The Reuters news service published an investigation into Cancer Treatment Centers of America's survival statistics last month. Before joining Reuters, the lead reporter, Sharon Begley, was a science editor and columnist at Newsweek/The Daily Beast; she previously was science columnist at the Wall Street Journal and science editor at Newsweek.

Here's some background on the data used to put the article together.

Leslie

April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.