What lessons about scientific and medical breakthroughs — what it takes to achieve them — does Kaplan’s story offer?
Jacobs: Within the framework of Kaplan’s life and the story of Hodgkin’s disease, my book draws attention to broader issues of scientific discovery: the inherent tribulations, the role of chance, the politics of investigation and patients as pioneers. Medical discoveries require creativity combined with fortitude. The path to curing Hodgkin’s disease was not easy, leaving controversy in the wake of every innovation. When Kaplan subjected patients to exploratory surgery to determine how Hodgkin’s disease spread, he was accused of performing “living autopsies.” When he devised total lymphoid irradiation to treat all lymph node groups, he was denounced for “burning bodies.” And when he combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, many questioned his sanity. The role of serendipity in science cannot be overlooked. Researchers conceived of chemotherapy while studying the aftermath of gas warfare. Kaplan envisioned the linear accelerator to treat cancer when he overheard a cocktail party conversa
