Who Survives Cancer? - Hardcover

Howard Greenwald examines how class, race, sex, psychological state, type of health care and available treatments affect one's chance of surviving cancer. Drawing on an original 10-year survival study of cancer patients, he synthesizes medical, epidemiological and psychosocial research in an interdisciplinary approach to the question of who survives cancer and why. Greenwald argues that priorities are often misplaced in American health care and calls for a fundamental rethinking of the way the US medical establishment deals with the disease. He asserts that the emphasis on prevention and experimental therapy has only limited value, whereas the availability of conventional medical care is very important in influencing cancer survival. Class and race become strikingly significant in predicting who has access to health care and can therefore obtain medical treatment in a timely, effective manner. The text counters the popular notion that personality and psychological factors strongly affect survival, and underscores the importance of early detection. Research shows that Health Maintenance Organizations, while sometimes prone to delays, offer low-income patients a better chance of ultimate survival. Greenwald pleads for immediate attention to the inadequacies and inequalities in the US health care system that deter patients from seeking regular medical care.

"Who Survives Cancer? is by far the most comprehensive analysis of studies of cancer survival. Howard Greenwald evaluates heredity, diet, emotional state, treatment protocols, early diagnosis and access to care. Of all of these, early access to diagnosis and care were the major factors in "transforming cancer from a sure killer to a manageable risk." This book is a must-read for the American health care debate."—Dr. Jane Fulton, University of Ottawa

"Into the cauldron of controversy about how to finance health care in these United States, Greenwald injects a new variable: the impact of payment on the survival of cancer patients. He makes a compelling case for the life-prolonging benefits of standard procedures for the early detection and treatment of cancer. If cancer concerns you, read this book. Its conclusions could save your life."—Charles Haskell, M.D., author of Cancer Treatment

"Reading Who Survives Cancer? will help people understand why progress against cancer is slow. In particular, it highlights the important non-biomedical factors in cancer survival and patiently explains why some popular notions are not supported by science."—Lester Breslow, M.D., M.P.H., University of California, Los Angeles