International Handbook of Prostate Cancer

eBook version

Edited by Professor David Kirk

Preface

As experience with prostate cancer has developed into the 21st century, knowledge has increased in tandem with new dilemmas and so a third edition of the International Handbook of Prostate Cancer seems necessary. Rather than a “textbook”, this book is more a series of monographs from leading centres on key aspects of the management of prostate cancer. As such, each chapter is an entity in its own right and each can be read separately. The authors’ interpretation, from whichever side of the Atlantic they arise, have largely been preserved. There has been no attempt to avoid repetition between the individual contributions; indeed it is often instructive to compare different authors’interpretation of similar data. As a departure from the earlier editions, the Editor has not attempted to sum up the book in this Introduction but has added a comment at the end of each chapter. These commentaries will attempt to place each contribution in context, particular with reference to practical clinical aspects. If the reader sees in these comments the Editor’s own prejudices, this was probably intended. We are very grateful to those who have taken the trouble to update their earlier contributions, and to those new contributors who have joined or replaced the previous authors. We are aware that updating earlier work is often more arduous than writing a completely new piece. As before, it is hoped that the authors' enthusiasm for their subject, as much as their knowledge, will inspire the reader and contribute to continuous improvement in the management of this, one of the most enigmatic forms of cancer.

Contents:

PART 1: SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND
1. Incidence and aetiology of prostate cancer
2. Pathology of prostate cancer
3a. Prostate specific antigen: some observations
3b. Prostate specific antigen: an update

PART 2: PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT: EARLY DISEASE
4. Endocrinology of prostate cancer
5. Diagnosis of early prostate cancer 
6. Conservative management vs immediate active treatment for early prostate cancer
7. Surgery for early prostate cancer
8. Radiotherapy for early prostate cancer

PART 3: PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT: ADVANCED DISEASE
9. Management of locally advanced and metastatic disease
10. Management of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)

PART 4: FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
11. New perspectives in the treatment of prostate cancer