We’re losing the war with cancer (Book Review – Part I)

The graph and title say it all “New Cancer cases have risen three times faster than the U.S. population.”

That’s the focus of an important new book from Clifton Leaf entitled The Truth in Small Does: Why: We’re Losing the War on Cancer – and How to Win it - http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Small-Doses-Losing-Cancer-/dp/1476739986/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374599695&sr=1-1&keywords=clifton+leaf+the+truth+in+small+doses

Often the books I read and review are quite different.  They usually have something to do with brain issues and, inevitably, they’re sad, informative, instructive, frightful, memoir-ish, educational, mordant and/or sardonic.

The Truth in Small Doses has a dose of all of that. More importantly, though, the book puts a lie to the myth that we’re winning the war against cancer.

We’re not.

Leaf dives deeply into “Why”, “How did we get here?” and “How to fix the fight against cancer that is paralyzed by a dysfunctional cancer culture.”

Consumed with our inability to make progress in conquering cancer, he's spent years of his life researching this issue with a journalist’s investigative eye. In that quest he’s “…served as a (research) grant reviewer, and on various advisory boards and committees, not as a reporter, but rather as a participant, panelist, or member.” Impressively, his references, citations, notes, and the like start on page 311 and winds up on page 480*. Net, He’s done his homework…and then some.

As I read it, I’m on page 206, I also need to tell you that it’s a dense book. While there are a number of absorbing and well-told personal stories, there’s also a lot of science. At times I want to retake high school biology and chemistry so I can understand what he’s writing. Given the complexity of the complexity of the issues involved, it’s not surprising that it’ dense. In many ways the depth and complexity is reassuring.

In case you can't read the sources for the eye-opening graph at the top of this article, the following are listed: Cancer Statistics, A Cancer/J Clin, for years 1971 - 2012; U.S. Census Bureau. Spike in incidence in Mid-199s largely reflects a surge in new prostate cancer diagnoses after the advent of PSA screening later adjustments in methodology corrected for this apparent anomaly.

Lastly, you should know that it is my intention is to write a “Part II” review after I finish reading pages 206 through 310.

*This assumes that you’re reading the hard cover edition and aren’t reading it on your Kindle in bed while your significant other sleeps.

All About Brains.com – a “youtube.com” of brain info

That’s kind of an all-encompassing, yet focused website name, and it’s the headline and subhead of http://www.allaboutbrain.com/

If you go to the site right now, the first thing you see is a clip of PBS’ Gwen Ifill, Senior Correspondent  interviewing Dr. Murali Doraiswamy of Duke University School of Medicine about decreasing rates of dementia. That’s first class content.

If you then scroll down a bit, you’ll see another video, this one’s “What are the Symptoms of Brain Tumors?”  Or, if you're a nerd, zip over to a link to a segment entitled, “The Brain with Bill Nye the Science Guy” - http://www.allaboutbrain.com/the-brain-with-bill-nye-the-science-guy

According to the “About Us” tab on the website “We have decided to use All About Brain as a vehicle to provide available video information to those needing to learn about the functioning of the brain and how they may discover to correct or live/deal with certain problems that may occur now or in the future.

You will find many studies in the form of video’s and tutorials concerning the lungs and functioning of the brain. Follow them closely and understand that we do not provide medical advice whatsoever, as that is left to your personal health care physician.”

I love the high-quality content and video-centric content. To me, this is the "youtube.com" brain website - perfect for those of us who crave visuals.

Ooh, and they have a really good “Resources Online Links” page - http://www.allaboutbrain.com/resources-online-links/  (even though it doesn’t include my blog).

The Best Cancer Hospitals in the U.S. (according to Men’s Health Magazine)

I didn’t know where to go when I was told that I had a brain tumor…other than the nearest bar. Brain tumors or cancers just aren’t something most folks plan for*.

So in case you or a loved one just heard some really bad news, the National Brain Tumor Society just posted an article on their website this month entitled The Best Cancer Hospitals in the U.S.- http://www.menshealth.com/health/best-cancer-hospitals

This is a picture of the University of Colorado Cancer Center (Denver, CO). I’ve featured it because in the article I learned that “One cancer scientist here recently made headlines by developing a potential tumor treatment by successfully testing it on his Great Dane (which had cancer). Dr. Michael Graner created a vaccine that worked by essentially telling immune system T-cells what to attack. Now Dr. Graner is developing a clinical trial for human brain tumor patients. (www.ucdenver.edu)”

*Yes, this is a dangling preposition. Every time I try to "un-dangle" it, the prose becomes heavily contorted.

“What brain injury survivors want you to know”

Here’s a reposting of a reposting, but it’s still current and valuable and poignant. I found it on Anne McGinnis Breen's Brain Tumor Blog -http://gbyay.blogspot.com/ 

Basically, it’s a brain injury victim’s request that transmogrifies into a bit of a rant and, at times, becomes a plea for understanding and help. It’s entitled “Lost and Found: What brain injury survivors want you to know.” http://gbyay.blogspot.com/2013/07/lost-and-found-what-brain-injury.html

Here’s a plaintive excerpt from that list: “Please don’t be condescending or talk to me like I am a child. I’m not stupid, my brain is injured and it doesn’t work as well as it used to. Try to think of me as if my brain were in a cast.”

What a good analogy.

Here’s a link to http://www.brainline.org/ - the source of the original post.

Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_17170375_a-broken-brain--digitally-manipulated-3d-render.html'>AlienCat / 123RF Stock Photo</a>