The Obsession or Oncology

The Obsession: Reflections on the Tyranny of Slenderness

Author: Kim Chernin

The Obsession is a deeply committed and beautifully written analysis of our society's increasing demand that women be thin. It offers a careful, thought provoking discussion of the reasons men have encouraged this obsession and women have embraced it. It is a book about women's efforts to become thin rather than to accept the natural dimensions of their bodies--a book about the meaning of food and its rejection.

New York Times Book Review

Eloquently written, passionate in its rhetoric and consistently absorbing.

Book review: Magnetic Healing or Cellulite Buster

Oncology: An Evidence-Based Approach

Author: Alfred E Chang

Oncology: An Evidence-Based Approach is a textbook designed to reflect the principles and current practice of oncology with contributors from the fields of medical, surgical, and radiation oncology. The textbook will incorporate an evidence-based approach, enabling the reader to make decisions on the basis of concrete data. Sections on solid tumors, hematologic malignancies and the practice of oncology address the natural history and therapy for the full spectrum of neoplastic diseases in the adult. Further sections present fundamentals of supportive care of the cancer patient, the management of oncologic emergencies and acute toxicities of therapy, as well as care of metastatic disease and the terminally-ill patient. Breaking new ground, the textbook features thoughtful, in-depth sections on cancer prevention and control, cancer surviorship, the economics of cancer care, and cancer informatics. Cancer imaging is covered with an organ system-based approach, with an additional chapter on the especially intriguing potential of PET.  Furthermore, a comprehensive section on translational basic science reviews the fundamentals of molecular biology, the cell cycle and signal transduction, carcinogenesis, cancer genetics, the biology of invations and metastasis, and tumor immunology.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Gary R. MacVicar, MD(Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This is a comprehensive book of oncology which emphasizes current evidence pertaining to the clinical care of cancer patients.
Purpose: The editorial board of the book state in the preface that the purpose is to discuss relevant oncology topics with an emphasis on an evidence-based approach to assist the busy clinician in making management decisions which are founded on current literature. Given the large number of patients most clinicians see and the rapid development of new treatments in a number of malignancies, staying "current" is becoming increasingly more difficult. Therefore, a book that summarizes key trials and other clinical evidence in a concise yet comprehensive fashion is valuable. The book meets these objectives.
Audience: According to the editors, this book is relevant for all persons involved in the care of cancer patients including residents, fellows, and practicing oncologists, as well as allied health professionals. The book is appropriately written for this audience. Those with particular interests in prevention, supportive care, or survivorship in relation to cancer would also find this book relevant. The editors are leaders in various disciplines in oncology, and many chapter authors are recognized experts from leading institutions.
Features: A wide variety of topics is covered, including chapters on a comprehensive array of solid and hematologic malignancies. In addition, new, unique, and evolving topics are discussed with chapters on translational sciences, informatics, ethical issues, targetedtherapies, and PET imaging. Supportive oncology and survivorship topics are also included. Many of these chapters contain practical information which is relevant to clinicians. An evidence-based approach is emphasized throughout the book and an effort is made to present current evidence. Most chapters contain a number of useful tables and figures summarizing trial data and presenting clinically relevant information. Multimodality approaches are stressed as well.
Assessment: This is a useful addition to the existing standard oncology textbooks. With its emphasis on current evidence and its comprehensive nature, this is an excellent resource for clinicians seeking answers to clinical questions, updated information regarding current care of cancer patients, and insight into translational sciences, supportive care, and survivorship issues.