Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming roughly 10 million people each year. But continuous advances in medical science mean we also know more than ever about its causes and how to treat it. Earlier this month over 40,000 specialists gathered for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. So where are the biggest breakthroughs occurring? Could new drugs change the way we think about cancer forever?
Ian Sample speaks to the Guardian’s health editor, Andrew Gregory, and Dr Roy Herbst about the world’s biggest annual gathering of oncology professionals. Each year’s event features a mass of new research, and 2023 was no exception. What were the standout advances, and could they lead to permanent changes in the way we treat, think about and live with cancer?. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod