One in Three: A Son's Journey into the History and Science of Cancer

by Adam Wishart

Adam Wishart couldn't find any book that answered his questions when his father contracted cancer, so he decided to write one instead. Here is the exciting, encouraging and positive story of science's progress in changing cancer from what we die from to what we live with. Part memoir, part science, this book is the story of the author's father and ultimately the death of an old man, interweaved with the history of the discovery of cancer, its treatment and - increasingly now - its prevention. It is the story of heroic science from the 18th century, when the disease was first recognised, to the huge research projects around the world that have enormously extended the life expectancy of people with cancer. The mere use of the "c" word is enough to terrify people - but as the book will show, that is about to change, as genetics and effective treatments become better and better understood. As the author emphasises, this is a positive book, and the narrative is full of hope. Uniquely comprehensive, One in Three's long view allows the reader to understand the science that has surrounded cancer as it has developed; it gives the reader insights into its biology and its treatment. One-third of us will contract cancer, and One in Three is a personal and authoritative book which will help everyone to understand it without blind terror.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 2006

Reviews

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One reason for the lack of progress was a shortage of bodies for dissection throughout Europe and America. Many families refused to have their loved ones’ souls disturbed.

In desperation, anatomists relied on the service of bodysnatchers to dig up graves and cart the rotting remains to medical schools.

Most famously, William Burke and William Hare from Edinburgh murdered their victims before selling them.

This was not trivial, as in Arberdeen, 20.000 people gathered in protest outside of the medical school, with relatives of the diseased running through the corridors, fighting with doctors and carrying off the bodies of their friends and relatives.

But of course, that’s not what they teach in medical schools.