A Moncton-based surgeon has written a book to help women recently diagnosed with breast cancer cope with the disease.

Dr. Roger Roberge, a former chief of staff at Moncton Hospital, said he faces questions by newly diagnosed patients every day and hopes his book will provide them with answers and steer them through the treatment options.

Roberge has called his book Why me? Surviving, Coping, Living with Breast Cancer, and said its title was inspired by a patient.

"She said, 'Well, why me? Nobody's ever had it in the family, I'm in good physical condition.' She's an athlete, she never was ill, she had no risk factors — there's no answer."
 
Roberge said newly diagnosed patients are often overwhelmed by all the information available about the disease.

He said breast cancer is not the death sentence it once was.

"Even though the number of women developing breast cancer is going up, the number of women dying from breast cancer is actually going down."

The book also includes a CD-ROM to help women learn the proper way to do self-breast examinations. Roberge is selling the book on the internet, but said he is talking with local book stores to get it on shelves. Proceeds will be shared by three local cancer charities.