282
This book is a great help for people who suffer from this disease  and it is written in a very sensitive way.  Her experience for sure will help and support many people. I really enjoyed reading it .
4774233
This book is a must for anyone who has been diagnosed with these diseases or knows someone who has been diagnosed.  It is a compilation of patient experiences, information about the diseases, information about the latest treatment options, treatments on the horizon, and comments from doctors from the various specialties that could be involved in treating these diseases.  The medical information about the diseases and treatments was written by Dr. James Berenson, an acknowledged expert in the field.  One could almost call this a handbook for patients and their families.

Truthfully, I was afraid to read this book because I am still coming to terms with my diagnosis.  I thought reading it would make me feel worse.  It was just the opposite.  Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.  Reading the patients' descriptions of their experiences living with theses diseases was extremely enlightening and, most of all, very encouraging.  The overwhelming theme from the patient stories was how, in spite of the disease and the treatments, they were still able to maintain a reasonable quality of life - a lot of them for many years.  That gave me hope.  This book is full of hope.

In case anyone is wondering, all the proceeds from the sale of this book go to supporting the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research.
2917396
I appreciated this book on many levels. It's very well written and tells a riveting story, which makes it a fantastic way to get information out about a devastating set of diseases the medical world is still unraveling. Additionally, it opens a window to the public to see into the world of medical research -- how intricate, complex, and time consuming it is to untangle the threads of a disease and understand it to the point of being able to reliably diagnosis and treat it. As a medical researcher, I am grateful to media that gives the public insight into just how much detective work is required to find the causes and solutions when the body breaks down. I hope the publicity will funnel money into researching types of brain inflammation and the resulting psychoses, because as medical researchers, what we need most is funding -- this work requires very expensive equipment and a large number of highly specialized researchers. Finally, this story emphasises the dire need to be proactive in your own medical care in order not to fall through the giant cracks in our poorly organized health care system. I appreciate her mention that her medical success was due in part to her excellent health insurance, family's ability to pay their out-of-pocket costs, and her parent's persistence in getting the best doctors involved in her case.
4835205
Reading this book as been a real eye-opener.  Having been around several people who have HIV and many more who are terrified of the thought of it, I found it to be full of useful information to help me be better informed about a disease that tends to be feared more than understood.  I feel much more comfortable talking to others about it now that I truly understand it.  It would be a perfect gift for anyone.  Young people can definitely gain something from reading it to learn how to use preventative measures with partners as well as why to.  Adults can gain the ability to understand what their peers and family members may be going through as well as gain the ability to talk to their children about the disease in a factual manner.  The heartfelt stories that Don shares can be felt through the pages and the facts that back up the stories are a great complement.
3303866
This is a wonderful read, beautifully written. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of cancer, leading up to hopeful developments over the last few years. The latter are particularly interesting, since this may be an important example of a disease where purely empirical approaches have not been very successful, and where great progress has been made only on the development of a deeper understanding of the genetic changes involved in the development of malignant tumors.
959162
As a recently diagnosed sufferer of Hashimoto's disease, I fit the title to a tee as medication has normalized my thyroid readings yet I still feel it's adverse effects! Reading the book provided a very broad insight to the widespread causes, effects, and potential remedies of this disease. As such, I am now pursuing a nutritional treatment protocol that bears it's fruits from the author's viewpoints. I am hoping to reap the benefits and return to a somewhat normal lifestyle!
784951
I am about two-thirds of the way through this book and am really learning a lot about auto immune diseases.  The author provides information about auto immune diseases in general and also provides some additional specific information about the six most common diseases.  She is an MD, but explains medical concepts in a way they are understandable to a non-medical person.  The book outlines a four step program to identify and remedy auto immune related symptoms.  Part of the book is comprised of worksheets to assist the reader with further understanding.  Highly recommended for those who want to understand more about auto immune, particularly using food as medicine.
1071605
I just knew when I read the cover, and the description, that I had to have this book. Many of the diseases mentioned in this book run in my family. And to be able to change my diet to prevent or even reverse disease is so encouraging to me! The diet discusses is a modified Mediterranean diet. Dr. Don Colbert gives some wonderful insight to the foods that cause inflammation and how to substitute and cut them from our diet! I have learned that inflammation is the root of most of the diseases, and have been encouraged to make changes to better my health, and hopefully live longer.  The diseases discussed in this book are: cardiovascular, arthritis and autoimmune disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia and Alzheimer's, ADHD and Autism, and mental illness. The author has done research and studies and has included a 21-day meal plan, along with a shopping list, for our reference.

I strongly recommend this book to those who have any of the listed diseases, or loved ones living with disease. I rate this book a 4/5 stars.

Disclosure: I received a complementary copy of this book from the First Look Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are true and my own.
1838668
Very good reading on background of the disease, thoughts on how to treat/prevent for family members (there is some genetic component) as well as sufferers of the condition themselves.
4928234
"There Must Be a Reason" by Myrna Swart was very informative. I do not have anyone in my current circle that has this disease, but I thought that the book was written in a way that gave insight & understanding to anyone that is going through any type of long term illness.  I thought that it had the perfect mix of data, facts and detail to make it any easy read but very informative.  The author did an outstanding job of making the reader feel the emotions that they experienced.
1640897
It's amazing to get a glimpse inside the life of this terrible epidemic. What the first realized patients had to feel is horrible. But Nave slays the fact that all people no matter what they've had inflicted spin them make a big difference to someone. Makes you look a little differently at the world!
137997
This book provides an overview to this complex and multifactoral disease afflicting more children than ever before. The author offers both science and hope for recovery.
585718
I wish I had read this before my mother died of this horrible disease. The insight provided from the patient's perspective caused me to rethink the fears my mother faced. I now understand why I saw so many changes in her temperament and why she quit reading, writing or shopping.  Now I understand.
Thank you Lisa Genova.
3357726
The author has provided a most informative and interesting account of the discovery of insulin. It is hard to imagine practicing medicine when Type 1 diabetes could only be treated by starvation and rapid death still inevitable. This book is a great account of the process of medical research and the people who tackle its many positives and negatives.
919030
John Rosemond does a brilliant job of giving the facts and statistics concerning this so called disease.  A real eye opener!  Highly recommend!
3304036
This was a very informative book.  It brought in to view some of the things we don't often think about linking it with real life.  If you don't have a family member or friend that has the disease,One does not think about it.  I thought the book was well written.