Book review: Understanding Cancer: Causes, Spread, and Control Measures.by Rishikesh (Ram) Motilall

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge, from the author, for blog review purposes on this blog. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it


Since it's History Thursday, it only makes sense to take a look at a disease that has increased over modern history...


understanding cancer cover

Synospis:

 This new book is a comprehensive yet simple description of what causes cancer and how humans can understand what is happening in their bodies. Although cancer is referred to as a disease, it is a part of life that includes growth and reproduction.

Any process of life that is repetitive has the potential to incur and repeat mistakes, but not necessarily in the same way every time. Cell division (which is an integral part of reproduction) is subject to mistakes. Generally, a misfit cell cannot survive. If it does, the human defense mechanisms can destroy it. However, if a nonidentical cell lives and propagates, cancer results. The cancerousgrowth, if able to proliferate, will function differently and interfere with organ or mass cell function.

“I wrote this book because many family and friends do not understand what cancer is, what are the causes, and why certain people have it,” said Motilall. “Another important detail is that it can run in family lineage.”

With the prevalence of cancer in modern society, “Understanding Cancer” is a resource for non-medical professionals to learn more about cancer beyond a simple textbook definition.


Review:

This is a very small book, but it is packed with as much info as a book, twice to three time its size! I finished it in under 2 hours, only because the medical terminology can slow you down, and forces you to read very slowly, in the first part of the book. Having just done cell anatamoym with Miss Grace in her science class was actually a huge help, as I knew most of what he was talking about in regards to cell activity, fresh in my mind. But for some readers, this first section might be hard to get through. But the point is very clear: Cancer is an abnormality that comes about in ANY body, due to a prodding factor, or one's immune system not being able to properly dispose of abnormalities in a cell. The author does a good job in simplifying the concepts, but I think some drawings might have been helpful, especially  for those not good with science terms.

The second part of the book is more approachable, as the author talks about the things that can prod those cell abnormalities to occur (and inherient in them, the idea of what to avoid). I do wish there was a third seciton that discussed the modern cancer trials and other new concepts where scientists are not trying to wipe out a body's immune system, but to work WITH it to correct the abnormalities, and rid the body of the problem at hand. Or, to offer a bit more info on alternative treatments. But for what it is, the book does a great job in explaining what cancer IS. Miss Grace was able to go through some fo the book, and get answers to her questions, so it can be used as a science teahcing resource as well. 

If you don't really understand what cancer IS, then this is a really helpful book to read!

About the Author:

Born on the Corentyne Coast of Guyana, South America as the eighth of ten children, Rishikesh Ram Motilall had a small-village upbringing. He attended the University of Guyana and studied biochemistry. Motilall emigrated from Guyana in 1981 to Minnesota, USA, where he has lived until now. He has been involved professionally for the last 38 years in the formulation and production of several categories of products, including personal care products and other chemical specialty products.





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