This book presents in lucid and concise terms the main facts known today about cancer. It is directed to laymen filling to make a modest effort to understand the biology of cells, and to many doctors and scientists who do not specialize in the study of cancer. The author combines a scientific and humanistic approach to the subject in an effort to temper the cold facts of science with personal concern for patients and their families. Cancer: The Wayward Cell answers, insofar as possible, the questions most often asked about cancer. It is divided into four major parts (1) the biology of the cell, including a discussion of normal and abnormal growth; (2) the history, ecology, and environmental origins of cancer; (3) current methods of treatment of cancer; and (4) the psychological and social problems relevant to this perplexing disorder. Throughout the book new attempts to apply research advances to the problem of cancer are analyzed, with particular emphasis on prevention, control, and treatment. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1972.