Summary

2008 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title"The Encyclopedia of Cancer & Society provides a broad picture of cancer as a part of contemporary life in all regions of the world. This public-health perspective with an emphasis on prevention is unique and distinguishes the encyclopedia from other reference works, such as The Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer: A Guide to Cancer and Its Treatments (2d ed., 2005). An excellent addition to academic, health-sciences, and large public libraries." --Booklist, Starred Review"Since age is the dominant factor that drives cancer risk, the total number of cancer cases diagnosed is expected to double by mid-century. The 750 entries in thei set, written by experts from a variety of disciplines, explore key themes such as known carcinogens, cancer around the world, cancers by type, treatments and therapies, alternative treatments, and the impact of cancer on society. Colditz′s (medicine, Washington Univ.) research on breast cancer and hormone treatments is widely cited."--Library Journal

"Each volume contains a listing of articles, a roster with professional affiliations, and a color ′Atlas of Cancer′ with well-labeled illustrations. This set also includes a resource guide listing books, journals, and Internet sources that deal with various aspects of cancer. The appendix provides a good statistical overview of cancer rates by race and state, and a glossary is adapted from the National Cancer Institute′s online glossary. Although other reference works are available on a wide range of cancer treatments and research topics, this work goes beyond the provisions of information on medical conditions to help readers better understand the impact of behavioral change on cancer prevention. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels."--CHOICE

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Cancer kills more than six million people worldwide each year. The fact that many cancers are the result of lifestyle and environmental factors means that prevention is possible. This encyclopedia takes on the ambitious task of examining the possibilities for preventing cancer by reducing risk factors within societies and the environment. Editor Colditz, a physician at Washington University School of Medicine, has assembled an international group of contributors from universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The multidisciplinary approach gives this work a unique perspective. Each volume begins with an Atlas of Cancer containing color illustrations showing how normal tissue becomes cancerous and how cancer spreads in the body. Volume 1 has a brief chronology of the history of cancer treatment and research from ancient Egypt through 2005. More than 750 alphabetical entries cover topics related to the social and business aspects of cancer (Cost of therapy, Pollution, Western diet); types of cancer (AIDS-related cancers, Hairy cell leukemia); individuals who have made key contributions to our understanding of cancer (Carson, Rachel; Terry, Luther); traditional and alternative therapies and treatments (Biologic therapy, Herbs, Surgery); known or suspected carcinogens or causes (Acrylic rubber and fibers, Age, Tobacco smoking); and prevention (Screening, access to; Vaccines). One group of entries discusses major hospitals and treatments centers, such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Another focuses on associations, from the American Cancer Society to the Spanish Society of Oncology Nursing. More than 120 entries are devoted to cancer in different parts of the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Though most entries are very readable, a few rely heavily on medical terminology. A glossary and a very detailed index are repeated in each volume. A bibliography of books and journals and an appendix with U.S. cancer statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute complete the work. The Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society provides a broad picture of cancer as a part of contemporary life in all regions of the world. This public-health perspective with an emphasis on prevention is unique and distinguishes the encyclopedia from other reference works, such as The Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer: A Guide to Cancer and Its Treatments (2d ed., 2005). An excellent addition to academic, health-sciences, and large public libraries.--Bibel, Barbara Copyright 2008 Booklist

Choice Review

The focus of this multivolume work (1,616 pages) is the role of health care providers, regulatory agencies, and individuals in reducing the burden of cancer by modifying risk factors and improving patterns of risk. In an excellent introduction, editor Colditz points out that about 50 percent of cancers are preventable; his goal is to improve readers' understanding of the potential for prevention and of strategies that minimize cancer's burden on society. The encyclopedia includes some 750 entries, ranging from cancer causes to treatment options, and from organizations that deliver care to world-renowned centers that engage in cutting-edge cancer research. In volume 1, a chronology highlights the scientific and technological developments that have contributed to the growth of cancer research and to profound changes in lifestyles and societies. Each volume contains a listing of articles, a roster with professional affiliations, and a color "Atlas of Cancer" with well-labeled illustrations. This set also includes a resource guide listing books, journals, and Internet sources that deal with various aspects of cancer. The appendix provides a good statistical overview of cancer rates by race and state, and the glossary is adapted from the National Cancer Institute's online glossary. Although other reference works are available on a wide range of cancer treatments and research topics, this work goes beyond the provision of information on medical conditions to help readers better understand the impact of behavioral change on cancer prevention. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels. D. Timm Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center--Shreveport

Library Journal Review

Edited by Colditz (Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine; Cancerpra: Handbook of Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention), this set is touted as the first multivolume reference work to cover the effects of cancer, its treatments, and their consequences to society and individuals. The 750 entries cover all types of cancers affecting today's societies and include information about ongoing cancer research worldwide, the relation between ethnicity and race and the risks of cancer, and the existing controversy between main-stream and alternative treatments in the fight against the different types of cancer. There is also a user-friendly section with illustrations and drawings that help show how the various types of cancers spread, a reader's guide for searching for articles by category or topic, and a list of articles. BOTTOM LINE Intended to serve as a nontechnical source of information on the biology, sociology, and health studies of cancer treatments and prevention, this excellent resource is recommended for high school and undergraduate college libraries as well as all public libraries. [Available electronically through SAGE eReference as well as through Gale Virtual Reference Library.-Ed.]-Luis J. Gonzalez, Hunter Coll. Libs., New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.