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) :

  1. Open the library catalog
  2. 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:

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."