The Oxford Textbook of Oncology provides the definitive, international reference on clinical cancer medicine. It combines the experience of the world's leading cancer experts, particularly from leading European centres of excellence, with an aproach that emphasizes the importance of the best clinical evidence: the guidelines to management are based on the sum of all the available evidence. For rare tumours, where clinical experience is the main guide to treatment, the editors have ensured that options and alternatives are discussed. There are major sections on all cancer sites, and in each section investigation, epidemiology, pathology, causes and treatment are covered in a consistent manner to aid reference. There is a new international team of editors for the second edition, representing oncology, radiotherapy and surgery. Two-thirds of the text has been entirely rewritten. The chapters have been carefully reviewed to ensure that they are clear and concise. Quality-of-life and psychosocial issues, palliation, and communication are given fuller treatment. Early chapters describe the processes underlying cancer; the information on the molecular and cellular biology of cancer and their practical impacton diagnosis and investigation procedures have been extensively revised and updated. The sections on the scientific basis of cancer treatment include the principles of the use of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and biological therapies. There are substantial new sections on adolescent cancer, cancer as a genetic disease, and melanoma and skin cancer and the extensive section on breast cancer is now proporion to the importance and frequency of this disease. The many clear illustrations are prepared to a consistently high quality. The Oxford Textbook will be the reference work of choice for oncologists, both in practice and in training, all over the world. It will also be an important reference work for generalists who need to understand modern cancer management as part of their practice.