The groundbreaking, world-first free exhibition: Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope draws to a close this weekend at The Science and Industry Museum.

It is the first major object-rich exhibition to explore the past, present and future of how cancer is prevented, detected and treated, exploring the revolution in science that is transforming cancer care.

With one in two people diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, the exhibition, created by the Science Museum Group with support from expert partner Cancer Research UK, is more important than ever. It will present the stories of people affected by cancer, together with those who study and treat it, revealing how researchers, clinicians, policymakers and patients are fuelling progress in a powerful expression of shared hope. This world-first exhibition explores how at a pivotal moment when one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime, more of us than ever before are living longer, and better with the disease and beyond.

From busting myths about the causes of cancer, to exploring how the disease isn’t unique to humans, Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope shows just how far early detection technologies and immunotherapies have come. The exhibition also shows how cancer has been treated over the centuries, from high-risk surgeries to the discovery of the first chemotherapy drugs, while also detailing the important challenges that remain to be solved.


The exhibition will introduce visitors to the researchers and remarkable science that is transforming our understanding of the disease and ways of treating it – particularly in its more advanced stages. It also focuses on new technologies used to detect the disease in its earliest stages. From constructing mini-tumours, to creating virtual reality ones, scientists are studying how cancers grow and change in more detail than ever before. Visitors will be introduced to therapies that re-engineer immune cells to better recognise cancer and novel technologies that are helping to detect cancer earlier.

The North West’s vital role in groundbreaking cancer research will also be a particular focus. Attendees can uncover the story behind the ‘Manchester Method for radiotherapy’ through never displayed before objects, an immersive audio soundscape recorded with The Christie’s Tameside Macmillan Unit captures what it’s like inside a chemotherapy treatment day and Professor Caroline Dive’s pioneering work at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute on ‘liquid biopsies’—which hunt cancer cells that have broken free from tumours—will be explored.

Other exhibits include a specially commissioned graphic and film about proton beam therapy at The Christie NHS Foundation, an insight into the amazing local work being carried out on personalised CAR-T cell therapy and Nudrat Afza’s poignant photographic work which explores her own sister’s ongoing journey through cancer treatment.

The exhibition is free to attend, but booking is required. See the link below for more details.

Image credit: Science Museum Group

A Manchester Wire Partnership post
Fri 22 Oct - Sun 27 Mar, Science and Industry Museum,
Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4FP
Words:
Brad Lengden
Published on:
Wed 10 Nov 2021