Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) strikes young people between the ages of 15 and 30 most often, but it can appear at any age. It is easy to for the 100,000 people diagnosed with IBD — Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — each year to feel powerless against this condition, but now, a new book from the AGA helps patients self-manage their IBD and the challenges they face.
Sunanda Kane, MD, MSPH, AGAF, knows about these challenges and what to do next. Through the personal stories of patients in her new book, "IBD Self-Management," Dr. Kane helps patients learn how to prepare for emergencies, flares, treatment failures, surgeries and all the what ifs.
"Writing 'IBD Self-Management' was a true labor of love. It is what I would want to teach all patients if they were a patient newly diagnosed with IBD and were sitting in my office," she said.
Dr. Kane's patients have taught her that "one size doesn't fit all" when it comes to IBD treatment. She delivers straight talk that dispels myths on medications and nontraditional treatments, "healthy gut" diets and diets for flares, and cancer prevention.
"'IBD Self-Management' is the best IBD book I've read (and I have read others)! The real patient examples were very interesting, and I felt like Dr. Kane was speaking directly to me. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for comprehensive information on IBD in an enjoyable and easy-to-read fashion," said Marci Reiss, LCSW, President, IBD Support Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.
"IBD Self-Management" provides patients with reliable, researched-based facts so that they can self-manage their IBD for life. Dr. Kane encourages those with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis to understand their options and embrace their important role in managing their disease.
"Dr. Kane's book is a wonderful source of useful information and support to IBD patients, and an outstanding contribution to the clinical literature for IBD physicians," added Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, The Joseph B. Kirsner Center for the Study of Digestive Diseases, University of Chicago Medical Center, IL.
To learn more about IBD and "IBD Self-Management," visit the patient center on the American Gastroenterological Association Web site at www.gastro.org/patient or www.IBDSelfManagement.com.
About the author
Dr. Kane, an internationally renowned authority on treatment of IBD, sees patients and conducts research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Kane participates in education programs for IBD patients and their caregivers for groups like the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of American (CCFA.org) and the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (MyIBD.org).
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.
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About AGA Press
The AGA Press supports the mission of the AGA by publishing high-quality, authoritative books and other resources spanning the field of gastroenterology and digestive health. Books are acquired, developed, published and promoted with the goal of helping individuals with digestive disorders and diseases, including obesity, live healthier lives. In addition, the press publishes resources for GI physicians that support them in providing outstanding care for their patients and improving their practice management. The press offers authors the opportunity to share their expertise and to improve the lives of millions of people affected by digestive disorders and diseases.