It doesn't take long to reach information overload when you're dealing with breast cancer. When I search the words "breast cancer" online, I get 54,800,000 entries. (Yes, you read that right – 54 million-plus entries!) Books are no exception either, with 46,527 results showing up on an Amazon search alone.

So where do you turn for factual information you can rely on?

For starters, I would suggest Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. The New York Times states this is "the bible for women with breast cancer," and I have to say I agree. Dr. Love's Fourth Edition of The Breast Book is by far the preeminent "go-to" resource for spot-on information based on proven scientific fact. At 622 pages, and all of it written in an easy-to-understand, conversational style, there is precious little you will find elsewhere that isn't covered in The Breast Book.

Dr. Susan Love is one of today's top breast cancer experts, and as we read on the back cover, she is an author, teacher, surgeon, researcher and activist. All of these professional hats come together as Dr. Love guides us on the path from diagnosis to treatment to life after cancer. The Breast Book covers everything from breast development through diagnosis, treatment, metastatic recurrence, and on to scientific breakthroughs that more than hint at prevention. No stone is left unturned as Dr. Love compassionately and respectfully explains everything having to do with breast cancer, its treatment and beyond.

One of the most helpful sections for me was Chapter 16, What Kind of Cancer is It? In this chapter, Dr. Love dissects the pathology report, providing the detailed information needed to understand every component of the report. By going through this chapter, word for word, I got a clear understanding of what I was dealing with, which then gave me the tools I needed to make an informed decision about my treatment. I was able to clearly understand just exactly what my doctors were talking about, and I was able to ask valuable questions that helped to clarify what options were best for me.

Throughout the book, Dr. Love explains diagnoses, treatment options, reconstruction choices, and the like, simply and in a way the layperson can understand. She presents the facts, and if expert opinions seem to contradict themselves, she tells us why. Then, she goes on to offer her opinion on the particular issue. This was invaluable to me, probably because I respect her opinion so much. While reading The Breast Book, I truly felt that I was sitting in her office, with all the time in the world, listening while she answered the thousand and one questions that were crashing around in my mind, screaming for answers.

Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book is one of the best gifts you can give yourself, or a friend or family member who's just been diagnosed.

Click here to purchase Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book: Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book:4th Edition 2005