Fireballs in my Eucharist: Fight Cancer Smarter - Paperback

by Joseph Pinzone (Author)

For less than the cost of most doctor visit co-pays, Dr. Pinzone provides a behind-the-scenes look at medicine as well as strategies designed to help you become a more effective and powerful patient. During his medical training, Dr. Pinzone evaluated a new patient, a middle-aged woman. He asked her about any past medical problems. She responded, "I have fireballs in my Eucharist." After asking a few more questions, he realized that what she meant to say was: "I have fibroids in my uterus." This encounter touched him deeply. This woman's "fireballs" helped him realize that patient education is critical, particularly when it comes to the often-confusing and complex topic of cancer and its therapy. Educating yourself about your disease, anticipating the mental and physical challenges that accompany illness, learning to better navigate the medical system, and leveraging skill sets that you have developed in other areas of your life just might save your life. As an added bonus, a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book will go to support cancer research, care and advocacy.

Author Biography

Dr. Pinzone is currently CEO & Medical Director of Amai, an Innovative Medical and Wellness Practice, Inc., and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Pinzone completed his medical degree at New York University School of Medicine, followed by internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, where he achieved a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to pursue molecular research on pituitary tumors. Dr. Pinzone went on to join the faculty of The George Washington University School of Medicine, where he practiced and taught endocrinology and internal medicine and secured an NIH research grant to study the molecular biology of genes that may cause breast cancer, as well as why breast cancer metastasizes to bone. In addition, while on faculty at GW, he also studied business and graduated with a Master of Business Administration with honors. He then joined the faculty of The Ohio State University College of Medicine where his clinical work focused on patients with diseases of the pituitary. He taught both Internal Medicine and Endocrinology as well as continued his breast cancer research. Dr. Pinzone was then recruited to Amgen, Inc. where he was Clinical Research Medical Director. He worked in both the Hematology/Oncology and Bone Therapeutic Areas. His work focused on denosumab, an antibody that inactivates RANK ligand, a naturally occurring protein that promotes bone resorption. Denosumab is used to treat patients with bone metastases from cancer as well as those with osteoporosis. Dr. Pinzone has published multiple scientific papers, mentored many young research students and scientists, and taught medical students and doctors at all levels. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of Mensa. Dr. Pinzone lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.