FS 101:  Cancer -- Facts, Fallacies, Fads, and Fantasies

Description: An examination of how our own fears and preconceptions affect the way in which news about cancer “causes” and “cures” is presented, perceived, and acted upon at a personal and societal level. People look to scientists for facts, but the limits of epidemiological and clinical analysis often result in inconclusive and contradictory data.  Just what do we know about cancer, and what do we only think we know?  Why is it that a single press release often begets a media frenzy that needlessly alarms us or raises false hopes?  How can individuals and society make rational decisions about prevention, screening, and treatment?  In order to promote consideration of these issues from an informed perspective, students will also be introduced to the biological basis of cancer’s origin, the strategies behind current treatments, and the principles of sound scientific analysis.