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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The parcel Farber was expecting contained aminopterin, a __________ crystalline chemical that Farber hoped could be used in deterring the growth of childhood leukemia.

2. In 1968, there were noteworthy successes where?

3. Hyperplasia was what?

4. What was the argument regarding chemotherapy?

5. The radical mastectomy needed to be tested against what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the two schools of thought regarding surgery? Why was this such a problem?

2. On what two fundamental tenets is biology based? Explain these tenets.

3. What important drugs came out in the 1940s and 1950s? How are these important to us today?

4. How does chemotherapy reverse Paracelsus' belief about poison and drugs?

5. Describe Farber's society. How was it successful?

6. What did FDR do to fight cancer? What caused support of cancer research to wane? Why?

7. How is cancer a total disease? How is this important?

8. What is meant by counting? Why does this matter?

9. Describe the New York Times letter to Richard Nixon. How could this tactic be useful today?

10. How was this letter to Richard Nixon significant at the time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In 1775, Percival Pott noticed a shocking number of his patients suffered from scrotal cancer.

Part 1) Why had this increase occurred? Why were many of cases such as these ignored? What does this say about society at this time? How does this lead to studies into the effects of tobacco and cigarettes?

Part 2) When was it finally determined that tobacco and cigarettes cause lung cancer? Why did it take so long? Why is cigarette smoking still allowed, even though it is known that it causes cancer? What role has the tobacco industry played in the continued purchasing and popularity of cigarettes?

Part 3) How has the view of smoking begun to change? How is this seen in our society including restaurants, bars, and even on television and in movies?

Essay Topic 2

Mukherjee decides to be a clinician.

Part 1) What leads him to be a clinician rather than a laboratory scientist? How does this decision link him to Sidney Farber? What other similarities exist between these two men?

Part 2) What role have each of these men played in the study of and battle against cancer? How have they each influenced the lives of those suffering from cancer?

Part 3) What type of person might be suited for work as a clinician? What strengths must someone have? Why? What type of person would be better suited for laboratory work? Why?

Essay Topic 3

It was once said that all drugs are poison.

Part 1) Why was this believed by Paracelsus? Would you agree? Why or why not? Would most doctors today agree with you? Why or why not?

Part 2) How is this statement flipped with discussing cancer? What does this reveal about cancer research throughout time? What does this say about the dangers of cancer research?

Part 3) Do you believe that this can still be said about cancer research today? Is it as experimental as it once was? Why or why not? Would you have participated in these experimental trials? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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