Customer Reviews

One in Three: A Son's Journey into the History and Science of Cancer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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In one of the most stimulating and informative books you will ever encounter, Wishart provides the clearest possible description of: a)what cancer is, i.e. from the first aberrant cell mutations to the eventual metastasis that eventually kills us; and b) the hundreds-year old history of approaches to treatment and prevention. Interwoven throughout is the poignant gripping story of his revered father's ordeal with prostate cancer to which he succumbs within about a year of its first diagnois -- a tortuous saga that prompted Wishart's investigation into cancer's history and prognosis for cure. I was left with both unsettling awe and despair after I put down this book: awe at the many genius scientists Wishart depicts who have achieved near-miraculous breakthroughs in cancer-remediating drugs; despair over the seeming impossibility of ever eradicating a disease which the author traces to the "constant bombardment" throughout life sustained by every one of our "ten million million cells"; during our lives there are "100 million million" cell divisions and "for cancer to begin there need be only one malignant cell that copies itself in a chaotic and uncontrollable way; with every duplication its dangerous characteristics are passed on to its offspring and a single aberration becomes a cluster, then a lump, then a tumor." It was especially sobering to learn that the dying man's prostate tumor origin was completely undetectable until his autopsy, a PSA screening test within months of his death yielding an absurdly false negative result of just 1. In sum, be prepared on reading this book to conclude that outliving cancer is as likely as winning the lottery year after year after year. If you ever fantasized about dodging the cancer bullet, you will think twice, but that could be just the insight you need to make the most out of every remaining minute you have!

The book seems highly commended (per back cover)on the scientific side, on which I am unqualified to comment. It tells a good personal story, into which the author combines the history of the science & medicine of cancer.

Very good example of technical writing. Very detailed exploration of the history of cancer medicine. Left me with many questions on the emotional aspects.