The Cancer Book

by Cooper, Geoffrey M.

• ISBN13: 9780867207705
• ISBN10: 0867207701
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-04-23
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Summary

Written in non-technical language, this book helps the reader understand the basic nature and causes of cancer, as well as the principles underlying current strategies for cancer prevention and treatment. By presenting an overview and perspective of both the basic and practical aspects of cancer, including the background needed to understand continuing advances in the field. The book is fascinating reading and an ideal book for everyone interested in the subject.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
PART I THE NATURE OF CANCER	1	(36)
Basic Facts about Cancer	3	(12)
What Is Cancer	3	(3)
The Critical Question: Is It Benign or Malignant?	6	(1)
How Frequent Is Cancer?	7	(1)
The Different Kinds of Cancer	7	(3)
Cancer and Age	10	(2)
Treatment of Cancer	12	(2)
Summary	14	(1)
The Development of Cancer	15	(11)
Tumor Iitiation and Progression: The Evolution of Cancer	15	(4)
Invasion and Metastasis: The Critical Steps in Tumor Development	19	(4)
The Immune System: A Natural Defense against Cancer	23	(1)
Clinical Staging of Cancer	24	(1)
Summary	25	(1)
How Cancer Cells Differ from Normal Cells	26	(11)
Control of Normal Cell Behavior	26	(4)
Abnormal Growth of Cancer Cells	30	(1)
The Invasiveness and Metastatic Potential of Cancer Cells	31	(2)
Defective Differentiation and Immortality	33	(1)
Genetic Instability and Tumor Progression	34	(2)
Summary	36	(1)
PART II CAUSES OF CANCER	37	(60)
Cancer and the Environment	39	(23)
How Chemicals Cause Cancer	39	(2)
The Importance of Environmental Factors in Cancer Risk	41	(1)
Smoking and Cancer	42	(4)
Alcohol	46	(2)
Radiation	48	(2)
Diet	50	(6)
Medicines that Cause Cancer	56	(1)
Occupational Carcinogens	57	(1)
Environmental Pollution	58	(3)
Summary	61	(1)
Viruses, Cancer, and AIDS	62	(10)
Hepatitis B Virus and Liver Cancer	63	(1)
Papillomaviruses and Cervical Cancer	64	(2)
Epstein-Barr Virus, the Immune System, and Lymphomas	66	(2)
Human T-Cell Leukemia Viruses	68	(2)
AIDS and Cancer	70	(1)
Summary	71	(1)
Heredity and Cancer	72	(10)
Inherited Cancers	72	(6)
Genetic Diseases that Predispose to Cancer	78	(1)
Familial Susceptibility to Cancer	79	(2)
Summary	81	(1)
Genetic Changes in Cancer Cells	82	(15)
Oncogenes	83	(3)
Tumor Suppressor Genes	86	(3)
Multiple Genetic Changes Contribute to Cancer Development	89	(5)
Summary	94	(3)
PART III CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT	97	(58)
Prospects for Cancer Prevention	99	(15)
Smoking	99	(1)
Alcohol	100	(1)
Radiation	101	(1)
Dietary Factors	102	(3)
Occupational and Medicinal Carcinogens	105	(1)
Cancer-Causing Viruses	106	(1)
The Possibility of Chemoprevention	107	(3)
The Questionable Importance of Synthetic Chemicals in the Environment	110	(2)
Summary	112	(2)
Early Detection and Diagnosis	114	(13)
The Pap Smear and Cervical Cancer	115	(1)
Early Detection of Breast Cancer	115	(4)
Screening for Colorectal Cancer	119	(2)
Early Detection of Other Cancers	121	(1)
Symptoms of Cancer	122	(1)
Diagnosis and Staging	122	(4)
Summary	126	(1)
Treatment of Cancer	127	(18)
Surgery	127	(2)
Radiation Therapy	129	(1)
Chemotherapy	130	(3)
Drug Resistance and Combination Chemotherapy	133	(2)
Bone Marrow Transplantation	135	(1)
Hormone Therapy	136	(3)
Immunotherapy	139	(2)
Clinical Trials versus Unproven Treatments	141	(2)
Summary	143	(2)
Living with Cancer	145	(10)
Dealing with the Diagnosis of Cancer	145	(1)
Cancer Treatments and Their Side Effects	146	(3)
Cancer and Sexuality	149	(1)
Insurance and Employment	150	(1)
Surviving Cancer: Will It Come Back?	151	(1)
Cancer Pain	151	(1)
Terminal Cancer	152	(1)
Summary	153	(2)
PART IV OVERVIEW OF MAJOR TYPES OF CANCER	155	(40)
Leukemias and Lymphomas	157	(11)
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia	159	(2)
Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemias	161	(1)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia	162	(1)
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia	163	(1)
Hodgkin's Disease	163	(1)
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas	164	(3)
Multiple Myeloma	167	(1)
Summary	167	(1)
Childhood Solid Tumors	168	(6)
Brain Tumors	169	(1)
Neuroblastoma	169	(1)
Retinoblastoma	170	(1)
Wilms' Tumor	170	(2)
Bone Tumors	172	(1)
Soft-Tissue Sarcomas	172	(1)
Summary	173	(1)
Common Solid Tumors of Adults	174	(21)
Lung Cancer	174	(2)
Colon and Rectum Cancer	176	(3)
Breast Cancer	179	(2)
Prostate Cancer	181	(1)
Urinary Cancers	182	(2)
Uterine Cancers	184	(2)
Oral Cancers	186	(1)
Pancreatic Cancer	187	(1)
Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers	187	(1)
Stomach Cancer	188	(1)
Ovarian Cancer	189	(1)
Brain Tumors	190	(1)
Liver Cancer	190	(1)
Laryngeal Cancer	191	(1)
Thyroid Cancer	191	(1)
Esophageal Cancer	192	(1)
Testicular Cancer	192	(1)
Summary	193	(2)
PART V PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE	195	(8)
The War on Cancer---Progress and Promises	197	(6)
Progress in Cancer Prevention and Treatment	198	(2)
Progress in Understanding Cancer	200	(1)
The Future's Promise: Will Our Understanding of Cancer Yield Practical Benefits?	201	(1)
Summary	202	(1)
Appendix: Information and Resources for Cancer Patients	203	(9)
Glossary	212	(12)
Further Reading	224	(5)
Index	229