Description
Book SynopsisElaine Schattner reveals a sea change—from before 1900 to the present day—in how ordinary people talk about cancer.
From Whispers to Shouts examines public perception of cancer through stories in newspapers and magazines, social media, and popular culture.
Trade ReviewNamed a favorite read of 2023. * Lilith *
In her innovative and insightful book, physician and cancer survivor Elaine Schattner explores the ways that we tell the story of cancer—and the ways we often fail to tell the real story of this notably complex and treacherous disease. The result is fascinating, enlightening, and, despite its difficult topic, even inspiring. -- Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer and director of the Knight Science Journalism program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In
From Whispers to Shouts, oncologist and cancer survivor Elaine Schattner writes a comprehensive and enlightening cultural and political history of cancer care in America while giving us a clear-eyed perspective of the future. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about cancer, which should be all of us. -- Sandeep Jauhar,
New York Times best-selling author of
Heart: A HistoryFrom Whispers to Shouts is the first history of cancer to focus primarily on public perceptions of cancer. It is also a
cri de coeur for a more upbeat assessment of past and future efforts to control the disease from an author who—as a doctor, patient, journalist and activist—is uniquely positioned to tell this story. -- Barron Lerner, author of
The Breast Cancer Wars: Hope, Fear, and the Pursuit of a Cure in Twentieth Century AmericaAn invaluable contribution to our knowledge about cancer.....should be read by anyone who wants to understand more about something that impacts the lives of so many. While cancer has had copious exposure in books, magazines, newspapers, journals, movies, television and in recent years social media, this is the first book to conduct an in-depth examination into how shifts in public perception of cancer have evolved over time. * Eating My Words *
A powerfully illuminating narrative of how things changed over the last century or so, both thorough and compelling. * The Baffler *
A cultural history that considers evolving societal views about cancer - including fear and silence - and their impacts on patients....an enlightening read. * Lillith *
Table of ContentsPrologue
Part I. Cancer Awakens1. Cancer, Kept Apart (Before 1900)
2. Cancer’s Spring (1900–1920)
3. Educational Campaigns (1920–1930)
4. Fighting Words (1930–1945)
5. A Celebrity Cause (1945–1960)
Part II. Cancer Comes Out6. Our Bodies, Our Decisions (1960–1980)
7. Cancer in the Time of AIDS (1980–1990)
8. Enthusiasm (1990–2000)
9. Complications (2000–2010)
10. Cancer Everywhere (2010–2020)
Part III. Cancer’s Future11. The Modern Patient’s Burden
12. Cancer Is Not As It Used To Be
13. Is Cancer Treatment a Luxury?
14. Has Awareness Backfired?
15. Can We Prevent Cancer?
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
