The writer, a professor of medicine at new york university, is the author of the breast cancer wars, a history of breast cancer screening and. It tells the true story of two doctors, a father and son, who practiced in very different times and the evolution of the ethics, paternalism, and patient autonomy that profoundly influenced health care. The breast cancer wars annals of internal medicine. A compelling history of the battles stirred up by breast cancerthe medical war against the disease, the patients war against paternalism, and the statistical war. Hope, fear and the pursuit of a cure in twentieth century america. Barron lerners breast cancer wars joins ellen leopolds darker ribbon as an eyeopening look backstage at the breast cancer follies in america. Pink ribbon fatigue breast cancer the new york times.
Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america. Lerner is a physician, historian, and professor of medicine and public health at columbia university. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women following lung cancer. Lerner details how halsted and other leading disciples long held that removal of one of the most expendable parts of the body in fact rested less on the proven value of the radical mastectomy. They are both important books, and make many of the same points, but if you are of a mind to read only one history of this disease, make it this one.
Writing with insight and compassion, lerner tells a compelling story of influential surgeons, anxious patients and. Although the vast majority of the cases occur in women, some men also get breast cancer. Replete with large amounts of new information, this book is a major contribution to the historiography of both the flu and epidemic diseases more broadly. Excerpts of the book would pair nicely with robert hasss poem, a story about the body, audre lordes the cancer journals, andor the breast cancer funds art. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america by barron h.
Lerner, md, professor of medicine and public health at columbia university, is author of the breast cancer wars. A father, a son and the evolution of medical ethics. Oct 11, 2010 it is great to celebrate ones survivorship from breast cancer, but it would be better not to have to be a survivor in the first place. Lerner, author of the breast cancer wars a gifted storyteller, bristow shows how the 1918 influenza pandemic affected americans of all walks of life. The breast cancer wars, interview with barron lerner on nprs fresh air in 2001.
The breast cancer wars provides a thoughtful and insightful history of how medical beliefs, cultural trends, and the womens movement of the 1970s and 1980s have influenced the treatment of breast cancer in the united states. Hope, fear and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america, published by oxford university press, received the. Jan 12, 2016 my 2001 book the breast cancer wars, was named a most notable book by the american library association and won the william h. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america or robert. Hope, fear and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america, published by oxford university press, received the william h. Welch medal of the american association for the history of medicine and was named one of the 26 most notable books. His impressively thorough, readably scholarly book may become the classic in the field. Controlling tuberculosis along the skid road and when illness goes public. Fear, hope and the pursuit of a cure in twentieth century america ebook.
His the breast cancer wars 2002 received the washington irving book award and was noted to be one of the most outstanding books in the field of medical history within the preceding five years by american association for the history of medicine in 2006. The breast cancer wars teaches us that disease cannot be understood outside its social and cultural context. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america barron h. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america ebook. How clinical trials saved women with breast cancer from.
Hope, fear and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america. Jul 14, 2001 in a readable style with realms of research, barron lerner, an associate professor, medical historian, and practising physician in new york, outlines the history of the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the 20th century. A father, a son, and the evolution of medical ethics, was published in may 2014. On the basis of her library research into breast cancer treatment, she objected to the treatment which was then standard, in which a tumor biopsy and radical mastectomy were performed in a single surgical operation while the. Dr barron lerner writes of how science and culture influenced the battle with breast cancer in the new book, the breast cancer wars. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america publication date. Opinion breast cancer and genes the new york times. When illness goes public 2007 also received a washington irving book award. However, because it appears to be written for academics who specialize in breast cancer history, it glosses over the social and political context that these changes are occurring in. After rose kushners june 1974 discovery of a cancerous lump in her breast, breast cancer became the focus of her life. Lerner traces the history of breast cancer treatments from the 1880s to the 1990s with a special focus on the years between 1945 and 1980.
In this exciting and wideranging narrative, lerner opens our eyes to appreciate that evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions has always. My 2001 book the breast cancer wars, was named a most notable book by the american library association and won the william h. Celebrity patients and how we look at medicine, both also published by johns hopkins, and the breast cancer wars. Learning to relate to patients interview with barron lerner on nprs all things considered, 2006. Mar 05, 2002 the author discusses the ongoing contribution of patient and womens activism in breast cancer, framed in its historic context across the second half of the century. Barron h lerner examines the history of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in twentiethcentury america within its social and cultural context, focusing on the years between 1945 and 1980 during which efforts to. Celebrities and medical treatment interview with barron lerner on nprs talk of the nation science friday, 9 february 2007.
Lerner was interviewed frequently shortly after the books publication for comments on the latest wave of. Lerner, md, is a professor of medicine and population health at new york university school of medicine. The author discusses the ongoing contribution of patient and womens activism in breast cancer, framed in its historic context across the second half of the century. List of books and articles about breast cancer online. Lerner offers a superb medical and cultural history of our centurylong battle with breast cancer. Learn more about coping with cancer by journaling and reading inspiring books and stories told by cancer patients and survivors. May 24, 2001 dr barron lerner writes of how science and culture influenced the battle with breast cancer in the new book, the breast cancer wars. Lerner offers a fascinating account of the breast cancer wars. Lerner, a physician and medical historian at columbia university medical center, is the author of the breast cancer wars.
Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentieth. Revisiting the past, lerner argues, can illuminate and clarify the dilemmas confronted by women withand at risk forthe disease. Why the media got betty fords breast cancer story right. Anyone interested in this book should read barron h. The books premise is that disease cannot be understood outside its social and cultural context. The breast cancer wars tells a story that is of vital importance to modern breast cancer patients, their families and the clinicians who strive to treat and prevent this dreaded disease. Writing with insight and compassion, lerner tells a compelling story of influential surgeons, anxious patients and committed. A compelling history of the battles stirred up by breast cancer the medical war against the disease, the patients war against paternalism, and the statistical war against uncertainty in this riveting narrative, barron h. It is great to celebrate ones survivorship from breast cancer, but it would be better not to have to be a survivor in the first place. Welch medal of the american association for the history of medicine and was named one of the 26 most notable books of 2001 by the american library association.
Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america by barron h lerner. He is the author of five books, including the breast cancer wars, one for the road. In a readable style with realms of research, barron lerner, an associate professor, medical historian, and practising physician in new york, outlines the history of the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the 20th century. Welch award of the american association for the history of medicine. Final chapters cover current controversies in breast cancer control, including highdose chemotherapy and agegroup screening recommendations. Us art and writing by women with breast cancer see this database.
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