In this Benjamin Cummings Special Topic Series booklet from professors Randall Phillis and Steve Goodwin of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the causes, growth patterns, and possible treatments of various types of cancers are presented in a clear and concise format. The authors discuss the major characteristics of the cancerous cell and the research being conducted on the hereditary and behavioral factors (i.e. smoking) that contribute to the development of the disease in cancer patients. For anyone interested in cell biology or introductory biology.