Customer Reviews

The Basic Science of Oncology

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is probably the best introductory oncology book I have found. I taught out of it in classes for advanced undergrades, first year graduate students and doctor of pharmacy students. It is comprehensive and easily readable, and the treatment of general concepts is second to none. Some of the listings of identified oncogenes and such are a bit dated, but that should be rectified when the 3rd edition is published (currently expected April 1, 1998). The section on the biology underlying cancer treatment is particularly useful, and hopefully the 1998 update will continue to be so.

Having heard so much about this book, I was very dissapointed by the fact that this book really wasnt so basic . It does provide a comprehensive analysis of many other aspects of oncology ,but it most certainly is not a book for beginners and at times you feel overwhelmed by the sheer detail with an inability to bring across basic concepts. This is a book for oncologists who have a more than basic grasp of the basic sciences.Read somehing simpler first.

This book was recommended reading for my postgraduate degree in medical oncology. It is awful! While the content is generally good, it is unfortunately presented poorly:
1) Figures are in black and white (like in textbooks from the 70s)
2) It seems the target audience are molecular biologists, because the content is far from "basic".

I ended up reading Alberts "Molecular Biology of the Cell" and Weinberg's "Biology of Cancer" instead. Those are amazing textbooks, easy to read, and they cover the same topics as Tannock/Hill' book. Sure, Alberts/Weinberg together are close to 2000 pages, but this turned out to be easier, faster and far more enjoyable than reading Tannock/Hill.

I really think that this book is an excellent academic source on cancer. We went through many chapters of the previous edition in a course I have taken during my PhD education, 7 or 8 years ago. I recently purchased the last edition, as it is now among the sources I use and recommend in the PhD classes I offer to our students. I think a little background scientific knowledge on cancer will help get the best out of this book. It covers all aspects of cancer, refers to connections between different topics on cancer, which helps greatly in seeing the "big picture" also.

I know we all have different ideas of what the term "like new" means; however, I was pretty disappointed with this one. I purchased this book and there was a water/tea stain throughout the entire book and the pages were all wrinkled. Not so "like new" in my opinion. I don't appreciate false advertising.

The price was great, the book was in great condition, and the shipping was semi quick.

To understand the basis of cancer, to read about molecular biology, and the development of the mutations, and to understand how it hapens. Complete and basic.