A Cancer in the Family
Take Control of Your Genetic Inheritance
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A Kirkus Best Book of 2016
Oncologist and cancer gene hunter Theo Ross delivers the first authoritative, go-to for people facing a genetic predisposition for cancer
There are 13 million people with cancer in the United States, and it’s estimated that about 1.3 million of these cases are hereditary. Yet despite advanced training in cancer genetics and years of practicing medicine, Dr. Theo Ross was never certain whether the history of cancers in her family was simple bad luck or a sign that they were carriers of a cancer-causing genetic mutation. Then she was diagnosed with melanoma, and for someone with a dark complexion, melanoma made no sense. It turned out there was a genetic factor at work.
Using her own family’s story, the latest science of cancer genetics, and her experience as a practicing physician, Ross shows readers how to spot the patterns of inherited cancer, how to get tested for cancer-causing genes, and what to do if you have one. With a foreword by Siddartha Mukherjee, prize winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies, this will be the first authoritative, go-to for people facing inherited cancer, this book empowers readers to face their genetic heritage without fear and to make decisions that will keep them and their families healthy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At any given moment, 13 million people in the United States have cancer, writes first-time author Ross. For people with family members who have been diagnosed with the disease and wondering what that may imply about their own health this number may be especially frightening. To allay those fears, Ross, who directs the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's Cancer Genetics Program, explains genetic cancer testing with candor and intelligence while also chronicling her own journey after being diagnosed with melanoma. Supported by solid medical information as well as her experience as an oncologist and cancer biologist, Ross stresses the value of genetic testing and counseling; straightforwardly explains the science of DNA; discusses how to compose a family history, even as an adoptee, and use it to identify an inherited predisposition to cancer; offers an overview of treatments and therapies; and includes appendices covering a wide range of genetically inherited cancer syndromes and guidelines for managing them. Packed with information shared by a compassionate and empathetic voice, Ross's tome is a thoughtful and measured tool for health advocacy that many will find useful.
