Mary Ann G. Cutter is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Georgetown University through the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Program. She is the author of numerous publications on the philosophy of disease and bioethical topics, including AIDS, genetics, death and dying, and women's health care. In 1997, Professor Cutter received a CU system-wide Service Award for her work in developing genetic protection legislation for the State of Colorado.

Cutter's book is an excellent example of how philosophy can assist in the personalization of medicine, which has become impersonal and commercial in its delivery of clinical care. What makes her book so persuasive is that she exhibits full personhood both as patient and as agent. As patient, she recounts the impact not only of breast cancer but also of its treatment on her personal life... Cutter's book should be read not just by philosophers of medicine, but also by patients and health care professionals and administrators as well as policymakers.

• I. Introduction II. How is Breast Cancer Described?III. How is Breast Cancer Explained?IV.How is Breast Cancer Evaluated?V. How is Breast Cancer a Social Phenomenon?VI. What is the Relation among the Descriptive, Explanatory, Evaluative, and Social Dimensions of Breast Cancer?VII. What Are the Ethical Implications of How Medicine Understands Breast Cancer?VIII. Extended Musings Glossary of Medical TermsGlossary of Philosophical TermsReferences

Mary Ann G. Cutter is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Georgetown University through the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Program. She is the author of numerous publications on the philosophy of disease and bioethical topics, including AIDS, genetics, death and dying, and women's health care. In 1997, Professor Cutter received a CU system-wide Service Award for her work in developing genetic protection legislation for the State of Colorado.

Cutter's book is an excellent example of how philosophy can assist in the personalization of medicine, which has become impersonal and commercial in its delivery of clinical care. What makes her book so persuasive is that she exhibits full personhood both as patient and as agent. As patient, she recounts the impact not only of breast cancer but also of its treatment on her personal life... Cutter's book should be read not just by philosophers of medicine, but also by patients and health care professionals and administrators as well as policymakers.

• I. Introduction II. How is Breast Cancer Described?III. How is Breast Cancer Explained?IV.How is Breast Cancer Evaluated?V. How is Breast Cancer a Social Phenomenon?VI. What is the Relation among the Descriptive, Explanatory, Evaluative, and Social Dimensions of Breast Cancer?VII. What Are the Ethical Implications of How Medicine Understands Breast Cancer?VIII. Extended Musings Glossary of Medical TermsGlossary of Philosophical TermsReferences

Mary Ann G. Cutter is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Georgetown University through the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Program. She is the author of numerous publications on the philosophy of disease and bioethical topics, including AIDS, genetics, death and dying, and women's health care. In 1997, Professor Cutter received a CU system-wide Service Award for her work in developing genetic protection legislation for the State of Colorado.

Cutter's book is an excellent example of how philosophy can assist in the personalization of medicine, which has become impersonal and commercial in its delivery of clinical care. What makes her book so persuasive is that she exhibits full personhood both as patient and as agent. As patient, she recounts the impact not only of breast cancer but also of its treatment on her personal life... Cutter's book should be read not just by philosophers of medicine, but also by patients and health care professionals and administrators as well as policymakers.

• I. Introduction II. How is Breast Cancer Described?III. How is Breast Cancer Explained?IV.How is Breast Cancer Evaluated?V. How is Breast Cancer a Social Phenomenon?VI. What is the Relation among the Descriptive, Explanatory, Evaluative, and Social Dimensions of Breast Cancer?VII. What Are the Ethical Implications of How Medicine Understands Breast Cancer?VIII. Extended Musings Glossary of Medical TermsGlossary of Philosophical TermsReferences