Having persistently challenged the medical community for centuries, cancer has proved to be the most recalcitrant and most versatile of all villains claiming the lives of humankind. Understanding the causes and mechanism of cancer, devising a method for its prevention and finding a cure for it have been defying the pathologists, surgeons and doctors for centuries. Not only has it been a scientific mystery but it has also presented itself as a political, philosophical and financial challenge. "The Emperor of All Maladies" is a comprehensive account of the historical events marking the triumphs and despairs of those seeking to demystify and remedy cancer and a glimpse into the future of this perennial movement.
Siddhartha Mukherjee, a cancer physician and researcher by profession, has put together a profound "biography" of cancer. He describes the book as "an attempt to enter the mind of this immortal illness, to understand its personality and to demystify its behavior." He speaks with the authority of a professional cancer physician, with the insight of a historian and with the compassion of someone who himself has closely seen and felt the pain of dying. He embarks upon the journey starting from the first documented appearances of cancer thousands of years ago through the decades of struggle to cure, control and comprehend the disease to finally uncovering its essential features, while the quest for a more lasting cure still continues.
The battle against cancer has presented itself as a mountain to climb on every front. Surgeons have fought to eradicate it through extraordinary measures. Chemotherapists have chased a perfect blend of drugs to kill cancer cells, trying hard not to kill the healthy ones in the process. Pathologists have struggled hard to find its causes and mechanisms but somehow every answer kept turning into another series of questions. It has not only been an academic and scientific pursuit, but it also became a political movement. People invested their money and doctors invested their lives in launching clinical trials to find a cure for the disease. Today, oncologists have an understanding of the essence of cancer and tools to diagnose it, but the realization for a lasting cure for cancer has still a long way to go. Mukherjee writes with a cautious optimism about the future of cancer medicine while relating the gradual but remarkable progress in the field during the last century.
The history of cancer is full of unexpected surprises and unrelenting challenges. Mukherjee not only describes the disease itself as having a distinct personality but also relates the idiosyncrasies of the doctors and researchers confronting it throughout the history and most importantly, he tells stories of real people who have suffered and struggled against the disease. He explains the intricate concepts of medicine with a literary eloquence, which is both intelligible and gripping. The book is a magnificent combination of literary and scientific writing. From beginning till end, it continues to inspire, maintaining that however difficult it might be, unwavering patience and unremitting efforts will always be fruitful in the end.
Siddhartha Mukherjee, a cancer physician and researcher by profession, has put together a profound "biography" of cancer. He describes the book as "an attempt to enter the mind of this immortal illness, to understand its personality and to demystify its behavior." He speaks with the authority of a professional cancer physician, with the insight of a historian and with the compassion of someone who himself has closely seen and felt the pain of dying. He embarks upon the journey starting from the first documented appearances of cancer thousands of years ago through the decades of struggle to cure, control and comprehend the disease to finally uncovering its essential features, while the quest for a more lasting cure still continues.
The battle against cancer has presented itself as a mountain to climb on every front. Surgeons have fought to eradicate it through extraordinary measures. Chemotherapists have chased a perfect blend of drugs to kill cancer cells, trying hard not to kill the healthy ones in the process. Pathologists have struggled hard to find its causes and mechanisms but somehow every answer kept turning into another series of questions. It has not only been an academic and scientific pursuit, but it also became a political movement. People invested their money and doctors invested their lives in launching clinical trials to find a cure for the disease. Today, oncologists have an understanding of the essence of cancer and tools to diagnose it, but the realization for a lasting cure for cancer has still a long way to go. Mukherjee writes with a cautious optimism about the future of cancer medicine while relating the gradual but remarkable progress in the field during the last century.
The history of cancer is full of unexpected surprises and unrelenting challenges. Mukherjee not only describes the disease itself as having a distinct personality but also relates the idiosyncrasies of the doctors and researchers confronting it throughout the history and most importantly, he tells stories of real people who have suffered and struggled against the disease. He explains the intricate concepts of medicine with a literary eloquence, which is both intelligible and gripping. The book is a magnificent combination of literary and scientific writing. From beginning till end, it continues to inspire, maintaining that however difficult it might be, unwavering patience and unremitting efforts will always be fruitful in the end.
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