Search
Showing results for “Cancer”
Jump to a topic
CancerOur bodies are made up of trillions of cells. The instruction manual for how our cells grow and divide is dictated by our genetic material, or DNA. Occasionally, when a cell splits, it can make a mistake, or mutation, in its DNA that causes it to begin dividing abnormally.
Our body’s defense systems can typically handle a few mistakes, but when these defense mechanisms are overwhelmed, abnormal cells begin to grow and divide uncontrollably, resulting in cancer.
Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death, behind only cardiovascular disease. Breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and thyroid cancer are the most common forms among women, while lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer are the most common types among men. While overall medical advances have improved survival rates, incidences of certain cancers are increasing among young individuals.Explore Cancer
What we've found
Cells become cancerous if checkpoints in the cell cycle are damagedBefore cells divide, a protein called p53 can halt the cell cycle if damaged DNA is identified, preventing the fault from propagating to daughter cells. If p53 and other tumor-suppressing molecules cannot function due to mutations or other instabilities, damage can accumulate over successive generations until nothing stops cells from dividing uncontrollably, creating tumors. mRNA vaccines alter immune response, not DNA, to combat diseases like cancerThese vaccines—developed using techniques to create COVID vaccines—are now being tested for cancer treatment and have shown improved survival rates in patients with lung cancer. Scientists believe the research involved in developing these vaccines has opened the door to new and effective personalized cancer treatments in the future. Science QuicklyLow cell division rates in heart cells make heart cancer particularly rareThe heart's location in the chest also offers protection from external cancer-causing factors. The disease affects about 3 in every 10,000 people, though most cases arise from metastasis from other body parts. The ConversationCombining two cancer drugs increased the life space of mice by 30%A study shows trametinib and rapamycin, two drugs used for cancer treatment in humans, increased mouse lifespan when used together. The medications delayed the onset of cancer and reduced chronic inflammation, results that will be explored in future research. The IndependentTurning nuclear waste into cancer medicationsThis video explores Terrapower, a company transforming nuclear waste into lifesaving cancer treatments. This is accomplished through the production and use of Actinium 225, a rare isotope derived from thorium, which is used in targeted alpha therapy to treat cancer. Kyle HillPhysician teaches course on being a cancer patientStanford physician and professor Bryant Lin was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, a terminal diagnosis. Despite its difficult implications for his life, Lin embraced the chance to teach his students from the unique perspective of a lung cancer patient. The course explored the journey from diagnosis to treatment; how to respect a patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions; and more. Stanford MagazineExplore interactive global maps of cancer prevalenceCancer is a ubiquitous disease, with populations across the globe having incidence rates that reflect various risk factors. The Cancer Atlas lets users explore a comprehensive global overview of cancer statistics, including incidence, mortality, prevalence, and survival rates across various regions and Human Development Index categories. American Cancer SocietyMany cancers arise from genetic mutations inherited from your parentsThese mutations may happen in response to environmental or lifestyle factors, or may be passed down through family members. Genetic testing can be important in catching certain family cancers early and ensuring patients receive the right treatment for their disease. Michigan MedicineThe HPV vaccine reduces cervical cancer rates by 90% or moreCervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. Almost all cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses. However, cervical cancer is both treatable and preventable—and we may be able to prevent most cases through vaccination. Our World in DataEvidence of cancer has been found in a 1.7-million-year-old fossilCancer has existed as long as humans have, with some of the earliest evidence found among fossilized bone tumors, human mummies in ancient Egypt, and ancient manuscripts. The oldest example was uncovered in a toe—millions of years old—from an ancestor of modern-day humans. BBC NewsWhat is cancer bioengineering? While new treatments for cancer are under continuous development, researchers are increasingly using engineering principles to find wholly new strategies to combat the disease. Directions include nanoparticle drug delivery, advanced imaging tools, developing new materials to interact with cells, tissue engineering, robotic surgeries, and more. Such interdisciplinary efforts are expected to unlock new tools and therapies beyond traditional drug formulation. National Cancer InstituteA snapshot of progress in cancer treatmentsThe American Association for Cancer Research's "Snapshot of a Year of Progress" offers an overview of significant advancements in cancer research and treatment over the past year. Take a quick look at the rapid pace of scientific discovery and the translation of research findings into clinical practice. In 2024 alone, health regulators approved 15 new anticancer therapies alone. American Association for Cancer ResearchUS cancer mortality rates have been falling for 25 yearsThe American Cancer Society's "Cancer Facts & Figures 2025" report provides comprehensive statistics on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates in the United States. Cancer rates in the US continued a long-running downward trend, driven primarily by a steep drop in lung cancers (mostly from a decrease in habitual smoking) and better preventative monitoring. This site leads to incredibly in-depth reports and slides on the current state of the fight against cancer. American Cancer SocietyExplore the National Cancer Institute's archive on treatmentsCancer is a complex disease with many different types, each with its own pathology. The best treatment may depend on characteristics specific to each person—even if two people share the same type of cancer. No single overview of treatments exists, but this resource from the National Cancer Institute lets you explore different options, side effects, an A-to-Z library of cancer drugs, and much more. National Cancer InstituteCalculate your risk of developing cancerHosted by the National Cancer Institute, this tool provides interactive charts that display the likelihood of dying from various causes—including cancer—based on factors like age, sex, race, and smoking status. By contextualizing cancer risk among other potential health threats, users can create custom charts. National Cancer InstituteAbout 40% of cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factorsMaintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and consuming a balanced diet can lower cancer risk. Research indicates that about 40% of US cancer cases are linked to preventable factors, including poor diet and inactivity. Understanding these mechanisms empowers individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles for cancer prevention. American Association for Cancer ResearchRoughly 1 in 5 cancers are caused by virusesAbout 20% of cancers are caused by viruses, with seven specific oncoviruses causing between 10% and 15% of cancers worldwide. These include human papillomavirus and hepatitis B and C viruses, which can lead to diseases such as cervical and liver cancer. Understanding the mechanisms of these viruses is crucial for prevention and treatment strategies. Vision BioLearningCancer is typically described by one of five stagesStage 0 is in situ, meaning abnormal cells haven’t spread, while Stage 1 is further progressed but remains localized to the origin. Stage 2 and 3 show increasing tumor size and spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues. Stage 4 indicates metastasis, meaning cancer has spread to distant organs. TED-EdExplore more statistics about cancerThe American Cancer Society's Cancer Statistics Center estimates there will be more than 2 million new cancer cases and almost 620,000 cancer deaths in the US during the course of 2025. Breast, prostate, and lung cancers remain the most prevalent. This interactive tool provides detailed statistics on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates, allowing users to explore data by state, cancer type, demographics, and risk factors. American Cancer SocietyCancer rates are on the rise among GenXers and MillennialsCancer rates are rising among Gen X and Millennials, with more cancer diagnoses being made in their 30s and 40s than previous generations. Factors such as prenatal exposures, environmental toxins, and lifestyle choices may contribute to this trend. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's experts discuss these issues, exploring how these insights could reshape cancer risk understanding. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterBreast, prostate, and lung cancer are the most common forms of the diseaseClose to 1.8 million cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in the US, with more than 600,000 deaths (about 0.2% of the total population). This visualization tool offers a searchable database of aggregate statistics on common cancers by gender, race, state, and other demographic information. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMetastasis: When cancer cells begin to travel through the bodyMetastatic cancer starts in one part of the body and moves to another over time. This is known as metastasis. Such cancers are much more harmful since they attack multiple parts of the body, adapting new metabolic changes to suit the various environments found throughout a body. Knowable MagazineAlcohol is responsible for 5% of cancer cases and 4% of cancer deaths in the USAlcohol consumption is linked to at least eight different types of cancer, including liver, breast, and throat. The risk comes from ethanol, which turns into DNA-damaging acetaldehyde. Experts recommend limiting intake or quitting altogether to reduce long-term health risks. 1440This scientist treated her own cancerVirologist Beata Halassy treated her own breast cancer by injecting the tumor with lab-grown viruses. Though this self-treatment worked, it has not been approved for widespread use. Read to learn more about her fascinating experience, and how it has led to conversations about safety and ethics. NatureHow is cancer treated with personalized cellular therapy?Cancerous cells can avoid the body's immune system, which is patrolled by white blood cells known as T cells that directly attack and destroy infected cells. This five-minute video explores how personalized cellular therapy can help T cells learn how to hunt and destroy elusive cancerous cells. Personalized cellular therapy involves collecting patient T cells, reprogramming them to recognize, target, and kill cancerous cells, and reintroducing the genetically modified T cells into the body, where they reproduce and reinforce the patient's immune system. YouTubeHow medical robots could cure cancerMedical robots are on the verge of being able to be injected into the body, where they will be responsible for semi-autonomous behavior, such as detecting cancer cells and distributing medication. This six-minute video dives into the science of these nanorobots, which are smaller than blood cells. Applications of these nanobots could range from disease discovery and condition monitoring to tissue repair and artificial blood delivery. YouTubeUsing psychedelics to manage a cancer diagnosisDr. Roland Griffiths helped lead the revival of psychedelic research, often prescribing the use of psilocybin to address severe depression or anxiety in patients. This podcast explores how Griffiths leaned on his own career after being diagnosed with cancer and facing the prospect of death. NPRHow race science influences breast cancer researchDespite researchers' and physicians' pushback, race is still used in studies and clinics to categorize human differences in health conditions and treatment responses. This article explores how race has influenced breast cancer research. Considering race as a factor in cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment can lead to racial inequalities. Sociocultural factors, including food access and air pollution, greatly influence health outcomes. Undark MagazineCan AI revolutionize cancer detection?Scientists have developed a tool to evaluate the risk of lung cancer, the most deadly form of the disease. Named "Sybil," this AI program was trained using CT scans with clear cancer signs, followed by scans where cancer wasn’t obvious. The tool is able to review CT scan data to predict a patient's of developing a lung cancer within six years. See how it works here. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyResearchers report rise in cancer in people under 50Read this article to learn why the incidence of early onset cancers has dramatically increased worldwide since 1990, according to a study by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Each generation born in a later time period is facing a higher risk of developing early onset cancers (defined as cancer before 50), potentially due to harmful influences they encountered during their early years. Shifts in early life habits and environments, including diet, lifestyle, body weight, exposure to environmental factors, and gut bacteria—especially elements like a Western-style diet, being overweight, drinking alcohol, and not getting enough sleep—are suspected to play a part in the increasing rates of cancer in younger people. To thoroughly understand and monitor the worldwide trends in early onset cancers, research must be conducted in low- and middle-income countries as well. Harvard UniversityLouisiana's 'Cancer Alley' has cancer rates 50% above the national averageDue to its proximity to Gulf oil production, an 85-mile stretch of highway linking Baton Rogue, Louisiana, and New Orleans is home to 25% of the country's petrochemical manufacturing. It's also one of the most polluted regions of the US, with cancer rates at 50% above average. ProPublicaSearching for the history of cancer in ancient human bonesNestled under archaeology lies bioarchaeology, which involves the study of bones, human or animal. This subfield recently birthed another field of study: paleo-oncology. Paleo-oncology looks for cancer and related biomarkers in bioarchaeological remains. This TED article explains how this nascent multidisciplinary field challenges the idea that cancer is modern. TED Conferences,Why don't we all have cancer?The creation of a single cell produces 120,000 genetic mutations that can lead to cancer. This video investigates how our bodies proofread and autocorrect those mistakes. YouTubeCOVID-19 pandemic severely delayed cancer screeningsNational Cancer Institute says delays in screenings because of COVID-19 could result in 10,000 more Americans dying from breast and colon cancer. NewsyLung cancer advances are making a big differenceLung cancer deaths are declining faster than new cases due to advances in treatment. The progress illustrates what is possible, even for a cancer that has long had a poor prognosis. STATThe secret of surviving cancer isn't meditationWriter Caitlin Flanagan reflects on what she's learned about having cancer in the 20 years since her diagnosis. The AtlanticTeaching immune cells to fight cancerCAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy, which involves strengthening the immune system to attack cancer cells. Patient T cells, which manage immune responses and are responsible for killing pathogen-infected cells, are collected and re-engineered to produce surface-level proteins called chimeric antigen receptors. These CARs, now able to bind to specific proteins on cancer cell surfaces, are multiplied into the millions and infused back into the patient. National Cancer InstituteHow does cancer spread through the body?Cancer usually begins with one tumor, but it can spread to other organs if not removed. This video breaks down how cancer moves to these new areas and why some organs are more likely to get infected than others. YouTubeHow does cancer actually kill someone?While the emotional and physical tolls of cancer are often clear, the innerworkings of how cancer kills can be confusing — and terrifying to discuss. Here, oncologists explain how cancer can progress. SELFHow Gleevec transformed leukemia treatment and cancer researchAn outline of the discovery of imatinib (Gleevec), a ground-breaking drug that transformed the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and sparked the beginning of precision medicine. National Cancer InstituteCommon myths about cancer treatmentCan a positive attitude cure cancer? Find out the truth behind this and other common cancer treatment myths. Mayo ClinicCancer town, Louisiana, and the fight for clean airAn interactive exploration of a small town, a chemical plant and the residents’ desperate fight for clean air. The GuardianWhy me? Most cancer mutations are random mistakesA new Johns Hopkins study suggests that random DNA copying “mistakes” account for nearly two-thirds of the mutations that cause cancer. YouTubeStats on the most common cancersStatistical summaries about common cancer types, including incidence, mortality, survival, stage, prevalence and lifetime risk. National Cancer InstituteThe term 'cancer' is 3,000 years oldAround 400 BCE, Hippocrates is said to have named masses of cancerous cells "karkinos"—the Greek word for crab. Science and medical historian Dr. Howard Markel discusses a few hypotheses on why Hippocrates named the disease after a crab and how well cancer was understood in the ancient world. NPRCancer is runaway growth of abnormal, mutated cellsCancer cells have mutations in their DNA that allow uncontrolled growth and division, dodge usual mechanisms of cell death, and can often spread throughout the body. This is, in part, why the disease is so difficult to treat, with a wide variety of mechanisms and types that poses unique challenges. TED-EdWhat is cancer?Explanations about what cancer is, how cancer cells differ from normal cells, and genetic changes that cause cancer to grow and spread. National Cancer InstituteThe difference between standard cancer treatments and emerging immunotherapiesIf you've ever wondered what the difference was between immunotherapy and chemotherapy, this short video takes you through the steps. Briefly, chemotherapy attacks cancer in tumor cells directly, while immunotherapy encourages your immune system to fight it. There's more to it than that, but this delightful two-and-a-half-minute video provides a good primer. YouTubeTimeline of cancer research milestonesWhile cancer remains incurable, there's been so much progress in its treatment over the last two decades. Nature provides an abridged history of milestones and major triumphs in cancer research and treatment. Start in the year 2000, and see how much has changed in the first quarter of the new millennium NatureThe immune system is in a constant fight against mutationsAt the heart of cancerous cells is the development of mutations—an ongoing and continuous process that happens frequently. So why don’t we get cancer immediately? The body’s immune system has developed intricate methods to detect and destroy cancer cells, catching the vast majority before they get the chance to evolve into tumors. Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Try another search?