Resources on Cancer

Image of T cells attacking and killing cancer cells

T cells attacking and killing cancer cells (Meletios Verra, iStockphoto)

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Biology, Health

Let's Talk Science

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AB Biology 20 (2007, Updated 2014) 11 Unit D: Human Systems

AB Knowledge and Employability Science 20-4 (2006) 11 Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health

AB Knowledge and Employability Science 8, 9 (revised 2009) 8 Unit B: Cells and Systems

AB Science 24 (2003, Updated 2014) 11 Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health

AB Science 30 (2007, Updated 2014) 12 Unit A: Living Systems Respond to Their Environment

AB Science 30 (2007, Updated 2014) 12 Unit C: Electromagnetic Energy

AB Science 7-8-9 (2003, updated 2014) 8 Unit B: Cells and Systems

BC Anatomy & Physiology 12 (June 2018) 12 Big Idea: Organ systems have complex interrelationships to maintain homeostasis

BC Science for Citizens 11 (June 2018) 11 Big Idea: Scientific processes and knowledge inform our decisions and impact our daily lives.

BC Science Grade 8 (June 2016) 8 Big Idea: Life processes are performed at the cellular level.

MB Grade 11 Biology (2010) 11 Unit 3: Transportation and Respiration

MB Grade 11 Biology (2010) 11 Unit 5: Protection and Control

MB Science Grade 8 (2000) 8 Cluster 1: Cells and Systems

MB Senior 1 Science (2000) 9 Cluster 1: Reproduction

MB Senior 4 Physics (2005) 12 Topic 4: Medical Physics

NB Biologie 53421 (2008) (french only) 12 3. Anatomie et physiologie humaines

NB Biology 112/111 (2008) 11 Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I

NB Biology 122/121 (2008) 12 Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium II

NB Sciences de la nature, 11e année (2005) (French only) 11 Thème 3: Microorganismes, système immunitaire et santé

NB Sciences et technologies 6e année (2011) (french only) 6 L'Univers vivant : L’organisation de la vie

NB You and Your World (K-2) K Unit 2 – Healthy Lifestyles

NB You and Your World (K-2) (2005) 1 Unit 3 – Healthy Lifestyles

NB You and Your World (K-2) (2005) 2 Unit 4 – Healthy Lifestyle

NL Biology 2201 (2002) 11 Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I

NL Biology 3201 (2004) 12 Unit 1: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium II

NL Grade 5 Science (2017) 5 Unit 4: Body Systems

NL Grade 8 Science 8 Unit 4: Cells, Tissues, Organs, and Systems

NL Grade 9 Science 9 Unit 4: Reproduction (revised 2011)

NS Biology 11/Advanced Biology 11 (2012, 2019) 11 Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I

NS Science 9 (2021) 9 Reproduction

NT Biology 20 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) 11 Unit D: Human Systems

NT Knowledge and Employability Science 20-4 (Alberta, 2006) 11 Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health

NT Knowledge and Employability Science 8 (Alberta, Revised 2009) 8 Unit B: Cells and Systems

NT Science 24 (Alberta, 2003, Updated 2014) 11 Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health

NT Science 30 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) 12 Unit A: Living Systems Respond to Their Environment

NT Science 30 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) 12 Unit C: Electromagnetic Energy

NT Science 8 (Alberta, 2003, updated 2014) 8 Unit B: Cells and Systems

NU Biology 20 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) 11 Unit D: Human Systems

NU Knowledge and Employability Science 20-4 (Alberta, 2006) 11 Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health

NU Knowledge and Employability Science 8 (Alberta, Revised 2009) 8 Unit B: Cells and Systems

NU Science 24 (Alberta, 2003, Updated 2014) 11 Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health

NU Science 30 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) 12 Unit A: Living Systems Respond to Their Environment

NU Science 30 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) 12 Unit C: Electromagnetic Energy

NU Science 8 (Alberta, 2003, updated 2014) 8 Unit B: Cells and Systems

ON Biology, Grade 11, College (SBI3C) 11 Strand B: Cellular Biology

ON Biology, Grade 11, College (SBI3C) 11 Strand E: Anatomy of Mammals

ON Biology, Grade 11, University (SBI3U) 11 Strand E: Animals: Structure and Function

ON Biology, Grade 12, University (SBI4U) 12 Strand B: Biochemistry

ON Chemistry, Grade 12, University (SCH4U) 12 Strand C: Structure and Properties of Matter

ON Environmental Science, Grade 11, University/College (SVN3M) 11 Strand C: Human Health and the environment

ON Science Grade 10 Academic (SNC2D) 10 Strand B: Tissues, Organs, and Systems of Living Things

ON Science Grade 10 Applied (SNC2P) (2008) 10 Strand B: Human Tissues, Organs, and Systems

ON Science, Grade 12, University/College (SNC4M) 12 Strand B: Medical technologies

ON Science, Grade 12, University/College (SNC4M) 12 Strand C: Pathogens and Diseases

ON Science, Grade 12, University/College (SNC4M) 12 Strand E: Science and Public Health Issues

ON Science, Grade 12, Workplace (SNC4E) 12 Strand D: Disease and Its Prevention

PE Biology 521A (2010) 11 Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I

PE Human Biology 801A (revised 2009) 11 Digestive system, Respiratory System, Circulatory System)

PE Science 421A (2019) 10 Content Knowledge: CK 1.2

PE Science Grade 8 (revised 2016) 8 Unit 4: Cells, Tissues, Organs, and Systems

SK Health Science 20 (2016) 11 Human Body

SK Science 9 (2009) 9 Life Science – Reproduction and Human Development (RE)

SK Science Grade 8 (2009) 8 Life Science – Cells, Tissues, Organs, and Systems (CS)

YT Anatomy & Physiology 12 (British Columbia, June 2018) 12 Big Idea: Organ systems have complex interrelationships to maintain homeostasis

YT Science for Citizens 11 (British Columbia, June 2018) 11 Big Idea: Scientific processes and knowledge inform our decisions and impact our daily lives.

YT Science Grade 8 (British Columbia, June 2016) 8 Big Idea: Life processes are performed at the cellular level.

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Cancer is a terrible disease that affects more than 200 000 Canadians every year. There are hundreds different types, attacking different parts of the human body. All cancers happen when our cell's replication system doesn't work properly. This cause our cells to grow out of control. Cancerous tumors are made from those defective cells. How this happens is not always clear.

People can reduce their risk of cancer by avoiding known carcinogenic (cancer-causing) elements such as prolonged exposure to the Sun, smoking and some chemical products. Cancer can also have a genetic basis, so knowing your family's history of cancer is important. We still do not know as much about cancer as we would like, which makes it hard to predict when and how it will strike.

Current available treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The choice on the best treatment depends in the type of cancer, its stage and the health of the patient. However, there is still lots of work needed before we can find better solutions for detecting, preventing and treating cancers. This is why so many scientists and researchers are working hard every day across the country, saving lives behind the scenes.

Below you will find some Let’s Talk Science resources to help you learn more about cancer.

Articles & Backgrounders

Why Do So Many People Get Cancer?

We all know someone who has been affected by cancer. What causes cancer? Why is it getting more common?

T cells and cancer cells - Image © Meletios Verras, iStockPhoto.com

Can Your Own Cells Cure Cancer?

When a person has cancer, CAR-T Therapy uses their own cells to destroy the cancer cells in their body.

Does Living Near High-Voltage Power Lines Cause Cancer?

Learn about the risks of electromagnetic radiation near high-voltage power lines.

Helping Patients through Drug Discovery

Learn how researchers from Amgen are developing new drugs for cancer.

Medical image of the brain using Technetium-99m

Innovations in Nuclear Technologies

Learn about why Canada is a world leader in nuclear technology.

Radiation Effects on Cells & DNA

This backgrounder explains the effects of radiation on cells and DNA.

Computed Tomography

Learn about the history, function, uses, benefits and risks of computed tomography (CT) as a medical imaging technology.

Gamma ray image of the Milky Way taken by NASA’s Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope (NASA)

Gamma Rays: Helper or Hazard?

Gamma rays might make you think of cancer, harmful radiation or superheroes. But gamma rays have lots of uses: food safety, manufacturing and even medicine!

Exploring Canada’s Particle Accelerators

Particle accelerators have amazing applications - from growing food to making airplanes safe.

Careers

Learning about the professionals involved is ideal to establish relations between STEM studies and skills, and the real world. Below are some suggested career profiles to show the variety of people working in cancer research.

Patrick Bate Ayuk

Medical Laboratory Technician

See profile

Monica Seger

Medical Affairs Director, Oncology (Retired)

See profile

Jason Bowie

Associate Director & National Business Manager (Oncology)

See profile

Teaching Resources

Questions for Discussion with Students

What is cancer?
What causes cancer?
Why is it so hard to find a cure for cancer?
What treatments are currently available?
What do you know about HPV and its vaccine?

Questions for Discussion with Students

What is cancer?
What causes cancer?
Why is it so hard to find a cure for cancer?
What treatments are currently available?
What do you know about HPV and its vaccine?

Teaching Suggestions

You can use the KWL: What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned Learning Strategy to introduce the topic.
Initial discussion
- Using the questions above, discuss the topics with students. This can be done in the classroom or online, you can also have an asynchronous discussion by using a collaborative platform in which students can share their thoughts and opinions on the different questions. This option gives more space for introvert expression.
Articles
- Teaching suggestions for can be found at the bottom of each of the articles. Learning strategies can also be used with the suggested videos.

Teaching Suggestions

You can use the KWL: What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned Learning Strategy to introduce the topic.
Initial discussion
- Using the questions above, discuss the topics with students. This can be done in the classroom or online, you can also have an asynchronous discussion by using a collaborative platform in which students can share their thoughts and opinions on the different questions. This option gives more space for introvert expression.
Articles
- Teaching suggestions for can be found at the bottom of each of the articles. Learning strategies can also be used with the suggested videos.

Resources on Cancer

How does this align with my curriculum?

Share on:

Articles & Backgrounders

Why Do So Many People Get Cancer?

Can Your Own Cells Cure Cancer?

Does Living Near High-Voltage Power Lines Cause Cancer?

Helping Patients through Drug Discovery

Innovations in Nuclear Technologies

Radiation Effects on Cells & DNA

Computed Tomography

Gamma Rays: Helper or Hazard?

Exploring Canada’s Particle Accelerators

Careers

Patrick Bate Ayuk

Monica Seger

Jason Bowie

Teaching Resources

Questions for Discussion with Students

Questions for Discussion with Students

Teaching Suggestions

Teaching Suggestions

Related Topics

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