Barron h lerner examines the history of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in twentiethcentury america within its social and cultural context, focusing on the years between 1945 and 1980 during which efforts to. His impressively thorough, readably scholarly book may become the classic in the field. It was a cultural shift that took place mostly in the years following world war ii and is reflected throughout this book by barron h. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in 20 th century america wrote that in the 1950s there was an enormous amount of very aggressive surgery done for not only breast cancer, but other cancers. The breast cancer wars tells a story that is of vital importance to modern breast cancer patients, their families and the clinicians who strive to treat and prevent this dreaded disease. It is great to celebrate ones survivorship from breast cancer, but it would be better not to have to be a survivor in the first place. Lerner titled his new book the breast cancer wars, he had a larger picture in mind. The breast cancer wars lerner, barron last updated.
Excerpts of the book would pair nicely with robert hasss poem, a story about the body, audre lordes the cancer journals, andor the breast cancer funds art. Subtitled hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america, this rich. Rose rehert kushner june 22, 1929 january 7, 1990 was an american journalist and pioneering advocate for breast cancer patients. The breast cancer wars provides a thoughtful and insightful history of how medical beliefs, cultural trends, and the womens movement of the 1970s and 1980s have influenced the treatment of breast cancer in the united states. Replete with large amounts of new information, this book is a major contribution to the historiography of both the flu and epidemic diseases more broadly. Lerner offers a fascinating account of the breast cancer wars. Barney crile, a surgeon at the cleveland clinic, questioned whether drastic operations saved womens lives.
Such personalities are discussed along with issues such as, paternalism, nixons war on cancer, and genetic tests, in lerners extensively researched book on the treatment of breast cancer in the twentieth century. Drunk driving barron lerner discusses his book, one for the road on the don imus radio show. If you wonder why american women pin pink ribbons to their jackets and go in their thousands in runs for the cure, this book will give you the history. Barron lerners breast cancer wars joins ellen leopolds darker ribbon as an eyeopening look backstage at the breast cancer follies in america. Hope, fear and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america. For most newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, the option of breast conserving surgery lumpectomy followed by radiation or simple mastectomy is taken for granted. The breast cancer wars narrates how breast cancer diagnostic methods and treatments have developed.
Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentieth century. Im a physician and medical historian at nyu, author of 5 books. In a readable style with realms of research, barron lerner, an associate professor, medical historian, and practising physician in new york, outlines the history of the diagnosis. Military metaphors have long been used in promoting breast cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment. A compelling history of the battles stirred up by breast cancerthe medical war against the disease, the patients war against paternalism, and the statistical war against uncertainty in this. My 2001 book the breast cancer wars, was named a most notable book by the american library. There are colorful portraits of the leading figures, ranging from the acerbic dr. Breast cancer activism has become a fixture in the united states, where fundraising events are ubiquitous and government financing of research into the disease has skyrocketed. They are both important books, and make many of the same points, but if you are of a mind to read only one history of this disease, make it this one. For lerner the episode was a further demonstration of how social and cultural factors can influence the interpretation of scientific data.
Lerner traces the history of breast cancer treatments from the 1880s to the 1990s with a special focus on the years between 1945 and 1980. Lerners book is essential for womens studies and history of medicine. The book s premise is that disease cannot be understood outside its. The good doctor the brian lehrer show tuesday, may 27, 2014 fathers and sons and medical ethics barron lerner discusses his new book, the good doctor on the don imus radio show. The breast cancer wars teaches us that disease cannot be understood outside its social and cultural context. The breast cancer wars, interview with barron lerner on nprs fresh air in 2001. Lerner is a professor of medicine and population health at the new york university school of medicine. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america publication date. Hope, fear and the pursuit of a cure in twentieth century america. Oct 11, 2010 it is great to celebrate ones survivorship from breast cancer, but it would be better not to have to be a survivor in the first place. Military metaphors have long been used in promoting.
A compelling history of the battles stirred up by breast cancer the medical war against the disease, the patients war against paternalism, and the statistical war against uncertainty in this riveting narrative, barron h. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america. William halsted, who pioneered the disfiguring radical mastectomy at the turn of the century to rose kushner, a brash journalist who relentlessly educated american women about breast cancer. The breast cancer wars will be of great interest to medical professionals, advocates of breastcancer research and awareness, and lay readers. Breast cancer activism has become a fixture in the united states, where fundraising events are ubiquitous and government financing of research into the disease has.
Lerner was interviewed frequently shortly after the book s publication for comments on the latest wave of. Barron lerner s breast cancer wars joins ellen leopolds darker ribbon as an eyeopening look backstage at the breast cancer follies in america. Breast cancer contains all of the elements that make us want to go to war against disease, says dr. Provocative and highly engaging, lerners book presents an important. Barron h lerner examines the history of breast cancer diagnosis and. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america by barron h lerner. Such personalities are discussed along with issues such as, paternalism, nixons war on cancer, and genetic tests, in lerners extensively researched book on the treatment of breast cancer in. Revisiting the past, lerner argues, can illuminate and clarify the dilemmas confronted by women withand at risk forthe disease.
May 16, 2001 his book is titled the breast cancer wars. Lerner offers a medical and cultural history of our centurylong battle with breast. In the breast cancer wars, barron lerner, a physician and historian of medicine, analyzes the history of attempts to improve these frustrating statistics through early diagnosis and aggressive. In this exciting and wideranging narrative, lerner opens our eyes to appreciate that evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions has always. The breast cancer wars literature arts medicine nyu. Learning to relate to patients interview with barron lerner on nprs all things considered, 2006. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury.
Us art and writing by women with breast cancer see this database. In the breast cancer wars, barron lerner, a physician and historian of medicine, analyzes the history of attempts to improve these frustrating statistics through early diagnosis and. Subtitled hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america, this rich and nuanced history of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment examines how these aspects of a major disease have been driven not only by. His theory is that it is impossible to understand a disease outside its social and cultural context.
As one million runners approach finish lines in 107 u. What every woman should know about breast cancer to save her life. Dr barron lerner writes of how science and culture influenced the battle with breast cancer in the new book, the breast cancer wars. The breast cancer wars provides a thoughtful and insightful history of how medical beliefs, cultural trends, and the womens movement of the 1970s and 1980s have influenced the. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america by lerner, barron h.
Even as he tells the story of the breast cancer wars, physician and medical historian lerner directs attention to the dangers that arise from using military terms and thinking in a health. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentieth century america oxford university press, may 2001. The paperback edition of barron lerners gripping medical and cultural history of breast cancer in twentiethcentury. Revisiting the past, lerner argues, can illuminate and. During the 1950s, when public confidence in surgeons reached new heights and the scalpel. Celebrities and medical treatment interview with barron lerner on nprs talk of the nation science friday, 9 february 2007. More significantly, the book describes the debates and controversies that permeated this evolution and the ways in which not only clinicians and researchers, but, increasingly, women patientsactivists shaped how we view, diagnose, and treat breast cancer today. Lerner offers a superb medical and cultural history of our centurylong battle with breast cancer. Dec 01, 2011 the rise and fall of the radical mastectomy. In this book, lerner asks if our cultural acceptance of aggressive cancer therapy is the result of our nations war against cancer and search. Lerner was interviewed frequently shortly after the books publication for comments on the latest wave of.
Lerner, a physician and medical historian at columbia university medical center, is the author of the breast cancer wars. Lerner describes the revolution when breast cancer treatment, along with society, changed in the 1960s. My 2001 book the breast cancer wars, was named a most notable book by the. View the new experience and read this book on fulcrum. Oct 30, 2000 as one million runners approach finish lines in 107 u. The good doctor the brian lehrer show tuesday, may 27, 2014 fathers and sons and medical ethics barron lerner discusses his new book, the good doctor on the don imus radio show watch the latest video at video. May 24, 2001 dr barron lerner writes of how science and culture influenced the battle with breast cancer in the new book, the breast cancer wars. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in twentiethcentury america by barron h. Hope, fear, and the pursuit of a cure in 20 th century america wrote that in the 1950s there was an. Writing with insight and compassion, lerner tells a compelling story of influential surgeons, anxious patients and committed. Lerner, a breast cancer historian, and author of the book the breast cancer wars. Pink ribbon fatigue breast cancer the new york times.