Cancer: A Very Short Introduction

by Nick James

Overview

Every year around 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer, around 80% of whom are destined to die from the disease, accounting for 1 in 6 of all deaths worldwide. And while research into cancer is bringing huge improvements in the range of options available to cancer patients, these new therapies bring with them massive challenges for healthcare systems struggling to find the huge sums of money for the large numbers of patients involved. This Very Short Introduction explores the facts underlying these figures, starting with the basic facts about the disease before moving on to the bigger picture of the economics and politics of cancer care. Nick James, founder of the CancerHelp UK website, examines the trends in diagnosis of the disease and the constant improvements in treatment techniques that result in better cure rates and increased quality and quantity of life for cancer patients. The book also considers issues surrounding expensive drug development, highlights what can be done to reduce the risk of developing cancer, and discusses the use of complementary and alternative therapies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199560233
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/01/2011
Series:	Very Short Introductions
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	704,432
Product dimensions:	6.84(w) x 4.53(h) x 0.34(d)

About the Author

Nick James is Professor of Clinical Oncology at the University of Birmingham.

Table of Contents

1. The size of the cancer problem
2. How does cancer develop?
3. How is cancer treated?
4. Cancer research
5. The costs of cancer care
6. Alternative and complementary approaches to cancer care
7. The future shape of cancer care