The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer Paperback – August 9, 2011

"Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings whom they know nothing" --VoltaireThe Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, is a fascinating book about the history of cancer, a disease that would kill 600,000 people in the United States, and 7 million people worldwide in 2010 alone. The author, an Oncologist, researcher, and professor of medicine began this book when he was a resident at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and an Oncologist at Mass General Hospital in 2005.Most of the information learned about cancer in this novel takes is from the early 1900's to the present, however, in 440bc, a Greek Historian named Herodotus recorded the story of Atossa, Queen of Persia, who has a "bleeding lump in her breast. Her breast was removed, however, it is uncertain as to whether the cancer had returned when she died. There is also on record a 1,000 year old bone cancer preserved in a mummy that was a member of the Chiribaya Tribe. So it appears that cancer was present in the distant past, but that it was somewhat rare, probably because as the author writes. "people didn't live long enough to get cancer". Today since people are living longer and longer, it makes sense that more of us will die of this disease unless a cure is found, as "mutations in cancer genes increase with age".Today however, although significant advances have been made, the war on cancer has not been won by any means. The book is loaded with interesting information, but a difficult book to review, so I thought I would share a combination of statistics, advances in treatment and quotes, that I found interesting:"Killing a cancer cell in a test tube is easy. The trouble lies in finding a selective poison - a drug that will kill cancer without annihilating the patient"* Between 1970-1994, lung cancer was the #1 killer. Lung cancer with women over age 55 increased by 400%.* Between 1990-2005, mortality declined by about 1% each year for, lung, breast, colon and prostate cancer --despite this, a half million Americans died of cancer in 2005 alone.* 1/400 - 39 year old women will develop breast cancer* 1/9 - 70 year old women will develop breast cancer* As of 1981, radical mastectomy is rarely performed today* Prostate cancer and breast cancer are hormone dependent cancers* Breast cancer and ovarian cancer have been found to be connectedIn 1962, the drug Tamoxifen was developed for birth control, but was found to have the reverse effects, actually shutting off the estrogen signal to tissues. In 1973, V. Craig Jordan, a bio-chemist from a little known lab in Central Massachusetts found estrogen receptors were highly responsive to Tamoxifen which choke the cells growth, so a trial drug program was designed for women with advanced metastatic breast cancer, which seemed to cut the cancer's recurrence by 50% in women over 50. It lengthened survival, however, many patients eventually relapsed.The book is full of fascinating insights of the discoveries, advances and outcomes made by cutting edge scientists of the past and present, like the discovery of radium oncology in the early 1900s, mammography, PAP tests, and so much more. From the primitive surgeries of the past to the politics of battling insurance companies who deny treatments here today, this book is never dry or dull. The book is like a medical drama of the past and present. There are interesting photos, advertisements and articles as well. The book was easy to read and understand, even if you are someone who does not have a background in science. Don't let the 590+ pages discourage you from reading this wonderful book, as at least 20% of that are sources used for researching this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Emperor of All Maladies took me a while to complete, but it was well worth it. Rarely have I gone through a book and wanted to read every page and focus on details, yet with this it came naturally. The Emperor of All Maladies goes through the story of cancer. Its history of discovery by the medical profession and the history of its treatment. It discusses the origins of the disease, the triumphs and failure of treatment, the battles within the medical profession and the differences of approach that have been taken. Every chapter is interesting and the book takes the reader on a complete journey through cancer's history with medicine with no background required.The book is filled with narratives of pioneering doctors and the casework they did (both successfully and unsuccessfully). The author goes through the thought process of various doctors in their respective places in history and specific context and describes how they came to their beliefs and conclusions. In particular one gets a sense of the history of the different arenas where medicine battles cancer. One is introduced to viral causes of cancer and radiation therapies. One learns of the momentum that gathered with invasive surgery and the magnitude of flesh removal to eradicate cancer that much of the surgical profession came to believe in. The author gives an indepth history of chemotherapy and how it came to dominate the options many cancer patients had. Cancer was studied by means of outcomes of patient treatment rather than at the cellular level. The history of cancer fundraising is given and its intertwinement with politics.The biology of cancer is given in various parts of the book in line with the actual discovery process of it. The author starts to really get into the biology of cancer as the critical voices (about the medical professions toolkit and lack of understanding of when and why the toolkit worked) in the book gathered. The study at the molecular level of how uninhibited cell division takes place is introduced. The discovery of how a virus could cause cancer is one of the first introductions to how gene manipulation could cause an explosive cancer. From there the author takes the reader on a final journey introducing the complexity of cancer. The author takes great care in describing the complex permutations required to develop and the subtle differences between some of these permutations. In addition the reader is taken through the reasoning as to how these differences make treatments diverse and highly individual.This is a comprehensive history of cancer that was interesting on every page. After reading this I feel I got a sense of the history of cancer, the complexity that defines the illness and the immense challenges that cancer presents when searching for cures. Though this takes some time to get through, I feel it was time extremely well spent and feel instilled with a real desire to keep up with developements in the medicine of cancer.

"The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer" is an absolute masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of conventional medical literature. Siddhartha Mukherjee's gripping storytelling approach weaves together the complex history of cancer, from its earliest documented appearances to the cutting-edge advancements in modern treatment. What sets this book apart is Mukherjee's ability to transform intricate scientific concepts into a captivating narrative. By presenting the history of cancer as a dynamic and evolving saga, the reader becomes not just an observer, but an active participant in the fight against this relentless disease. Each chapter unveils a new layer of understanding, and Mukherjee's eloquent prose keeps you engrossed, eagerly anticipating the revelations of the next.Mukherjee's "biography" of cancer reads like a suspenseful novel, drawing readers in with a sense of urgency and curiosity. The book's ability to elucidate the scientific intricacies of cancer while maintaining an engaging and personal tone is nothing short of remarkable. From the earliest attempts at treatment to the breakthroughs in targeted therapies, "The Emperor of All Maladies" unveils the tenacious human spirit that has driven researchers, physicians, and patients alike to unravel the mysteries of cancer. Whether you're a medical professional, a cancer survivor, or simply curious about the history of this formidable disease, Mukherjee's work is an enlightening and compelling journey that leaves a lasting impact on the way we perceive and approach cancer.

Good read, but it's a bit heady as a causal read. But for the information, worth the time.