Gone in a Heartbeat

Book excerpt: Spector, one of the nation's top oncologists, led a charmed life until it all came crashing down in 1994. He and his wife lost two unborn children. And a mysterious illness brought him to the brink of death. Here, he describes how he was misdiagnosed and, despite being a medical insider, was often discounted by his fellow physicians. Encouraging readers to never surrender their power to a third party, he advocates for educated patients who can make informed decisions collaboratively and not simply follow instructions.