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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, including immunotherapy, have improved survival rates, incidences of certain cancers are increasing among young individuals.Explore Cancer
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At a 2026 cancer conference, news that a novel pancreatic cancer drug doubled survival times in clinical trials led to a standing ovation. Stanford UniversityHeLa cells, 'immortal' cancerous cells that continuously divide, were sent into space in 1960 on both Soviet and American missions—the samples were shared by American researchers as an example of scientific diplomacy amid the Cold War. Space Safety Magazine'Immortal' HeLa cells—cancerous cells widely used in biomedical research after they were nonconsensually taken from a Black woman named Henrietta Lacks—proliferate easily, causing millions of dollars of damage annually by contaminating lab cell cultures. McGill UniversitySix pigeons were trained to detect cancer from looking at CT scans—now that work is the basis for training new AI medical tools. Popular ScienceLearn how colorectal cancer is linked to the American diet and chronic inflammationA University of South Carolina colon cancer researcher offers insights from his own research and notes that more exercise, social support, and eating fruits, vegetables, legumes, and foods like fish and olive oil—often called the Mediterranean diet—are associated with better health—and could improve our colons. TEDx TalksHow a skin cancerous growth shifted an initially skeptical President Reagan on the ozone crisisWhile a 1985 Nature study revealing the Antarctic ozone hole jolted public concern, Reagan's administration was more focused on the Cold War than on environmental policy. His health scare and the market potential for developing alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons helped turn the tide, leading to the Montreal Protocol's unanimous ratification by a bipartisan Senate in 1988. TIMECells 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. Explore the differences between healthy and cancerous cells using a DNA microarrayIn this simulation, you will learn how scientists use microarrays to experiment on thousands of genes at the same time. By determining which genes are on or off, users can identify those that contribute to cancer formation. University of Utah Genetic Science Learning CenterProstate cancer is both manageable and the second-deadliest cancer for menOne in 44 men in the US will die from prostate cancer, while one in eight will be diagnosed with it. Commonly viewed as the safest cancer to have, screenings can save lives—but they can also cause complications for otherwise benign cases of the disease. The GuardianSteve Jobs tried to treat his cancer with alternative medicineAfter Steve Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he reportedly restricted his diet to just fruits or just fruits and vegetables, tried out hydrotherapy, and consulted psychics. There’s compelling evidence about the impact of alternative medicine on cancer patients. Scientific AmericanCombining 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 global maps of cancer prevalence, with incidences that reflect various risk factors, including smoking rates, HPV infections, sunscreen use, and alcohol consumption.Cancer 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. The site also provides insights into the economic impact of cancer and highlights global disparities in cancer burden and control measures. 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 about 90%.Cervical 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 DataThe earliest evidence of cancer was found in a 1.7-million-year-old fossil—discovered in the toe of an ancestor of modern-day humans.Cancer has existed as long as humans, with documentation of cancer found even in ancient Egypt. Some of the earliest evidence of cancer is found among fossilized bone tumors, human mummies in ancient Egypt, and ancient manuscripts. Read about the earliest tumor—in a 1.7-million-year-old toe—discovered by archeologists. The toe belonged to 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 cancer treatments, including complementary and alternative medicine.Cancer 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 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 broken down into four stages influenced by tumor size, the presence of cancerous cells in the lymph nodes, and the extent to which the malignancy has spread to other organs in the body.This TED-Ed talk explores how cancer staging helps doctors determine treatment and prognosis. Stage 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 have 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 cancer.Close to 1.8 million cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, according to the most recent data from 2021. Breast, prostate, and lung cancer top the list of most common types of cancer in the US. This visualization tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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 MagazineThe seven viruses that cause human cancersCertain viruses have been linked to the development of human cancers. These viruses account for up to 20% of cancers worldwide, causing cancer by interacting with host proteins, proliferating within weak immune systems, and commandeering susceptible human cells. Unlike other viruses, human tumor viruses don't kill host cells, allowing them to establish persistent infections. The seven viruses include the Epstein-Barr Virus, the Human Papillomaviruses, and more. American Society for MicrobiologyA scientist treated her own breast cancer by injecting the tumor with lab-grown viruses.Virologist 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 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 TechnologyDinosaurs suffered from cancer, arthritis, and infections seen in modern animalsUsing CT scans and advanced pathology techniques, paleopathologists have identified respiratory illnesses, malignant osteosarcoma, and other diseases in dinosaurs. The research has helped show how many of these ailments are not exclusively modern phenomena. BBC NewsLouisiana's 'Cancer Alley,' an area with hundreds of industrial plants and petrochemical production, has cancer rates 50% above the national average.Due 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,Advanced drugs are closing in on cancer's deadliest mutationsThe protein KRAS, mutated in many cancers, was deemed ‘undruggable’. Now scientists are hoping to save lives with a batch of new compounds that target it. NatureWhy 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. YouTubeLung 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. STATTeaching 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 InstituteThere are hundreds of subtypes of cancer, making a universal cure nearly impossible.We’ve harnessed electricity, sequenced the human genome, and eradicated smallpox. But after billions of dollars in research, why haven't we found a solution for a disease that affects more than 14 million people? TED-EdThe term 'cancer' is roughly 3,000 years old and derives from the Greek word for 'crab,' which may refer to how a malignant tumor can feel like a hard shell.Around 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 a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal, mutated cells that can spread throughout the body.Cancer cells may look like regular cells, but they have mutations in their DNA that allow uncontrolled growth and division, dodge usual mechanisms of cell death, and can spread throughout the body in many cases. This TED-Ed video digs into the science behind these differences, highlighting the mechanisms that make cancer such a difficult disease to treat. TED-EdHow is immunotherapy used to fight cancer?The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute provides a delightful Science Illustrated animation explaining PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and how it fights cancer. Briefly, the treatment helps T-cells recognize cancerous cells that would ordinarily be "disguised" by proteins and attack. The fight is made more fair and effective by immunotherapy and similar cancer treatments. YouTubeThe 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 Nature
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