UNMC Surgeons Pen Book for Mouth, Throat Cancer Patients
Nearly two years ago, William Lydiatt, M.D., was searching Amazon.com
for reference material he could provide patients diagnosed with mouth and
throat cancer.
Surprisingly, the University of Nebraska Medical Center surgeon found
nothing.
“That was the genesis of the book,” said Dr. Lydiatt, who co-authored
“Cancers of the Mouth and Throat: A Patient’s Guide to Treatment,” with
UNMC’s Perry Johnson, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at UNMC. A native
of Chappell, Neb., Dr. Lydiatt now lives in Bellevue.
“The idea was to give newly diagnosed patients and their family members
a resource so they could better digest all the changes that would occur,”
said Dr. Lydiatt, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
“It’s the first of its kind.”
The 1,495-page book is now on Omaha bookshelves. It also will be sold
nationwide and available on Amazon.com, where orders already are being
taken.
The paperback, which lists for $14.95, offers support and information
to patients who have been diagnosed with mouth or throat cancer. It covers
such topics as risk factors, symptoms of the disease, diagnosis, treatment
(surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy), reconstructive surgery, pain management,
swallowing disorders, nutrition and recurrence.
“Early detection and treatment are extremely important,” said Dr. Lydiatt,
who is already discussing future book ideas with his colleague. A 1980
graduate of Chappell High School, Dr. Lydiatt is the son of Maurine Lydiatt,
who still lives in Chappell, and the late Eugene Lydiatt. He earned his
undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1984 and his medical degree
from the UNMC College of Medicine in 1988.
More than 40,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with cancers of the
mouth and throat, which can involve the sinuses, salivary glands and voice
box. In Nebraska, there are 200 cases diagnosed annually, Dr. Lydiatt said.
Smokers and those who use chewing tobacco are at higher risk for head
and neck cancer. Other warning signs include hoarseness that lasts several
weeks, sore throats and mouth sores that linger, lumps in the mouth and
throat, changes in speech quality, unilateral nose bleeds and hearing loss.
In addition to his book, Dr. Lydiatt held a conference Nov. 3 on mouth
and throat cancers. The conference was made possible by a $10,000 grant
from Pfizer — one of only three awarded last year. Approximately 100 nurses,
as well as 40 patients and members of the general public attended the conference
and received copies of the book. Due to limited seating, about 40 people
were turned away at the door.