Cornwalls 2010 Canadian Readers Digest article had an intriguing premise: that some cancers are 'caught' by patients because of specific infections. In this book, Cornwall (At The Worlds Edge) expands her thesis, delving into the fitful search for microbial causes of cancer by highlighting the work of seven remarkable scientists (including several Nobel Prize winners) who, noticing 'some small aberration from the ordinary,' have managed to inch us that much closer to conquering a scourge that kills 7.5 million people annually. Dr. Palmer Beasley (who died of cancer after Cornwalls interview with him, but before the publication of the book) put forth provocative evidence identifying chronic hepatitis B as an important cause of liver cancer; Harald Zur Hausen posits a correlation between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer, and suggests that a vaccine might prevent it; Barry Marshall and Robin Warren uncover the role of the H. pylori bacteria in gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancer; researcher Paul Ewald helps scientists understand why pathogens are linked to cancers; and husband-wife team Yuan Chang and Patrick Moore found a new technique to identify viruses. Because finding an infectious agent allows doctors to do something about it, Cornwall insists that the work of these researchers may someday make 'catching' cancer less scary. * Publishers Weekly * Can germs give you cancer? In some cases, yes. Can you catch cancer from an individual who already has cancer? No. An estimated twenty percent of cancers are due to infectious agentsviruses and bacteria. The notion that certain microorganisms are carcinogenic comes with a big dividend: Prevention, and perhaps cure, of these types of cancer may be possible with antibiotics, antiviral medications, and vaccines. Consider cervical cancerthe third most common malignancy in the world affecting females. It is initiated by the human papillomavirus (HPV). A vaccine (Gardisil) is capable of preventing about seventy percent of these cancers. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that instigates gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. Eradicating this infection with antibiotics averts the development of gastric cancer. Hepatitis B virus along with the chronic infection it triggers is credited with causing approximately eighty percent of all liver cancer. A vaccine to prevent Hepatitis B has been available for many years. Journalist Cornwalls captivating book integrates biography, history, scientific theory, and molecular biology. It also illuminates the nature of scientific discoverypart personality, brilliance, and perseverance with a smidgen of intuition and luck. The link between infection and cancer is indisputable. Stay tuned as this story continues to evolve. * Booklist *
