We've noticed that you're using an ad blocker

Our content is brought to you free of charge because of the support of our advertisers. To continue enjoying our content, please turn off your ad blocker.

It's off now Dismiss How do I disable my ad blocker?
❌

How to disable your ad blocker for our site:

Adblock / Adblock Plus
  • Click on the AdBlock / AdBlock Plus icon on the top right of your browser.
  • Click “Don’t run on pages on this domain.” OR “Enabled on this site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Firefox Tracking Prevention
  • If you are Private Browsing in Firefox, "Tracking Protection" may casue the adblock notice to show. It can be temporarily disabled by clicking the "shield" icon in the address bar.
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Ghostery
  • Click the Ghostery icon on your browser.
  • In Ghostery versions < 6.0 click “Whitelist site.” in version 6.0 click “Trust site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
uBlock / uBlock Origin
  • Click the uBlock / uBlock Origin icon on your browser.
  • Click the “power” button in the menu that appears to whitelist the current website
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
  • ONCOLOGY
  • News
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Hematology
  • Image IQ
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Slideshows
  • Conferences

Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Skip to main content
Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Menu
User
Home
  • ONCOLOGY
  • News
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Hematology
  • Image IQ
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Slideshows
  • Conferences

SUBSCRIBE: Print / eNewsletter

Book Review: Breast Cancer

  • Price: $160.00 Reviewed By Yvedt L. Matory, MD
Nov 1, 1999
Volume: 
13
Issue: 
11
  • Breast Cancer

 

The editor of Breast Cancer is Daniel F. Roses, MD, a professor of surgery at New York University and director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at that institution. Its contributors include Pat Borgen, MD, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Armando Giuliano, MD, from the University of California, Alison Estabrook, MD, from St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Frea Schnabel, MD, from Columbia-Presbyterian, David Page, MD, from Vanderbilt University, Larry Norton, MD, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and John Neiderhuber, MD, from the University of Wisconsin Medical Center. All of these notable individuals have made significant contributions to the management of patients with breast cancer.

This book is one of several major texts focusing on diseases of the breast and breast cancer. The other texts include Cancer of the Breast by Donegan and Spratt, and two more extensive texts, Diseases of the Breast by Harris, Lichtman, Morrow, and Helmann, and The Breast, edited by Bland and Copeland. Breast Cancer is distinguished from these other references by being somewhat more readable.

The paragraph subtitles used throughout this text all take the form of questions. However, in some instances, the question format fragments the text. Throughout the book, there are factual inconsistencies in the discussion of specific topics. Also, the depth of discussion varies from one chapter to another.

An example of factual inconsistency can be found in the chapter on prevention by Etkind and Sparano. This chapter contains two contradictory statements about the complications of tamoxifen (Nolvadex). In one subheading, the drug is described as “relatively devoid of serious short-term or long-term side effects with the exception of an approximately twofold increased risk of endometrial carcinoma.” In that same chapter, tamoxifen is described as being associated with a “fivefold elevation in the risk of endometrial cancer and a twofold elevation in the risk of thrombophlebotic events.”

The same type of inconsistency is found in the chapter entitled “Multi-modality treatment of stage I and stage II breast cancer,” authored by John Niederhuber, MD. This chapter has a table devoted to postmastectomy radiation therapy for patients with advanced (T3 or T4) lesions. These are not patients with stage I and II disease. As a result, it is unclear whether the chapter focuses on early- or late-stage breast cancer.

In some cases, it is difficult to tell which audience the book is directed toward—a general audience seeking basic information or a specialized audience seeking specific details. For example, David Roses’ chapter entitled “Development of modern breast cancer treatment” is very well written and engaging. It provides extensive detail about the historical aspects of breast cancer management. This level of detail, however, is out of proportion to the discussion of more practical matters throughout the book.

In contrast, the book treats a very important matter—the medicolegal aspects of breast cancer care—in a superficial manner. The “discussion” of these issues is limited to a chart in the chapter on radiologic assessment. In contrast, the competing texts devote an entire chapter to medicolegal issues. Understanding these issues is crucial for both the breast cancer specialist and nonspecialist.

In summary, it is very difficult to write a text that satisfies the needs of all readers. Breast Cancer appears to be geared toward a general audience that may be seeking specific answers to questions. In many ways, it is very readable, but there are some factual inconsistencies and some variation in the level of detail provided. Breast Cancer is distinguished from other similar texts, in part, by its authors and by being somewhat more readable than its competition.

 


Related Articles

  • Prognostic Tool Can Guide Extended Endocrine Therapy in ER+ Breast Cancer
  • Forecasting PARP Inhibitor Resistance in Breast Cancer Patients
  • OncoMasTR Assay May Help Some Breast Cancer Patients Avoid Chemo
  • RAD51 Linked With PARP Inhibitor Resistance in BRCA-Mutated Breast Cancer
  • HER2+ Breast Cancer Subtypes Resistant to TKIs Through Differing Mechanisms

Resource Topics rightRail

  • Resource Topics
  • Partner Content
Breast Cancer
Lung Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Melanoma
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome
3 Keys to Success in the Oncology Care Model

Current Issue

Oncology Vol 32 No 4
Apr 15, 2018 Vol 32 No 4
Digital Edition
Subscribe
Connect with Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
Modern Medicine Network
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Advertiser Terms
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Editorial & Advertising Policy
  • Editorial Board
  • Contact Us
Modern Medicine Network
© UBM 2018, All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.