Any Book(Cancer) suggestions?

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alexnam89

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Hi SDN!

I was looking for any cancer(oncology) related book that i could read for my leisure time, since i am looking forward to pursue a career related to that field...
I just wanted to learn more about cancer, not looking for complicated and very detailed handbook of treatment of cancer for medical students or so.

For example, i am currently reading:
- "what you really need to know about cancer: a comprehensive guide for patients and their families" by Dr. Robert Buckman.

This book gives you a general idea of what causes cancer, common cancers, common symptoms and treatments, and so on...

Do you have any suggestion of any other Cancer books?
Thank you in advance!
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Members don't see this ad :)
http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Cancer-Robert-Weinberg/dp/0815340761

It is a textbook but I found it fascinating to read leisurely. It is more of a support text in my class and is meant to be a resource we could reference if we had trouble with lecture but reading it straight through is doable and engaging. It isn't like any other textbook I have ever had for a couple reasons: 1) its VERY well written, 2) there is a good balance between detail and broad scope, 3) can be read cover to cover or referenced (great index), 4) talks about even the dull things in a refreshing way that keeps you wanting more.

Now with that said, I wouldn't advise that you buy a textbook to read at your leisure, but maybe see if a school or local library can locate a copy that you could skim. I was interested in oncology while I was in high school but grew apart from it for a while until diving back into this book. I think the balance between detail and layman understanding is really on point. Granted, some of the later chapters require a working knowledge of gene expression etc that is talked about in earlier chapters. Yet, if you did read it cover to cover nothing will be over your head or require outside exploration if that makes sense.

Fantastic figures too 👍
 
Bio of cancer is a winner. It also comes with a sweet signaling pathways poster.
 
The Emperor of all Maladies is great. I couldn't put it down.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Place-...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302093362&sr=1-1

Another memoir... I recommend because it's hilarious. If you don't have much exposure to serious illness/cancer personally, you might have to give yourself permission to laugh, but it is worth it. I also like this book because it gives you a good description of the emotions your future patients might go through. Yeah, a lot of it sucks and the author talks a lot about that. But a lot of it doesn't suck. I think that's an important thing to realize. People with cancer get a lot of pity but they don't need pity, they need understanding. Obviously this is just a representation of one person's cancer diagnosis/treatment story, but I like it for the above two reasons. Hilarious and shows emotional range.
 
Tesseract said:
http://www.amazon.com/Emperor-All-Maladies-Biography-Cancer/dp/1439107955/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1

I'm near to finishing this book. Good cancer history book. His writing style makes the timeline sometimes tough for the reader to understand, but the story is a fun read.
Click to expand...

It seems that this book is pretty popular! a lot of people heard and are suggesting this book, Thanks a lot!

Kaushik said:
Very good book. I'm reading through it right now. 👍
Click to expand...

I will be doing it soon, seems interesting from what i read in Amazon "inside this book", purchased it already!

pinkzebra said:
not quite the same kind of cancer book...but my brother is a cancer survivor and recently published a memoir:

http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Joliet-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302067785&sr=1-1


it is pretty amazing. warning, though: it is NOT for the faint of heart. he tells it like it is. he was first diagnosed at 27 and is turning 41 next month.
Click to expand...

Sounds Great! Always is good to read about a topic from different perspective~ 🙂
Thank you, and Happy birthday to your brother in advance!

TTigers70 said:
http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Cancer-Robert-Weinberg/dp/0815340761

It is a textbook but I found it fascinating to read leisurely. It is more of a support text in my class and is meant to be a resource we could reference if we had trouble with lecture but reading it straight through is doable and engaging. It isn't like any other textbook I have ever had for a couple reasons: 1) its VERY well written, 2) there is a good balance between detail and broad scope, 3) can be read cover to cover or referenced (great index), 4) talks about even the dull things in a refreshing way that keeps you wanting more.

Now with that said, I wouldn't advise that you buy a textbook to read at your leisure, but maybe see if a school or local library can locate a copy that you could skim. I was interested in oncology while I was in high school but grew apart from it for a while until diving back into this book. I think the balance between detail and layman understanding is really on point. Granted, some of the later chapters require a working knowledge of gene expression etc that is talked about in earlier chapters. Yet, if you did read it cover to cover nothing will be over your head or require outside exploration if that makes sense.

Fantastic figures too 👍
Click to expand...

Haha it's a textbook! Hopefully its thin and easy to carry since i will be doing some trips during the summer~ 😛 Let me know if it is light and easy to carry~

ThirdEye said:
Bio of cancer is a winner. It also comes with a sweet signaling pathways poster.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the add-on~ 🙂

lbzak said:
The Emperor of all Maladies is great. I couldn't put it down.
Click to expand...
i'll definitely read this book, much of you guys suggesting this book.. hehe

CityLights said:
http://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Life-David-Servan-Schreiber/dp/0670020346

I haven't read it yet but it's on my list of books to read. It's about a psychiatrist-MD/PhD's personal experience with brain cancer and the lifestyle he advocates... has fantastic reviews.
Click to expand...

Sounds great to have other perspectives! thank you for the suggestion, i will be making a list of books to read as well! 🙂 As i said above, always good to have different perspectives and opinions about this disease or topics .. 🙂

hmockingbird said:
http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Place-...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302093362&sr=1-1

Another memoir... I recommend because it's hilarious. If you don't have much exposure to serious illness/cancer personally, you might have to give yourself permission to laugh, but it is worth it. I also like this book because it gives you a good description of the emotions your future patients might go through. Yeah, a lot of it sucks and the author talks a lot about that. But a lot of it doesn't suck. I think that's an important thing to realize. People with cancer get a lot of pity but they don't need pity, they need understanding. Obviously this is just a representation of one person's cancer diagnosis/treatment story, but I like it for the above two reasons. Hilarious and shows emotional range.
Click to expand...

Sounds fantastic! having a little humor in these serious diseases wouldn't come bad to me...
Thank you for your input!

rhcarolina said:
Amazing book! Luckily, I was able to discuss the book when my interviewer brought it up.
Highly recommend it 👍
Click to expand...

Great! Thank you!



For all of you SDN! thank you for your input! i am making my list of cancer books to read thanks to you all! 🙂👍
I am still listening (actually reading) for more suggestions! if you have any!
Thank you
 
Quick update,
Just purchased from amazon "Rodeo and Juliet" and "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer". Total 25.75 shipped.
👍

Thank you!
 
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Have fun with the Emperor!

By the way, IMO, don't waste your time on a cancer bio textbook unless you need to. I've read the majority of the Biology of Cancer for class and for research and, while I agree it's a well-written text, it's still a texbook. If you're reading it for "fun," you're probably wasting your time since you'll forget the vast majority of the details. If you absolutely have to read something cancer bio related, read the latest Hallmarks of Cancer review article that Weinberg put out (came out 2 months ago I think). It gives a good overview of the big concepts of cancer bio in ~20-something pages and you don't end up wasting a ton of time/money on a textbook.

And even that's too much IMO.
 
Kaushik said:
Have fun with the Emperor!

By the way, IMO, don't waste your time on a cancer bio textbook unless you need to. I've read the majority of the Biology of Cancer for class and for research and, while I agree it's a well-written text, it's still a texbook. If you're reading it for "fun," you're probably wasting your time since you'll forget the vast majority of the details. If you absolutely have to read something cancer bio related, read the latest Hallmarks of Cancer review article that Weinberg put out (came out 2 months ago I think). It gives a good overview of the big concepts of cancer bio in ~20-something pages and you don't end up wasting a ton of time/money on a textbook.

And even that's too much IMO.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting reading updated articles... would i be able to find it online in a University database? or it is in hardcopy?

Thanks a lot for the opinion! i really appreciate it 👍
 
Principles of Cancer Biology by Lewis J Kleinsmith.

Very good, concise book that is to the point. I used it when I was enrolled in a Cancer Biology class at my school.

there's a chapter on tumor suppressor genes, a chapter on oncogenes, and the beginning of the book has chapters on angiogenesis and another on the profile of cancer cell, which I found extremely fascinating. a very good book. I highly, highly recommend.
 
Was watching this the other day:

[YOUTUBE]B9bDZ5-zPtY[/YOUTUBE]

Interesting talk on anti-angiogenic foods and microscopic tumors waiting for an opportunity to burst into play.
 
MCAT guy said:
Was watching this the other day:

[YOUTUBE]B9bDZ5-zPtY[/YOUTUBE]

Interesting talk on anti-angiogenic foods and microscopic tumors waiting for an opportunity to burst into play.
Click to expand...

Interesting!!! i did not know about that~
You just taught me something! pretty straight forward to understand for a college level student... 👍
Thank you!
 
plzNOCarribbean said:
Principles of Cancer Biology by Lewis J Kleinsmith.

Very good, concise book that is to the point. I used it when I was enrolled in a Cancer Biology class at my school.

there's a chapter on tumor suppressor genes, a chapter on oncogenes, and the beginning of the book has chapters on angiogenesis and another on the profile of cancer cell, which I found extremely fascinating. a very good book. I highly, highly recommend.
Click to expand...

Thanks! 👍
 
For hand you do not need much. Trumble maybe. Oncology use OKU
 
alexnam89 said:
Hi SDN!

I was looking for any cancer(oncology) related book that i could read for my leisure time, since i am looking forward to pursue a career related to that field...
I just wanted to learn more about cancer, not looking for complicated and very detailed handbook of treatment of cancer for medical students or so.

For example, i am currently reading:
- "what you really need to know about cancer: a comprehensive guide for patients and their families" by Dr. Robert Buckman.

This book gives you a general idea of what causes cancer, common cancers, common symptoms and treatments, and so on...

Do you have any suggestion of any other Cancer books?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...


Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy is good.

I think i cried when i read it for my Understanding Cancer class
 
pick up death be not proud by john gunther if you haven't already. it is a stark and gorgeous classic about a teenaged genius who develops brain cancer and the doctors' fight to save him. it was written by his father and it is one of the best memoirs on cancer I have ever read.

warning: it is very different in tone to the middle place, so I'd be a little wary of reading them back to back. ha.

I'll also add to the chorus for the emperor of all maladies, but since you've already bought it, that is probably moot.
 
Minaku said:
pick up death be not proud by john gunther if you haven't already. it is a stark and gorgeous classic about a teenaged genius who develops brain cancer and the doctors' fight to save him. it was written by his father and it is one of the best memoirs on cancer I have ever read.

warning: it is very different in tone to the middle place, so I'd be a little wary of reading them back to back. ha.

I'll also add to the chorus for the emperor of all maladies, but since you've already bought it, that is probably moot.
Click to expand...

Thanks! i will look into "death be not proud" 👍
and about "The emperor of all maladies" can't wait to read it as soon as it comes!
 
or u can talk to me, someone w/ first-hand experience 😉
 
Minaku said:
pick up death be not proud by john gunther if you haven't already. it is a stark and gorgeous classic about a teenaged genius who develops brain cancer and the doctors' fight to save him. it was written by his father and it is one of the best memoirs on cancer I have ever read.

warning: it is very different in tone to the middle place, so I'd be a little wary of reading them back to back. ha.

I'll also add to the chorus for the emperor of all maladies, but since you've already bought it, that is probably moot.
Click to expand...

Haha yeah, so true. I love Death Be Not Proud as well, but totally different tone. I just love the way books from that era (40s/50s) were written in general. Loved Emperor too.

Oooh, another good one is The Secret History of the War on Cancer by Devra Davis. It's really intriguing, talks about the political and economic (big pharm) roadblocks to developing cancer treatments, cancer propaganda, etc. It's obviously biased though so you have to take it with a grain of salt (not that it doesn't make a lot of good points - but a lot of it is politics so there is bias inherent), but kind-of balances out the ACS/Komen viewpoint that is really popular today.
 
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