Note:
Below you will find a few suggestions for searching this topic. These suggestions aren't the only way to find materials, but they may help to get you started.
Prostate Cancer
I. Find Background Information
Reference Sources:
- Encyclopedia of Cancer
Search prostate cancer. The article titled "Prostate Cancer" will provide general background. There are also numerous articles on specific aspects of prostate cancer - AccessScience
Search prostate cancer. The article titled "Prostate Gland Disorders" contains general medical background information - The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
Search prostate cancer, the chapter called "Concepts of Cancer" has broad background information for cancer and provides a framework for cancers
II. Search the Library Catalog
To find scientific (medical) texts, histories, and “popular” materials (written for non-specialists) along with some primary sources (memoirs, autobiographies) :
- Open the library catalog
- Type in the term cancer and use the pull-down menu to select Subject Browse. Sample subject headings:
- Prostate > Cancer
- Prostate > Cancer > Popular Works
- Prostate > Cancer > Biography
Note: Alternatively, simply type in the phrase prostate cancer and leave the pull-down menu to All Fields. From the list of results, you can Limit Your Search (left-hand menu) by "Subject" and "more" to browse subject headings, or select "Genre" and "more" to find materials by type (biography, medical manuals, popular works, etc.)
III. Find current scholarly articles
Databases:
- History of Science, Technology and Medicine
Suggested search:
On the first line, enter "Prostate Cancer;"
On the second line, add the term "History" - SocINDEX with Full Text
Suggested search terms: Type in "Prostate Cancer" on the first line. On the second line type in "Men -- Health"
IV. Find current and historical “popular” (i.e. written for the general public, rather than for specialists) articles about prostate cancer.
For current articles:
- Database: Proquest Research Library
Select the Advanced Search;
Scroll down to limit to Document Type, Magazines
Search "prostate cancer"
For historical articles:
- Database Proquest Historical Newspapers. Search tips:
Add your search terms; "prostate cancer"
Under Source type, select Magazines;
Under Publication Titles, select "more" to choose specific magazines.
If you wish, use the date limits on the right to restrict to a particular date range. - Database: American Periodicals
This database contains periodicals published between 1740 and 1940, including special interest and general magazines, literary and professional journals, children's and women's magazines and many other historically-significant periodicals. Search tips:
Select the Advanced Search;
Add your search terms;
Scroll down to choose Document type(s).
V. Find more articles about the history of prostate cancer
Including some historical articles that may be considered primary sources (how the disease was understood at different moments in time)
- Database: American Periodicals. Search tips:
Select the Advanced Search;
Scroll down to limit to Document Type: "Article" and "Advertisement;"
Search "Prostate Cancer."