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Principles of cancer treatment
Cancer Tmtment
Reviez~
( 1983)
10, 201
Book review
Principles Livingston.
of Cancer McGraw-Hill
Treatment (1982) Edited by S. K. Carter, Book Company, New York. E59.25
E. Glatstein
and R. B.
Clinical oncology has made enormous advances in breadth and in depth over the last two decades. This has resulted both from progressive specialisation within the relevant individual disciplines and the formation ofhighly specialised interdisciplinary study groups for individual diseases where the multi-modality approach applies. These factors make it increasingly difficult for oncologists in training or in practice, whether they specialise in medical, radiation or surgical aspects, to maintain an overall grasp of this widely ramifying subject. The sheer volume of material militates against the practicability of comprehensive textbooks of oncology-where the problems of gross physical weight and insufficiently rapid adaptation to progress are those which led to the demise of the dinosaurs. To avoid this dilemma the editors have produced a book which is primarily concerned with the treatment of cancer and concentrates on broad principles rather than minutiae. They have assembled (largely but not exclusively from North America) a panel of great eminence in the fields of surgery, radiation and medicine, reinforced by representatives from pathology, statistics, psychiatry and nursing. The book is arranged in two major parts: the first deals with broad principles more or less on a specialty basis; the second is entitled ‘disease-specific principles’ and is system orientated. In part I, introductory chapters on staging, design of clinical trials and statistical analysis lead on to considerations of the principles of surgical oncology, radiotherapy and cancer chemotherapy and are followed by chapters which broadly summarise such disease topics as tumour markers, blood component therapy, the paraneoplastic syndromes, pleural effusions and spinal cord compression. There is also a separate chapter on the principles of paediatric oncology. All are excellent, but those of Phillips on radiobiology and radiation therapy and Carter and Livingston on cancer chemotherapy stand out as masterly mini-texts of their respective subjects. Part II covers the solid tumours involving the major systems: breast, gastrointestinal tract, gynaecology, genitourinary, head and neck etc. with additional sections on haematological malignancies, the lymphomas, paediatric cancer and a few added miscellanies. Each section follows a general plan with a brief introductory overview followed by contributions from specialists from each of the relevant disciplines. The overall mix is commendable and in particular controversies in relation to treatment options are dealt with in a balanced manner. While the authors’ preferences are generally made clear, alternative strategies are set out fairly. Every chapter concludes with an extensive bibliography with a predominance of references less than 10 years old. The editors express in their preface the hope that by emphasising broad principles their book will avoid the pitfall of becoming immediately outdated. Oncology is, however, a rapidly moving subject and the success which this excellent production deserves will no doubt encourage them to plan the second edition within a very few years. G. WESTBURY 201
Reviez~
( 1983)
10, 201
Book review
Principles Livingston.
of Cancer McGraw-Hill
Treatment (1982) Edited by S. K. Carter, Book Company, New York. E59.25
E. Glatstein
and R. B.
Clinical oncology has made enormous advances in breadth and in depth over the last two decades. This has resulted both from progressive specialisation within the relevant individual disciplines and the formation ofhighly specialised interdisciplinary study groups for individual diseases where the multi-modality approach applies. These factors make it increasingly difficult for oncologists in training or in practice, whether they specialise in medical, radiation or surgical aspects, to maintain an overall grasp of this widely ramifying subject. The sheer volume of material militates against the practicability of comprehensive textbooks of oncology-where the problems of gross physical weight and insufficiently rapid adaptation to progress are those which led to the demise of the dinosaurs. To avoid this dilemma the editors have produced a book which is primarily concerned with the treatment of cancer and concentrates on broad principles rather than minutiae. They have assembled (largely but not exclusively from North America) a panel of great eminence in the fields of surgery, radiation and medicine, reinforced by representatives from pathology, statistics, psychiatry and nursing. The book is arranged in two major parts: the first deals with broad principles more or less on a specialty basis; the second is entitled ‘disease-specific principles’ and is system orientated. In part I, introductory chapters on staging, design of clinical trials and statistical analysis lead on to considerations of the principles of surgical oncology, radiotherapy and cancer chemotherapy and are followed by chapters which broadly summarise such disease topics as tumour markers, blood component therapy, the paraneoplastic syndromes, pleural effusions and spinal cord compression. There is also a separate chapter on the principles of paediatric oncology. All are excellent, but those of Phillips on radiobiology and radiation therapy and Carter and Livingston on cancer chemotherapy stand out as masterly mini-texts of their respective subjects. Part II covers the solid tumours involving the major systems: breast, gastrointestinal tract, gynaecology, genitourinary, head and neck etc. with additional sections on haematological malignancies, the lymphomas, paediatric cancer and a few added miscellanies. Each section follows a general plan with a brief introductory overview followed by contributions from specialists from each of the relevant disciplines. The overall mix is commendable and in particular controversies in relation to treatment options are dealt with in a balanced manner. While the authors’ preferences are generally made clear, alternative strategies are set out fairly. Every chapter concludes with an extensive bibliography with a predominance of references less than 10 years old. The editors express in their preface the hope that by emphasising broad principles their book will avoid the pitfall of becoming immediately outdated. Oncology is, however, a rapidly moving subject and the success which this excellent production deserves will no doubt encourage them to plan the second edition within a very few years. G. WESTBURY 201