The ‘C’ Word: Demystifying cancer

One in three people will develop cancer in their lifetime. But what do doctors and experts really have to say about this terrifying statistic? Is there a ‘cure’ round the corner? What does the future hold for cancer sufferers?

The Dana Centre - the Science Museum’s adults-only bar and café for discussing contemporary science - is gathering leading experts, some with personal experience of the disease, to get behind the prevalent myths at a one-off discussion on Thursday 13 July.

It will delve into what the future looks like for cancer - and discuss how there are many doctors who believe that in the next 20 years we will be living with cancer rather than dying from the illness.

The Dana Centre’s panel of speakers include:

• Professor Karol Sikora, an acknowledged authority on modern management of cancer and Professor of Cancer Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine and Advisor to the WHO Cancer Programme.

Professor Sikora will talk about the history and future path of the disease from its first recorded description in 3000 BC to the development of targeted drugs which will help control the disease in the future.

• Adam Wishart, documentary producer (Tomorrow’s World and Horizon) and author of a new book One in Three: A son’s journey into the history and science of cancer (June 2006: £15) which interweaves two powerful stories: that of Adam and his father; and of the 200-year search for a cure.

Adam will talk passionately about a number of ideas about cancer and where they stem from. He will talk about how most people believe in an imminent yet lingering disease and one which can be battled with a positive mental outlook. He’ll reveal why these ideas are not only outdated, but dangerous.

• Sandy Craine, from Liverpool, was one of the first people in Britain to take Glivec – a new drug that specifically targets the abnormality caused by Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. She also set up the Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) European Support Group in 2000.

Diagnosed with CML in 1999 Sandy was given only 12 months to live. Sandy will talk about her experiences and will reveal how Glivec helped her in her fight against cancer. CML is one of the four most common types of leukaemia and is a blood cancer in which the white blood cells are over-produced and do not mature.

Professor Karol Sikora said, “Within 20 years cancer will be considered a chronic disease, joining conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. These conditions impact on the way people live but will not inexorably lead to death. The model of postate cancer, where many men die with it rather from it, will be more usual.”

Kat Nilsson, head of events at the Science Museum and Dana Centre said: “Death rates are falling and our understanding of cancer is increasing, yet damaging misconceptions prevail. The Dana Centre at the Science Museum has brought together a panel of experts - to talk in an informal environment - to break down some of the myths that pervade today’s society.”

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