Timeline
Timeline of Major Events in Cancer Study in the Past Century
Early 20th Century
Cancers were attributed to supernatural causes. Writers in this period started to address cancer as a unique disease. For women, cultural taboos around discussing breast health meant they did not seek medical help early
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1924-1944
Discovery of the pap smear by Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou, leading to early detection of cervical cancer.
1945-1964
- Discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick, providing insight into genetic mutations in cancer.
- Development of the Papanikolaou test (pap test) for cervical cancer screening.
Mid to Late 20th Century
The rise of breast cancer awareness campaigns, such as those led by Susan G. Komen (i..e. Breast Cancer Foundation), began to address some disparities by promoting education, early detection, and fundraising for research.
1965-1984
- Introduction of combination chemotherapy for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma by Dr. Vincent DeVita.
- President Richard Nixon signs the National Cancer Act, initiating the "War on Cancer"
- Development of monoclonal antibodies by César Milstein and Georges Köhler.
- Approval of interferon-alpha, the first biological therapy for cancer treatment.
Late 20th Century to Early 21st Century
The rise of breast cancer awareness campaigns, such as those led by Susan G. Komen (i..e. Breast Cancer Foundation), began to address some disparities by promoting education, early detection, and fundraising for research. Studies showed that people of color had a higher mortality rate from cancer compared to White people despite having an overall lower incidence rate. Factors included later-stage diagnosis, differences in tumor biology, and disparities in access to quality care. Cancer awareness grew significantly with campaigns like Breast Cancer Month. Advances in medical research and treatment improved survival rates, contributing to changing public perceptions and reducing stigma.
1985-2004
- Identification of the HER/neu gene associated with aggressive breast cancer
- approval of paclitaxel (Taxol) for the treatment of ovarian cancer
- Approval of trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer
- Approval of imatinib (Gleevee) for chronic myeloid leukemia
- Completion of the Human Genome Project
Present
Rural women often have limited access to specialized cancer care services, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Young women, particularly those under 40, face unique challenges, including delayed diagnosis due to low suspicion of cancer in this age group and pressure from social relationships and work. Financial constraints can lead to delays in seeking care, adherence to treatment, and ability to afford medications. Despite great efforts, socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location are still major challenges for promoting medical justice.
2005-2024
- Approval of the first HPV vaccine, Gardasil
- The Cancer Genome Atlas Program is launched
- Approval of ipilimumab (Yervoy) for metastatic melanoma
- Approval of CAR- T cell therapy for certain types of leukemia
- Using the CRISPR- Cas9 gene-editing technology
- Advances in liquid biopsy technology, allowing for non-invasive cancer detection and monitoring