Secret History of the War on Cancer
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 2009
Language: eng
Number of pages: 560
ISBN-13: 9780465015689
Subjects: Tumors; Carcinogens; Medical policy; Cancer, environmental aspects; Cancer, treatment; Cancer, economic aspects; Cancer, law and legislation; Cancer, research; Cancer, prevention
Description: Relates the story of a major public health effort diverted and distorted for private gain.The "War on Cancer" has cost 40 billion dollars over the past 40 years. It started out as a mission to cure the disease, but avoided fighting its basic causes: tobacco, alcohol, the workplace, and environmental hazards. Epidemiologist Devra Davis's research documents how the tobacco, construction and chemical industries have underwritten research to treat cancer but have sabotaged public health efforts to prevent the disease.