FROM THE PUBLISHER: With parallel force to breast cancer's tug at the
heart of a woman's self-image, prostate cancer strikes a man at the core of
his masculinity. This account of one man's battle with prostate cancer
resonates with the plights of thousands of men. But what sets HIT BELOW THE
BELT apart is the author's perspective as a physician-in particular, his
experiences as an oncologist. An ordinary patient with an extraordinary
background, Ralph Berberich captures both the medical side of the disease and
the fragility of a human being confronted by a life-threatening illness-as
well as the process of education that enables him to cope with his diagnosis.
HIT BELOW THE BELT deviates both from medical accounts, which are often dry
and unsympathetic, and inspirational books on the subject, which lack
specificity and depth. Instead, Berberich gives an honest, highly personal,
and often poignant telling of the details of his struggle.
