Understanding Cancer: A Scientific and Clinical Guide for the Layperson

Cancer is one of the most frightening words in the language. It is a matter of great annoyance to the fund‐raiser for the Psychiatry Research Trust, for example, that if you say “mental illness” to people they simply pass by on the other side, while if you say “cancer” they will stuff money into your collecting box, before hurriedly running away in case even thinking about it is catching. Nevertheless, in advanced western societies, about a quarter of us die of cancers of various sorts, so it might be as well to learn something about them.

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