Oncology, Second Edition

The aim of the second edition of the core text is to provide a compact, easy to read overview of modern adult oncology, suitable for students completing their undergraduate oncology attachments or junior Doctors or Nurses beginning work on oncology or haematology wards. It will also be a very useful document for GPs wishing to catch up on a summary of current Oncological practice.

In support of this aim the size of the text has been reduced to allow the reader to grasp the essentials of the subject quickly. Special attention has been paid to the rapid changes in oncology which are beginning to have a major impact on current treatments. The first chapters deal with the concepts behind modern cancer treatment and the remainder are concerned with outlining the background and management of the major UK malignancies.

By use of highlighted text boxes readers are introduced to "Key Facts", and "Future possibilities" in cancer management. The "Stop and think" and "Test yourself" text boxes encourage the reader to both check their grasp of the topic but also grapple with some of the ethical challenges of current oncological practice.

The book has been written by clinical specialists from the five main oncological areas including, medical and clinical oncology, surgery, haematology and palliative medicine, and is thus centred on practical and current clinical practice.

The use of a dedicated web site with the book allows readers to benefit from well illustrated common clinical scenarios, without the expense of a full colour text book. The site is divided into five different areas concerned with the clinical management of patients with lung, breast, bowel, prostate and ovarian tumours. Through the site students can follow the clinical journey of patients with one of these common cancers and have the chance to view Xrays, scans, blood films etc. At the end of each web chapter there is a short MCQ assessment based on the book allowing self assessment. (With the advantage of a dedicated website as a teaching resource we hope the book will also prove to be a useful tool for those involved in undergraduate teaching.)

I have learned a great deal from editing this book about the scope and promise and also patient-centred compassion of modern UK oncology from my co-authors. I hope that readers of the core text will be as enthused, challenged and encouraged by the developments in modern oncology as I have been in writing and editing it.

Max Watson
April 2007

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