The Death of Cancer

The true story of the war on cancer from one of its generals

Cancer touches everybody's life in one way or another. But most of us know very little about how the disease works, why we treat it the way we do, and the personalities whose dedication got us where we are today. For fifty years, Dr. Vincent T. DeVita Jr. has been one of those key players: He has held just about every major position in the field, and he developed the first successful chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. As one of oncology's leading figures, DeVita knows what cancer looks like from the lab bench and the bedside. "The Death of Cancer "is his illuminating and deeply personal look at the science and the history of one of the world's most formidable diseases. In his hands, even the most complex medical concepts are comprehensible.

Cowritten with his daughter, the science writer Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn, "The Death of Cancer "is also a personal tale about the false starts and major breakthroughs, the strong-willed oncologists who clashed with conservative administrators (and one another), and the courageous patients whose willingness to test cutting-edge research helped those oncologists find potential treatments.

With historical depth and authenticity, DeVita reveals the true story of the fight against cancer. "The Death of Cancer "is an ambitious, vital book about a life-and-death subject that touches us all.