
Photo Credit: CSIRO [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Cancers are a group of diseases in which abnormal cells uncontrollably develop and spread in the body. More than 100 different types of cancer affect humans. Internationally, it is the second leading cause of death, accounting for one in every seven deaths worldwide.
Cancers develop as a result of outside forces—exposure to radiation or toxins in the environment (including tobacco and alcohol), poor diet, insufficient exercise, and infections—or internal factors—genetic makeup, immune deficiencies, and hormonal changes—or a combination of more than one factor. A third of all cancer deaths worldwide stem from modifiable or preventable risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, and infections.
Not that long ago, a cancer diagnosis was a death sentence. Over the last two centuries, though, scientists have worked hard to understand how cancer forms, how it can be prevented, and how to treat it. Today, with many types of cancer, the prognosis for those who receive early treatment is positive, with 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States alone.
Research continues into all aspects of cancer and includes a broad swath of sciences, including mathematics, immunology, nanotechnology, epigenetics, engineering, and biotechnology.
Most students will recognize the term cancer from outside the classroom. Science NetLinks hopes these resources relating to the science of cancer will help answer questions they might have, offer them insights into how a cancer diagnosis has changed in recent years, and interest them in an area of scientific study that will continue to expand into the future.
Filter Resources by Grade:
Lessons
-
6-8
In this lesson, students become better aware of how their personal behavior and the environment can have a considerable impact on their health in general, particularly the health of their skin.
-
9-12
In this lesson students examine environmental and hereditary factors that increase the chance of developing cancer.
-
9-12
In this lesson, students use the Internet to explore population distribution and survivorship curves.
-
9-12
In this lesson, students explore the issue of ethics in medical research and, in particular, the issue of informed consent, in the context of Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cells.
-
9-12 | Interactive
In this lesson, students develop an understanding of the science behind keeping skin healthy.
-
9-12 | Interactive
In this lesson, students develop an understanding of skin cancer and its different types, how it can be detected, and how it can be prevented.
-
9-12 | Interactive
In this lesson, students will discuss what they already know about the impact sun exposure has on their skin and what they typically do to protect themselves, if anything.
-
9-12
In this lesson, students explore the link between exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation and the chance of getting a sunburn.
-
6-8
In this lesson, students explore how the sun’s intensity at different latitudes has contributed to variations in human skin color.
-
9-12
In this lesson, students learn that disease is influenced by genetic factors. They also learn one’s likelihood of inheriting the genes for a particular disease is linked to ancestral makeup—to the particular branches of the human family tree from which one descends.
Tools
-
9-12 | Website
This resource introduces students to the genetic basis of cancer development through a case study.
-
6-12 | Interactive
This site describes the sophisticated tools and techniques used in medical imaging including the PET scan, X ray, angiography, ultrasound, and CT Scan.
-
6-12 | Interactive
This interactive gives students the opportunity to learn about skin cancer diagnosis and prevention.
-
6-12 | Website
This booklet, from the Science Inside series, explores biomedical research and how far health and scientific research has come in the last 150 years.
Science Updates
-
6-12 | Audio
Astronauts on long-term space missions may face health risks that their predecessors didn't have to worry about. These Science Update reports describe two of them.
-
6-12 | Audio
A rare genetic mutation makes people very short, but also resistant to cancer and diabetes.
-
6-12 | Audio
Dogs are often used to sniff out everything from illegal drugs to explosives. But new research shows that they can also smell cancer.
-
6-12 | Audio
Using mobile phones for medical purposes, a new frontier when we reported on it in 2008, has become a huge field.
-
6-12 | Audio
Even all the plastic surgeons in Hollywood can’t turn back the hands of time. But scientists recently found a way to rewind a seemingly irreversible biological process.
-
6-12 | Audio
Many diseases don't develop noticeable symptoms until they've already done considerable damage. That's why doctors would like to get a closer look at the first signs of disease: tiny changes in the way our cells communicate with each other. In this Science Update, you’ll hear about an innovative plan to get closer to those early distress signals.
-
6-12 | Audio
Researchers have successfully copied a molecule that protects our bodies from our own immune systems.
-
6-12 | Audio
In this Science Update, hear why bright nighttime lights could also be bad for women's health.
-
6-12 | Audio
In this Science Update, you’ll hear about a group that’s working to unravel the mystery of how human genes generate such a large number of proteins.
-
6-12 | Audio
A previous Science Update examined how dogs can detect cancer with their noses. Now those dogs have inspired new technology that tests for skin cancer based on odorants given off by the skin.
-
6-12 | Audio
In this Science Update, hear how newts have inspired a new technique for regenerating mammalian tissue.
-
6-12 | Audio
Strategically placed grass, ivy, and other greenery can significantly improve air quality in urban centers.
-
6-12 | Audio
UV light may have a drug-like effect, leading to addiction and even withdrawal symptoms.
-
6-12 | Audio
3D scaffolding in cells helps scientists understand a patient’s cancer cells and personalize treatments.
Collections
-
K-12
This collection has resources to help teach your students about various aspects of obesity, healthy eating, and exercise.
-
K-12
Science NetLinks and AAAS have developed a number of resources that will help you teach your students about health, medicine, and healthy living.
Videos
-
6-12 | Video
Science Magazine has named cancer immunotherapy the 2013 Breakthrough of the Year.
-
9-12 | Video
In this segment of Material Marvels, Dr. Ainissa Ramirez demonstrates how materials behave strangely when they are nanosize—about 1/100,000 the thickness of your hair.
-
6-12 | Video
Watch a video of Science Magazine's 2013 scientific Breakthrough of the Year & the nine runners-up, ranging from transparent brains to exploding stars.
AAAS Resources
Reading Cancer: Books that Connect the Science and Emotion of Cancer
Grade Band: 9-12
Description: A selection of books about cancer that everyone should read suggested by SB&F Editor-in-Chief Maria Sosa.
Send us feedback about this Collection >