Taking the fear factor out of cancer
PA 297/10 It is the second most deadly disease in the Western world and one of the most feared diagnoses a patient can face. Now, a new book penned by a Nottingham academic is aiming to improve our understanding of cancer so we can better deal with its often devastating consequences. Cancer: A Beginner's Guide is the first book of its kind covering all of the issues related to the disease in a clear and straightforward way, rather than concentrating on just one particular scientific aspect. The book was the brainchild of author Dr Paul Scotting, of the University of Nottingham's Institute Centre for Genetics and Genomics, who scoured bookshop shelves for such an introductory text on cancer for his medical students before realising that it didn't currently exist. The book explores the science behind the disease and explores why some of us are more likely to develop it than others and is written with a general audience in mind, meaning it's an accessible read for anyone, from those suffering from cancer to people interested in it as a biological phenomenon. Dr Scotting said: "Fear comes from a lack of knowledge. If we or someone we know suddenly has this disease and we don't understand the nature of the disease — and it is very different to any other disease — then it potentially makes their experience much more frightening.
