A Fatal Inheritance: How a Family Misfortune Revealed a Deadly Medical Mystery by Lawrence Ingrassia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Part memoir part history of cancer research, A Fatal Inheritance explores the author’s own family history along with the evolution of genetics cancer research. This moving book is difficult to read in parts. Learning about the families involved and the author’s own family and how they battled and sadly often succomb to cancer after cancer is heartbreaking. Several parts moved me to tears especially when I contemplated how hard it would be to cope with staggering loss after staggering loss within your family. Adding these personal stories added depth and emotion to the story about cancer research.
Amazingly well researched, the author explores the beginnings of cancer research and the evolution from viral causes to exploring the role genetics may play in enhanced cancer risk. The discovery of Li-Fraumeni syndrome was ground breaking in the science of cancer and though it remains rare it provided an important glimpse into why some families seem plagued with cancers while others have very little cancer incidence. Though the science has come a long way it has definitely not come as long as the public or the original scientists would have hoped. This book discucsses some of the current research and potential future directions of continued cancer research.
A Fatal Inheritance engaged me right away. I was equally interested in the parts that read like a memoir and the parts that were more like a science textbook. I learned a tremendous amount about genetics and cancer treatment from having listened to this excellent book. I recommend it highly.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date: May 14, 2024.
View all my reviews
