Once a certain death sentence and often a cause for shame, cancer is now a treatable disease. Cancer provides a broad introduction to this complex family of diseases, tracing the fascinating history of scientific discoveries that led to today''s sophisticated treatments.

This extraordinary new volume, coauthored by three leaders in cancer research and surgery at Harvard Medical School, uses scientifically accurate yet accessible language to give readers a firm grounding in such essential concepts as angiogenesis and the genetics of cancer. In addition to information about types of cancer, diagnosis, and treatment, Cancer places special emphasis on new frontiers in research, psychological aspects of a cancer diagnosis, and quality-of-life issues for those living with disease. Useful features include a comprehensive glossary, a timeline of milestones in cancer research, and an appendix for students on how to pursue a career in science or medicine.