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353 Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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• Different Applications of Calculus in Cancer Treatment and Monitoring The type of treatments applied is pre-determined by the location, the type, and the severity of the tumors. The mathematical concept of calculus is applied when doctors consider the diffusion of different drugs into the […]
• Descriptive Data Statistics: National Cancer Institute The definitions for the measures presented are as follows: Mean = sum of all data points / number of data points; Median = the value that’s exactly in the middle when it is ordered from […]
• Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Plan Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects the lower part of the uterus known as the cervix. The presence of these cells in the cervix is an indication that a woman may be […]
• Cervical Cancer, Its Nature and Symptoms However, the incidence rate has reduced by half in the last three decades owing to the extensive endorsement of the Papanicolaou test and the removal of precancerous cells.
• Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes The mammogram is the first indication of breast cancer, even though other indications such as the presence of the lymph nodes in the armpits are also the early indications of breast cancer.
• Cancer Terminology and Characteristics Carcinomas arise from epithelial tissue, lymphomas are cancers of lymphatic tissue, leukemias are cancers of blood-forming cells, and sarcomas come from connective tissue.
• Cancer Pathophysiology and Nursing Management Nurses play an important role in the treatment of cancer patients through the nursing process which consists of various stages and utilizes educational background and knowledge regarding the disease.
• Lung Cancer: Diagnostics and Treatment Thus, it is essential to invest in research about lung cancer and be aware of the factors that contribute to its emergence to protect themselves.
• Best Practices in Breast Cancer Care Based on this, the final stage of therapy should include comprehensive support for patients with breast cancer as one of the main health care practices within the framework of current treatment guidelines.
• Leukemia: Causes, Pathogenesis, Morphological Changes, Basic Management Studies are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the disease, which is still unknown according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
• Enhancing Cancer Screening Access and Treatment Equity Increasing the accessibility and equity in cancer screening solutions is extremely important. The existing screening criteria should be expanded through changes in guidelines, and increased funding.
• Progress in Cancer Control: Rhetorical Analysis According to their study, these behaviors are more likely to lead to cancer, and the authors’ goal is to convince the audience that they should take responsibility for their health and strive to minimize the […]
• Breast Cancer and Its Population Burden The other objectives that are central to this paper are highlighted below: To determine which group is at a high risk of breast cancer To elucidate the impact of breast cancer on elderly women and […]
• Pap Smear and Cervical Cancer: Oncology Nursing The piece of legislation I believe has most significantly affected women’s healthcare in the past century is the regulation for women to take Pap smear regularly to prevent cervical cancer development.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening Methodology CRC affects the colon, the large intestine, and the rectum a passageway between the colon and the anus. In 2019, the average incidence rate for CRC in the United States was 41.
• Screening Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Prevention Colonoscopy allows visualization of the entire mucosa of the distal terminal ileum and the large intestine. Before the screening, the natural history of the disease is essential for the practitioner to identify the prevention levels.
• Prostate Cancer: Urinary Frequency and Incontinence In terms of the back and spine pain that the patient reported, it is notable that the x-ray revealed some mild degenerative changes in the form of a cystic mass near the spine.
• Discussion: Understanding of Cancer Annually, the IARC estimates the number of new cancer cases and fatalities worldwide and in the United States and gathers the most up-to-date data on the prevalence of cancer in populations.
• Ovarian Cancer: Risk Factors, Health Disparities, and Preventive Measures The most common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include weight loss, pain in the pelvic region, swelling and bloating in the abdomen, low appetite, and increased urination.
• Mindfulness Practice During Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer She discusses the significance of the study to the nursing field and how nurses can use the findings to help their patients cope with stress.
• The Role of hnRNPs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Blood and lymph are tissues of mesenchymal origin, which consist of plasma and corpuscles suspended in it and form the internal environment of the body.
• Benefits of Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment Eating various foods is an important part of a healthy diet to get the nutrients the patient needs to fight cancer.
• Community-Based Health Education on Cervical Cancer Through awareness, women will be able to understand the life of the diseases and the control measures that should be put in place to eradicate the infection.
• Antioxidants: The Role in Preventing Cancer and Heart Disease Some of antioxidants are more widely known as vitamins E, C, and carotenoids, and have a reputation of preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
• The Lung Cancer Incidence Research The attributed risk is calculated by dividing the newly diagnosed incidence of cancer attributed to smoking by the total number of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer.
• Breast Cancer: The Effective Care Domain Information about how the patient is seen, how often the patient is seen, and whether she will return for mammograms can be collected and analyzed to verify the successful intervention to extend consistency with mammograms.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening and Its Effect on Disease Incidence The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s System Approach to Tracking and Increasing Screening for […]
• The Burden of Cancer in the United States Both Hispanic men and women are the least affected by lung cancer in terms of incidence and mortality. Therefore, considering the DALYs measure and smoking rates in the Hispanic group, it can be concluded that […]
• Statistical Analysis of Lung and Bronchus Cancer Data Using the mean obtained, the Black community has recorded the highest cases of lung and bronchus cancer, with the lowest ethnic group recording, such being the Hispanic race.
• Garden Pesticide and Breast Cancer Therefore, taking into account the basic formula, the 1000 person-years case, the number of culture-positive cases of 500, and culture-negative of 10000, the incidence rate will be 20 new cases.
• Breast Cancer as a Genetic Red Flag It is important to note that the genetic red flags in Figure 1 depicted above include heart disease, hypertension, and breast cancer.
• Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Analysis Simultaneously, the resource is beneficial because it aims to “improve the delivery and quality of breast cancer screening and related outcomes in the United States”.
• Drinking Green Tea: Breast Cancer Patients Therefore, drinking green tea regularly is just a necessity- it will contribute to good health and physical vigor throughout the day and prevent severe diseases.
• Pathophysiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer It is also evident that the illness acts fast due to the continuous multiplication of the cancer cells leading to breathing disruptions and eventual death. This sustained weight loss is primarily essential to the advancement […]
• Breast Cancer Prevention: Ethical and Scientific Issues Such information can potentially impact the patient and decide in favor of sharing the information about the current condition and risks correlating with the family history.
• Prostate Cancer Statistics for a Term Paper Prostate cancer is also known as ‘Carcinoma of the Prostate’ and it starts when cells in the prostate glands develop an abnormality that allows them to grow out of control.
• Colorectal Cancer: Promoting a Healthy Diet The aims and goals were to analyze the goals, techniques of solution, and outcomes of particular research and enhance knowledge about the topic area based on a review of freshly released data. I would also […]
• Colorectal Cancer Development Due to Dietary Habits A fundamental research interest of the present dissertation was to run a pilot test on a small sample to assess the possibility of using questionnaires as a tool to assess Saudis’ perception of dietary habits […]
• Cancer Patients’ Late Admission to a Hospice Mulville et al.set out to evaluate and identify the reasons that prevent timely admission to the hospice of cancer patients at the end of life.
• Breast Cancer: Epidemiology, Risks, and Prevention In that way, the authors discuss the topics of breast cancer and obesity and the existing methods of prevention while addressing the ethnic disparities persistent in the issue.
• Breast Cancer Development in Black Women With consideration of the mentioned variables and target population, the research question can be formulated: what is the effect of nutrition and lifestyle maintained on breast cancer development in black women?
• Dietary Habits as a Risk Factor of Colorectal Cancer The risks, however, reduce with the adoption of healthy dietary habits, such as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. The author advised conducting more qualitative studies on factors affecting the Saudis population to adhere […]
• Traditional and Complementary Medicine Among Indigenous Cancer Patients Therefore, it is necessary to increase the overall understanding of the role of CAM among breast cancer patients alongside identifying the key motivating factors, where the prime manifestations of the phenomenon are faith and prayer.
• Education for Parents of Children With Cancer The hospital was selected because I am have been working there for a long time, and the personnel is willing to help me with the implementation of the process.
• Health Inequities in Cancer Patients Despite a recent slowdown in overall spending, the United States spends more on health care than other high-income nations and still has some of the worst health results.
• 177Lu-PSMA Radioligand Therapy for Prostate Cancer The therapy is proved to be safer and more effective than its alternatives, with a great deal of success in reducing PSMA.
• Khalaf’s Burden of Pancreatic Cancer Study Analysis The outcome factors in this study are that regular-dose and low-dose Aspirin were observed to decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Cancer Blood Tests Saving Lives It is important to note that the article explores novel ways of cancer diagnostics and screening methods using blood tests for various signs of the condition.
• Breast Cancer in Miami Florida The situation with the diagnosis of breast cancer is directly related to the availability of medicine in the state and the general awareness of the non-population.
• Cancer Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People When compared to non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, also known as Indigenous Australians, are disadvantaged across a number of health and socioeconomic indices.
• The Ethical Problem in the Case of the Cancer Patient On the other hand, urgently inducing the patient’s death may have been an administrative problem for the patient, and it is not sure that it was caused by the wife’s deliberate decision.
• Cancer Treatment Strategies and Challenges Inspired by the merits of the natural nanovesicles and the state of the art of the advanced engineering versatility of synthetic nanomaterials, we previously presented the synthetic and biological hybrid exosomes for targeted synergistic chemo […]
• Urinary Tract Infections and Pancreatic Cancer The laboratory technician is supposed to culture the urine and use Gram’s staining method to detect the microbes in the sample. The practitioners used a combination of mecillinam and cefotaxime to manage the condition.
• Patient HealthCare: Early Diagnosis of Cancer The NCQA describes the three patients’ interventions and explains how the Nurse Practitioner explicitly measures the listed interventions’ effects. While the patient is in the clinic for routine care, problems with preventive tests and their […]
• Machine Learning Algorithms in Cancer Detection One of the most fundamental tools for machine learning in cancer detection is the use of imaging, with the premise that prognostic data is embedded in pathology images and digital pathology can provide big data […]
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Nutritional Influences A complete blood count is used to determine the precise number of each blood cell type in an individual, whereas a peripheral blood smear is used to determine alteration in the appearance and mobility of […]
• Breast Cancer: Genetics and Malignancy In the presence of such conditions, the formation of atypical cells is possible in the mammary gland. In the described case, this aspect is the most significant since it includes various details of the patient’s […]
• Video Consultations Between Patients and Clinicians in Diabetes, Cancer, and Heart Failure Services For example, during one of my interactions with the patient, I was asked whether the hospital had the policy to avoid face-to-face interaction during the pandemic with the help of video examinations.
• Diets to Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer, and Diabetes In order to prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, people are required to adhere to strict routines, including in terms of diet. Additionally, people wanting to prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes also need to […]
• Skin Cancer: Description, Causes, and Treatment Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer; the three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Its Prevalence and Incidence The purpose of this paper is to present the first part of the case study by describing the disease’s pathophysiology, treatment options, prevalence, and incidence.
• Colon Cancer: Symptoms, Genes, and Immunosuppression Colon cancer is the type of cancer that starts in the large intestine, which is the last section of the digestive tract.
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Causes, Origin, and Gene Mutation Apart from analyzing chromosome abnormalities present in patients with ALL, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the disorder’s origin, including primary causes and the process of gene mutations.
• Researching the Colon Cancer and Nursing It is critical for the nurse to have trusted information about cancer tumors because many studies have indicated that patients appreciate and rely on the competence of nurses.
• Nebraska State Department of Health Registries for Cancer and Immunization There is a need to report the progress of breast cancer in Nebraska to help do more research on preventing and introducing improved chemotherapy plans. Nebraska state has immunization and cancer registries which are helpful […]
• The Cancer Cell Development: Causes and Sources Loss of function of suppressor genes resulting from mutations becomes the cause of cancer development: the cell divides abnormally, increasing the cell mass of the tissue.
• Epidemiology: Lung Cancer Risk The continued exploration of the factors, as well as agents, leading to the spread of pandemics led to a quantitative and qualitative examination and the development of immunization to reduce infections.
• Case Study for a Patient With Cancer Because Julia refused to continue chemotherapy and radiation treatment, her adenocarcinoma should be expected to get worse, which means she may need further services of a nurse, who would create plans for supportive care; as […]
• Financing of Public Health Initiative on Prostate Cancer Additionally, they need to demonstrate to the public that the resources bestowed on them are adding value to the facilities they are in charge of.
• Genetic Testing: Screening for Colon Cancer This disorder is characterized by the development of hundreds of thousands of adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum early in life.
• Cancer: Causes, Diagnostic and Treatment This article recommends that the new dietary patterns can be used to reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. Vegetables can be used to reduce the occurrence of stomach cancer and colorectal cancer.
• Prostate Cancer Among Blacks in Maryland: Public Health Initiative This paper evaluates the economic principles underlying community health needs assessment of the initiative and the health economics relevant to the utilization of the service.
• New Gene Discovered That Stops Spread of Cancer At this point, it is crucial to mention that the discovery by the Salk institute is just a beginning of a long scientific journey that is anticipated to culminate in a comprehensive and conclusive study […]
• Genes Cause Breast Cancer Evidence suggests the role of BRCA1 in DNA repair is more expansive than that of BRCA2 and involves many pathways. Therefore, it is suggested that BRCT ambit containing proteins are involved in DNA repair and […]
• Do Cellphones Cause Brain Cancer? The reason for the worries is that cellphones emit RF energy that contains both electric and magnetic energy, and exposure to it may be unhealthy for a human being.
• Cancer Survivorship and Reproductive Health Outcomes This life includes the social, emotional, psychological, and financial effects that start at the beginning of diagnosis and commences up to the final stage of the disease.
• Patients With Cancer: The Importance of Early Referrals to Hospitals The purpose of this study was to prove the connection between early referrals to hospitals for patients with cancer and the possibility of a positive outcome of treatment for them.
• Aspects of Testicular Cancer The cancer is narrowed to the testicles and the epididymis as the tumor markers level reads normal at the first stage and has not grown into the blood.
• New Venture: Cancer Risks of Firefighters In my opinion, being a firefighter is not just a profession, it is the ability to come to the rescue, to have compassion, to feel pain, and to empathize with people who are in a […]
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Genetic Features of Black Patients According to the researcher, the differences in the biological impact of disease and the socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in the disparity between the Blacks and the Whites in the recovery process.
• Cancer Alley and Environmental Racism One of the sources under study is valuable, as it examines the current situation of the coronavirus and the impact of pollution on human health.
• Cancer: Risk, Treatment and Prevention Cancer is a condition characterized by abnormal cells that do not function usefully in the body, thereby destroying normal body tissues.
• Colon Cancer: Treatment Options, Medication Research Colon cancer typically begins in the large intestine, which is at the end of the digestive tract and is called a colon.
• Managing Patient With Pancreatic Cancer Overall, pancreatic cancer affects the cellular functioning of the pancreas and disrupts the operation of the digestive system. PanIN is the most common antecedent of pancreatic cancer and occurs in the small pancreatic ducts.
• Cancer Medication and Treatment Alternatives: Project Proposal Indeed, despite the advances made in the management of cancer, particularly, the surgical removal of the tumor and the following therapy allowing to reduce health risks, cancer remains one of the major causes of death […]
• Asbestos, Carcinogens, and Occupational Cancers: Insights from Dr. Demers With the cases of asbestos-related cancer rising and the vast amounts of asbestos existing in buildings, water pipes, and workplaces, there is a dire need for stringent policies to remove all asbestos from the environment.Dr.
• Does the Sun Radiation Cause Skin Cancer? Moreover, from the article written by American Cancer Society, it is evident that Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B from the sun lead to skin cancer.
• Light Use in Cancer Treatment The notable strength of this article is that it goes further to identify ZnPc-Q1 as a possible candidate for using light therapy in the treatment of cancer. In this work, the authors examine and describe […]
• The Virus That Causes Throat Cancers The research article used after the insight of the summary in the New York Times was from the journal of American medical association.
• Esophageal Cancer: Credible Internet Information Esophageal cancer has become one of the main forms of cancers which usually causes a lot of suffering to patients due to immense pain, difficulty in swallowing or dysphagia.
• Breast Cancer. Service Management The trial specifically looks at the effect on breast-cancer mortality of inviting women to screening from age 40 years compared with invitation from age 50 years as in the current NHS breast-screening programme.
• Fibrocystic Breast Condition or Breast Cancer? The presence of the fibrocystic breast condition means that the tissue of the breast is fibrous, and cysts are filled with the liquid or fluid. The main characteristic feature of this cancer is that it […]
• Cervical Cancer: Causes and Treatment Cervical cancer develops in the cervix – the lower part of the uterus. It starts in a particular part of the cervix, where its squamous and glandular cells connect.
• Analysis in Epidemiology: “Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and Oral Contraceptives” Therefore, in the current case, since the use of combination oral contraceptives reduces the occurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer, then the factors that affect the OCs MUST ALWAYS precede the factors affecting the occurrence of […]
• Coping With Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Therefore, it is important for research experts to ensure and guarantee adherence to methodologies and guidelines that define scientific inquiry. However, various discrepancies manifest with regard to the initiation and propagation of research studies.
• Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer Mortality Though it is harsh to dismiss self-exams entirely due to studies that indicate little in deaths of women who performed self-exams and those who did not, the self-exams should not be relied on exclusively as […]
• Breast Self-Exams Curbing Breast Cancer Mortality The results of the study were consistent with the findings of other studies of the same nature on the effectiveness of breast self-examination in detecting and curbing breast cancer.
• Prostate Cancer: Pathophysiology and Diagnostics The disease is normally multimodal in the prostate gland and just about 70% of the illness exists in the or the Peripheral zone.
• Cancer: Factors of Prevention and Treatment The paper focuses on studying polyploidy/multinucleated giant cancer cells, calcium, BXL Protein, Acetylsalicylic Acid, and their specific roles in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
• Herbal Therapy for Cancer Herbal therapy is a theoretical and practical medicine based on the scientific study and use of medicinal plants or drugs obtained from them for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.
• An Approach to Care of Cancer Overview Suspecting the presence of ovarian cancer is primarily based on a number of symptoms, especially abnormal physical examination, CT and NRI scans of the abdomen as well as the pelvis region.
• Taxol Effectiveness in Inhibiting Breast Cancer Cells The following were the objectives of this experiment: To determine the effectiveness of Taxol in inhibiting breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells using culture method.
• Control Breast Cancer: Nursing Phenomenon, Ontology and Epistemology of Health Management Then, the evidence received is presented in an expert way leading to implementation of the decision on the management of the disease.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center: Community Health Assessment The focus of the assessment is the city of Houston, Texas, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Most health issues are related to income disparities, immigration status, and the insurance status of Houston residents.
• Researching the Ovarian Cancer In the European continent, for every 100,000 females, 12 to 17 will have ovarian cancer, depending on the nation of origin; this is the age-standardized rate. BRCA1 and BRCA2 profoundly account for the prevalence of […]
• Local Inflammation and Human Papillomavirus Status of Head and Neck Cancers The objective of the study was to assess whether periodontitis is related to the human papillomavirus status of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
• Throat Cancer With Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus The infection by the HPVs often appears in the epithelium, particularly in the areas with tissue lesions. In this respect, by means of the RNA scope, it is possible to transcribe the HPV genome and […]
• Breast Cancer: Effects of Breast Health Education The design of the research focused on research variables like skills, performance, self-efficacy, and knowledge as the researchers aimed at examining the effectiveness of these variables among young women who underwent training in breast cancer […]
• Community Nursing Role in Breast Cancer Prevention However, early detection still remains important in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. The community has thus undertaken activities aimed at funding the awareness, treatment and research in order to reduce the number of […]
• Radiotherapy: The Efficient Cancer Treatment Method The main purpose for the proposal of this policy is to increase the safety levels and promote efficiency in the delivery of radiotherapy services to patients.
• Measuring the Uncertainty in Children With Cancer The Limitations of using Mishel Uncertainty Illness Scale and Children Uncertainty Illness Scale led to the development of Uncertainty scale for kids.
• Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Among Female Students Shin, Park & Mijung found that a quarter of the participants practiced breast self-examination and a half had knowledge regarding breast cancer.
• Prognosis in Ulcerative Colitis for Risk of Cancer After that the attempt was to extract the information about incidence of colon cancer in populations previously diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, to check whether the cancer risk increased with the duration of disease and finally […]
• “Tracking Breast Cancer Cells on the Move” by Gomis The article serves the purpose of examining the role of NOG, a gene that is essential in bone development and its role in breast cancer.
• Nutritional Assessment for Cancer Patients The consumption of fatty fish and a reduction in the consumption of unhealthy fats can reduce the risk of colon cancer that is brought about by the consumption of animal fat.
• Cancer Treatment Measures in the Sydney Cancer Center Overall, the study enhanced the proper understanding of the effectiveness through the analysis of the number of health specialists working in the Sydney Cancer Centre and the number of cancer patients attended per day.
• Association Between Pre-Diagnostic Circulating 25-(OH) D and Cancer This was what made the authors to undertake an investigation on correlation between pre-diagnostic of circulating 25- D concentration in the body and dietary intakes of vitamin D and calcium with colon and rectum cancer […]
• Sonodynamic Therapy for Cancer Treatment Sonodynamic therapy also known as ultrasound therapy is a hopeful innovative cancer treatment method that focuses on synergistic effect on tumor cell killing of a photosensitizer and ultrasound. Cavitation refers to the growth, oscillation and […]
• The Relationship Between Cancer and Lifestyle In addition, other lifestyle aspects, such as cigarette smoking, sun exposure and stress need to be addressed to reduce the risks of cancer.
• Cancer: Angiogenesis, Recent Research, Ethical Concerns Zayed et al.’s research reveals that the CIB1 protein controlling the endothelial cell functions is the same as the one causing red blood cell formation in cancer tumors.
• Breast Cancer Survivorship: Are African American Women Considered? The finding of the analysis is that the issue of cancer survivorship is exclusive, developing, and at the same time it depends on what individuals perceive to be cancer diagnosis as well as personal experiences […]
• Gaining Ground on Breast Cancer: Advances in Treatment The article by Esteva and Hortobagyi discusses breast cancer from the aspect of increased survival rates, the novel treatments that have necessitated this and the promise in even more enhanced management of breast cancer.
• Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center’s Patients Medical and surgical approaches are considered to be the main ways for pain treatment in cancer patients. Advanced stages of cancer result into a multidimensional pain and are where the clinical psychologists step in.
• Ovarian Cancer: Description and Treatment In applying various treatment options, it is important for doctors to ensure that they understand all options, means of navigating through the process, as well as the development stage of the cancer.
• Effects of Hypoxia, Surrounding Fibroblasts, and p16 Expression on Breast Cancer The study was conducted to determine whether migration and invasion of breast cancer cells were stimulated by hypoxia, as well as determining whether the expression of p16 ectopically had the potential to modulate the cell […]
• Breast Cancer: Preventing, Diagnosing, Addressing the Issue In contrast to the MRI, which presupposes that the image of the tissue should be retrieved with the help of magnetic fields, the mammography tool involves the use of x-rays.
• Smoking and Lung Cancer Among African Americans Primarily, the research paper provides insight on the significance of the issue to the African Americans and the community health nurses.
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in Adult Patients Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the cancer of the blood and the bone marrow. The final type of lymph cells is natural killer cells whose role in the body is to nullify the effect of cancerous […]
• Dietary Fat Intake and Development of Breast Cancer This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary fat intake and the development of breast cancer in women. The outcome of the study strongly suggests that there is a close relationship between a high […]
• The Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer The severity of cancer depends on the movement of the cancerous cells in the body and the division and growth or cancerous cells.
• Smoking and Cancer in the United States In this research study, data on tobacco smoking and cancer prevalence in the United States was used to determine whether cancer in the United States is related to tobacco smoking tobacco.
• Prostate Cancer: Preventive Approaches and Treatment However, the case of prostate cancer seems to oppose this ideology; hence, the purpose of this paper is to understand preventive approaches and therapies used to manage prostate cancer.
• Skin Cancer: Comparison of Samples The aim of this experiment is to examine and thereafter represent low and high power illustrations of a normal skin specimen and of skin specimens that have been affected by various forms types of skin […]
• The Female Reproductive System and Ovarian Cancer The ovary is the one of the central organs of the female reproductive system. The zona granulosa is the exterior layer of cells enclosing the follicles.
• Property Rights to the Cancer Genes The easiest way to understand the protection of patents and the rationale behind them is by appreciating the fact that patents are part of human rights.
• Dietary Approach to Colon Cancer Prevention These research findings appear to support the hypothesis that the presence of folate in the diet is linked to the risk factor for colon cancer.
• Treatment of Ovarian Cancer Factors that predispose women to ovarian cancer include infertility, use of certain medication, hormone replacement therapy, use of oral contraceptives, and party.
• The Pennsylvania Cancer Registry (PCR) This data is essential in that, doctors or clinical experts are able to identify the form of treatment to be provided to each cancer patient, to follow up on the patients’ progress, give any necessary […]
• Breast Cancer: WMI Research and the Current Approaches Although the conclusions provided by the WHI in the study conducted to research the effects of estrogen and progesterone cessation on the chance of developing a breast cancer do not comply with the results of […]
• Oesophageal Cancer as a Global Health Concern The incidence of oesophageal cancer is high in various parts of the world, but for the purposes of this paper, China will be the region of focus.
• Using Genetically-Modified Bacteria to Fight Cancer at Johns Hopkins To do so, a concise summary of the article will be provided, followed by a review of its relevance to the course.
• Skin Cancer and Sunlight: Case Control, Cohort, and Clinical Trial Design The main component in sunlight that is said to be responsible for the development of skin cancer is the Ultraviolet emission.
• Battle Against Cancer in New York State On the other hand, the cancer goals for New York target to reduce the new forms of the disease as well as the various disabilities and body deformations resulting from cancer.
• Various Proteins Targets for Lung, Breast and Colorectal Cancers This protein has been identified in recent research as the one playing the biggest role in causing the growth and the spread of cancer in the lungs.
• Global Health Organization – World-Cancer Campaign The organization can collaborate with other organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Council of Nurses to tackle the cancer crisis.
• Healthcare: Colon Cancer The colon refers to the longest section of the large gut and the most low-down section of the digestive arrangement in the human body.
• Dosage & Regimen for MEK Inhibitor: Cancer Clinical Trial The study is a treatment trial aimed at designing the correct dose of GSK1120212. The trial is aimed at determining the dosage and regimen for MEK inhibitor that should be mixed with everolimus in order […]
• Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene (BRCA2) The mechanisms underlying the genetic predisposition to a particular disease are manifold and this concept is the challenging one to the investigators since the advent of Molecular Biology and database resources.
• Prostate Cancer Pathophysiology and Management At the moment, the use of tumour markers such as kallikrein is the most widespread method of differentiating these two disorders.
• Terminal Cancer Patients: Community Nursing The sole purpose of any nursing activity during any given kind of illness and end-of-life stage is to maximize the quality of life and functioning for individuals, families, and the community at large.
• Esophageal Cancer Overview and Analysis Esophageal Cancer mainly refers to the growths that forms within the tissues that line the walls of the esophagus; the tube composed of muscles that aid the passage of the food from the exterior opening […]
• Ovarian Cancer Overview and Analysis However, several factors have been deemed to contribute to the risk of developing ovarian cancer, for instance, the lesser children a woman has and the later in life she bears children, the higher the chances […]
• Prediction of Breast Cancer Prognosis It has been proposed that the fundamental pathways are alike and that the expression of gene sets, instead of that of individual genes, may give more information in predicting and understanding the basic biological processes.
• The Genetic Basis of Human Cancer This is one of the most difficult in curing, as it may affect any part of the body, and seriously damage the body tissues.
• Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects of a Psychoeducational Intervention While the conceptual framework is justified in analysis of the quality of life, there is the likelihood of influence of the context with quality of life adopting different meanings to patients in different areas and […]
• Cancer and Oxygenation: Oxygen as a Remedy for Cancer Cancer is simply the decrease of oxygen in body cells to levels low enough to allow for a change in the nature of the cells.
• Cancer: Gene Mutation’s Influence, Treatments As such, it could be safely argued that cancers are generally occasioned by the accumulation of mutations in our own genes, a process that leads the genes to decisively alter the behavior of cells, further […]
• The Effective Pain Assessment in Patients With Lung Cancer The facilitators to the proper handling of pain in a patient by both patients and the caretakers are enablers while those that hinder the proper management of pain are called barriers to proper pain management. […]
• Providers’ Role in Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening In order to ensure the quality assurance of mammography, the providers involved in the procedure need to be aware of the roles they ought to play.
• Framing Qualitative Research on Lung Cancer
• Oncology: Colorectal Cancer
• Prostate Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment
• Clinical Laboratory Science of Breast Cancer
• Induced and Spontaneous Abortion and Breast Cancer Incidence Among Young Women
• Quality of Life in Chronic Leukemia Patients
• Dyspnea in Cancer Patients
• Ovarian Cancer: Medical Review
• Lung Cancer Cells Migrating to Other Parts of the Body
• Prostate Cancer: The Ion Channels
• To Live Until You Die: Palliative Care in Cancer Experience
• Care Needs of Children Whose Parents Have Incurable Cancer
• New Screening Guidelines for Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer in Afro- and Euro-Americans
• Cancer Treatment and Life Quality in Adult Patients
• Breast Cancer Assessment in London
• Oral Cancer Reconstruction
• Skin Cancer Awareness Overview
• Angiostatic Approaches to Cancer Therapy
• Genetics of Prostate Cancer and Physical Features
• Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Investigation
• Creativity in People With Cancer
• Cancer: Alternative and Complementary Therapies
• Promotion of Cardiovascular Health and Cancer Prevention
• Cancer Longitudinal Exploration
• Breast Cancer: At-Risk Population, Barriers, and Improvement
• Effective Solutions to the Prevention of Cervical Cancer
• Breast Cancer: Moral and Medical Aspects
• Breast Cancer and AIDS: Significant Issues in the United States in the Late 20th Century
• Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Genetic and Nutritional Influences
• Breast Cancer Genetics & Chromosomal Analysis
• The Role Genetics Information Plays in Treating Cancer
• Breast Cancer: The Case of Anne H.
• Leukemia Types: Characteristics, Genetics, and Symptoms
• CRISPR and Cas-9 Technology as the Solution to Cancer
• Colon Cancer: Risk Factors
• World Health Organization Cancer Website Tool
• Long Distance Cancer Treatment Ethics
• A Community Capacity-Enhancement Approach to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
• The Role of Inflammation in Cancer
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Plan for Cancer Pain
• Psychosocial Factors & Immune Mechanisms in Cancer Regulation
• Fundraising Methods for the Canadian Cancer Society
• Nutrition and Cancer Rates
• Language and Stigmatization: Cancer, HIV, and AIDS
• Breast Cancer and the Effects of Diet
• J. Overcash on Older Adults With Cancer
• Postmenopause Hormone Therapy and Endometrial Cancer
• Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer
• When the Smoke Clears: The Story About the Lung Cancer
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• Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer: Genetic Testing
• Health Psychology: Going Through a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
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• The American Cancer Society’s Website Evaluation
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IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 353 Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/cancer-essay-topics/

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104 Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Cancer is a complex and devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Writing an essay on this topic allows for a deeper understanding of the various aspects of cancer, including its causes, prevention, treatment, and impact on individuals and society. Here are 104 cancer essay topic ideas and examples to guide and inspire your writing:

• The history of cancer research and treatment: From ancient times to modern advancements.
• The role of genetics in cancer development: Exploring inherited and acquired genetic mutations.
• Environmental factors and their association with cancer risk: Analyzing the impact of pollution, radiation, and lifestyle choices.
• The most common types of cancer: In-depth exploration of breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, and other prevalent cancers.
• Childhood cancer: Understanding the unique challenges and treatment options for pediatric patients.
• The emotional and psychological impact of cancer on patients and their families.
• The economics of cancer: Assessing the financial burden on patients and healthcare systems.
• The impact of cancer on caregiver mental health: Examining the emotional toll on those who support cancer patients.
• The role of exercise and nutrition in cancer prevention and recovery.
• The development and effectiveness of cancer vaccines: Discussing breakthroughs and future prospects.
• The influence of lifestyle choices on cancer risk: Tobacco, alcohol, diet, and exercise.
• The stigma surrounding cancer: Addressing societal attitudes and misconceptions.
• Alternative therapies for cancer treatment: Exploring complementary medicine and its potential benefits.
• The ethics of experimental cancer treatments: Balancing patient rights and scientific progress.
• Cancer prevention strategies in low-income countries: Identifying challenges and potential solutions.
• The impact of cancer on workplace productivity: Analyzing the economic consequences for employees and employers.
• Cancer survivors' quality of life: Examining the long-term physical and emotional effects.
• The role of support groups and counseling in cancer care: Assessing their benefits and limitations.
• Cancer and gender: Investigating the disparities in cancer incidence, treatment, and outcomes.
• The psychological impact of cancer on children and adolescents.
• The role of technology in early cancer detection: Discussing advancements in screening methods.
• The impact of cancer on sexual health and intimacy: Addressing the challenges and available support.
• The correlation between cancer and mental health disorders: Analyzing the reciprocal relationship.
• The impact of cancer on fertility and reproductive choices: Exploring the options available to patients.
• The intersection of cancer and chronic diseases: Investigating the complexities of dual diagnoses.
• The role of palliative care in cancer treatment: Discussing end-of-life care and patient comfort.
• The influence of social media on cancer awareness and fundraising campaigns.
• The role of governmental policies in cancer prevention and control.
• Cancer and the elderly population: Addressing unique challenges and treatment approaches.
• The impact of race and ethnicity on cancer disparities: Investigating socioeconomic and cultural factors.
• The effects of cancer on children's education and academic development.
• The role of artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Cancer prevention campaigns: Analyzing their effectiveness and potential limitations.
• The impact of cancer on sexual minorities: Investigating disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and support.
• The role of spirituality and faith in cancer patients' coping mechanisms.
• Cancer prevention in the workplace: Assessing occupational hazards and protective measures.
• The correlation between cancer and obesity: Exploring the link and potential interventions.
• The impact of cancer on siblings: Addressing the emotional and practical challenges.
• The role of precision medicine in personalized cancer treatment: Discussing targeted therapies.
• The influence of media portrayal on public perception of cancer and cancer patients.
• The impact of cancer on caregivers' professional lives: Analyzing the challenges and potential support systems.
• Cancer and the LGBTQ+ community: Investigating unique challenges and disparities in healthcare access.
• The role of music and art therapy in cancer care: Assessing their benefits and limitations.
• The correlation between cancer and socioeconomic status: Analyzing the disparities in diagnosis and outcomes.
• The impact of cancer on young adults: Discussing fertility preservation and long-term survivorship issues.
• Cancer and the rural population: Addressing barriers to access and treatment options.
• The role of emotional support animals in cancer care: Investigating their benefits and ethical considerations.
• The impact of cancer on intimate partner relationships: Addressing the challenges and available resources.
• The influence of mindfulness and meditation on cancer patients' well-being.
• The impact of cancer on military veterans: Analyzing the intersection of post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer.
• Cancer and the incarcerated population: Addressing the challenges and potential solutions.
• The role of patient advocacy in cancer care: Discussing the importance of empowering patients.
• Cancer prevention through public health initiatives: Assessing community-based interventions.
• The correlation between cancer and air pollution: Investigating the link and potential policy implications.
• The impact of cancer on body image and self-esteem: Addressing psychological and social consequences.
• Cancer and the transgender population: Exploring unique challenges and healthcare disparities.
• The role of social determinants of health in cancer outcomes: Analyzing the influence of socioeconomic factors.
• Cancer and the homeless population: Addressing the barriers to access and supportive care.
• The impact of cancer on the LGBTQ+ youth: Investigating mental health disparities and support systems.
• Cancer prevention in minority populations: Analyzing cultural factors and tailored interventions.
• The role of exercise in cancer rehabilitation: Discussing the benefits of physical activity during and after treatment.
• Cancer and the refugee population: Addressing the challenges and barriers to healthcare.
• The impact of cancer on veterans' mental health: Analyzing post-traumatic stress disorder and survivorship.
• The correlation between cancer and sleep disturbances: Investigating the link and potential interventions.
• Cancer and the disabled population: Addressing unique challenges and supportive care.
• The role of artificial intelligence in cancer prognosis: Discussing predictive models and decision support systems.
• Cancer prevention through HPV vaccination: Analyzing the impact on cervical and other related cancers.
• The impact of cancer on children's social development and peer relationships.
• Cancer and the prison population: Addressing the disparities in access and treatment.
• The role of telemedicine in cancer care: Discussing remote consultations and monitoring.
• Cancer prevention in the aging population: Analyzing challenges and tailored interventions.
• The correlation between cancer and smoking: Investigating the link and effective cessation strategies.
• Cancer and mental health: Exploring the reciprocal relationship and potential interventions.
• The impact of cancer on the LGBTQ+ elderly population: Addressing unique challenges and supportive care.
• Cancer prevention through lifestyle modifications: Analyzing the role of diet, exercise, and stress management.
• The role of genetic counseling in cancer risk assessment: Discussing the benefits and ethical considerations.
• Cancer and environmental justice: Analyzing disparities in exposure to carcinogens.
• The impact of cancer on adolescents' educational attainment and career prospects.
• Cancer and the indigenous population: Addressing cultural and access barriers to care.
• The role of social media influencers in cancer awareness campaigns: Assessing their impact and ethical considerations.
• Cancer prevention through workplace policies: Analyzing the importance of occupational safety measures.

These essay topic ideas offer a wide range of possibilities for exploring the complex and multifaceted nature of cancer. Depending on your interests and expertise, you can choose a topic that resonates with you and delve into it with extensive research, analysis, and critical thinking. Remember to approach the topic with sensitivity and empathy, as cancer affects millions of lives and demands a compassionate approach to understanding and addressing its challenges.

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The Complete IB Extended Essay Guide: Examples, Topics, and Ideas

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

• A title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

• A check on plagiarism and malpractice
• Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
• Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!  

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

• Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
• Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
• English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
• Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
• Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
• Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

• January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
• February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
• April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
• Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
• August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
• September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
• November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
• Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
• Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

• Business Management 1
• Chemistry 1
• Chemistry 2
• Chemistry 3
• Chemistry 4
• Chemistry 5
• Chemistry 6
• Chemistry 7
• Computer Science 1
• Economics 1
• Design Technology 1
• Design Technology 2
• Environmental Systems and Societies 1
• Geography 1
• Geography 2
• Geography 3
• Geography 4
• Geography 5
• Geography 6
• Literature and Performance 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mathematics 3
• Mathematics 4
• Mathematics 5
• Philosophy 1
• Philosophy 2
• Philosophy 3
• Philosophy 4
• Philosophy 5
• Psychology 1
• Psychology 2
• Psychology 3
• Psychology 4
• Psychology 5
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
• Visual Arts 1
• Visual Arts 2
• Visual Arts 3
• Visual Arts 4
• Visual Arts 5
• World Religion 1
• World Religion 2
• World Religion 3

What's Next?

Trying to figure out what extracurriculars you should do? Learn more about participating in the Science Olympiad , starting a club , doing volunteer work , and joining Student Government .

Studying for the SAT? Check out our expert study guide to the SAT . Taking the SAT in a month or so? Learn how to cram effectively for this important test .

Not sure where you want to go to college? Read our guide to finding your target school . Also, determine your target SAT score or target ACT score .

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What Is EE RPPF and How to Write It?

Hey there, fellow IB students! As someone who has written many IB essays and gained valuable experience, I’m thrilled to offer some tips for mastering the Extended Essay Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (EE RPPF). From my perspective, grasping the EE RPPF involves capturing the true essence of your research.

What Exactly Is the EE RPPF?

It’s a document that carefully keeps track of your ideas, plans, and research progress as you work on your Extended Essay. This form is not just some tedious administrative task. It plays a super important role in the IB evaluation process. Based on the general IB criteria, it’s all about showing off how engaged and reflective you are during the research process in one of the six EE groups .

The EE RPPF, or the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form, is a crucial part of your essay. It gives valuable insights to your examiners about your growth as a thinker and researcher throughout the writing process. Now’s your chance to share the story of your research — the obstacles you faced, the adjustments you made, and the valuable lessons you gained.

Based on my extensive experience guiding IB students, I can confidently say that a thorough and well-documented RPPF may have a considerable impact on the final assessment of your Extended Essay. It enables examiners to gain insight in addition to the written essay and grasp the extent of your involvement with your topic. The form asks you to think about three important parts of your essay process: the beginning when you plan, the middle when you do research, and the end when you reflect on what you’ve done.

Throughout these stages, you must offer well-considered perspectives that showcase your individual progress and academic maturation. It’s about your actions, approach to the task, ability to handle unexpected obstacles, and development as a critical thinker . By effectively expressing these ideas, you improve your RPPF and gain a deeper understanding of the research process.

Is the Extended Essay RPPF Graded?

Yes, the RPPF is actually quite important in determining your final grade for the Extended Essay. It accounts for 19% of your overall EE score. This significant percentage demonstrates that it is crucial to consider and evaluate your research process carefully. These are the main areas in the RPPF that affect your grade:

• Insight into Challenges . Your ability to effectively communicate the obstacles encountered during your research.
• Analytical Reflection . Your capacity to carefully examine and contemplate your learning and decision-making processes.
• Development and Growth . Showing how you’ve evolved personally and intellectually during your research.

These elements give the examiners a glimpse into your investigation, showing off your critical thinking and reflection skills, especially in hard EE subjects . Completing the RPPF is crucial for improving the narrative of your Extended Essay and boosting your final grade. It demonstrates the depth of your research and analytical skills.

What Are the Main elements of EE RPPF?

Let’s discuss the critical elements of this process — planning, progress documentation, and reflection insights. With my wealth of experience, I will guide you through each step to help you confront them effectively.

Planning Your EE

When you’re starting to plan your Extended Essay, having a clear understanding is crucial. Clearly define your research question and outline your approach to establish a strong foundation for your project. Establishing clear expectations helps you stay focused on your research and prevents potential obstacles.

Furthermore, you must specify the resources you plan on using, including primary sources, databases, and texts. This step is super important because it helps you prepare to gather and analyze data in a structured way. It ensures that your resources match your research goals and you do not fail your Extended Essay .

Progress Documentation

As you continue your research, document each step of your progress thoroughly. This aspect of the RPPF is more than just listing the activities you did. On the contrary, it demands a more thorough involvement in your process, where you articulate the reasons behind specific changes and the lessons you gained from each stage.

In my opinion, successful progress documentation requires a thoughtful approach to evaluating the results of your actions and how they have influenced your research. It’s all about making connections between your theoretical framework, methodological changes, and the new insights that come from these adjustments.

Reflection Insights

In my opinion, the reflection section of the RPPF is where you showcase your intellectual and personal growth. Here, you can reflect on the obstacles you faced and the insights you gained during writing and research. Thinking about your choices and how they affect things shows you’re good at thinking critically and can handle different situations.

This section should capture your experience, giving you a glimpse into how your understanding of the topic grew and how you overcame the challenges of the research process . By immersing yourself in this section of the RPPF, you can elevate it from a mundane procedural document to a captivating story that showcases your growth as a student and a critical thinker.

What Is the Word Count for Extended Essay RPPF?

As per the official guidelines of the International Baccalaureate (IB), the RPPF must not exceed 500 words. The purpose of this concise limit is to encourage you to reflect briefly and thoughtfully on important moments in your research.

When tackling the RPPF, make the most of these 500 words. Remember the critical reflections showcasing your intellectual and personal development during the Extended Essay process. Think of this form as a chance to express the ups and downs of your research, the adjustments you made to your original plan, and, most importantly, the milestones you achieved as a student and researcher.

I also recommend you read your article about Extended Essay word count .

From what I’ve seen, the most effective RPPFs are straightforward, thoughtful, and directly connected to specific moments in the research process. They summarize the project and provide insights into how the students made decisions, encountered obstacles, and used strategies to overcome them.

How to Write Extended Essay RPPF?

As someone well-versed in the IB program, I’m here to help you get around the process of completing your Extended Essay RPPF. This form is super important in showing your writing process and is a massive part of your EE assessment . Now, let’s break down each step so you can express your thoughts and experiences.

First Formal Reflection Session (170 words)

In the beginning, clearly define your research question and decide on your research strategy. This reflection should capture your initial excitement and any doubts you may have about the direction of your research. It’s important to discuss your methodology and the resources you plan to use.

I think the most effective way to handle this situation is to be straightforward and provide all the necessary information. Tell me about what you’re hoping to achieve with your research and if there’s anything you’re worried about regarding finding the right resources or narrowing down your topic. This reflection establishes the vibe for your study and gives a starting point for later reflections.

Document Your Interim Reflection (150 words)

Now that you’ve reached a critical point in your research, it’s time to take a moment to reflect on your progress so far. Here is where you can think about how your research question has changed over time and any tweaks you’ve made to your approach when writing your Extended Essay .

In this part, write about any specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Did you come across any surprising findings? How did your approach change? This part is also fantastic for contemplating your personal and intellectual development.

Complete Final Reflection – Viva Voce (150 words)

The final reflection, usually done as a viva voce after finishing your EE, is your chance to discuss the culmination of your research efforts. This reflection should bring together your EE writing and showcase important insights and learnings.

Talk about the results of your research concerning what you initially anticipated. What did you pick up? What impact did the research process have on your perspectives? Now is the time for you to reflect on how much you’ve grown as a researcher and a thinker, giving a complete summary of your path.

Supervisor’s Role and Your Reflections

During these sessions, your supervisor will offer guidance and feedback. It’s crucial to include their perspectives in your reflections to show how their guidance influenced your research approach and intellectual growth.

Jot down your thoughts right after each session while everything is still fresh in your mind. Make sure your comments are short, thoughtful, and in line with the RPPF criteria.

A friendly reminder: ensure your reflections don’t exceed 500 words. Keep it clear and concise!

Don’t let the stress of the IB curriculum hold you back.

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Wrapping Up Your EE RPPF

By now, you should better grasp the extended essay RPPF and how to write it effectively. With these tips and strategies, you can create a reflective RPPF that meets the IB criteria and strengthens your overall research experience. So go ahead and give it a shot! Best of luck, and enjoy your research!

Just wanted to let you know that IB writers at IBWritingService.com are experts at creating custom Extended Essays tailored to your needs. They’ll help you get those excellent grades you’re aiming for. Pretty cool, right?

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272 Cancer Research Topics for Undergraduates and High School Students

Are you looking for the best oncology research topics? You’re at the right place! StudyCorgi has prepared a list of cancer research topics for undergraduates and high school students! Read on to find a good title for your projects or term papers on prostate, breast, and other cancer types.

🏆 Best Research Topics on Cancer

✍️ cancer essay topics for college, 👍 good cancer research topics & essay examples, 📝 current cancer titles for essays, 🎓 interesting cancer topics to write about, 💡 simple cancer research paper topics, 📌 easy cancer essay topics, ❓ questions about cancer research, 🗣️ cancer topics for presentation, 🏥 cancer project ideas.

• The Cobalt-60 Machine in the Fight Against Cancer
• Breast Cancer: Literature Review
• Low-Income Men With Prostate Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment
• Lung Cancer Pathophysiology
• Post-operative Breast Cancer Patients With Depression: Annotated Bibliography
• Cervical Cancer: Case Study
• Disease Research: Breast Cancer Breast cancer is a multifactorial, complex illness that demands proper clinical understanding and a multidisciplinary way to determine diagnosis and treatment.
• Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening: USPSTF Guidelines This paper aims to give a proper recommendation for breast cancer screening under USPSTF guidelines while considering the differences in patients’ epidemiology.
• Stomach Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Stomach cancer is a malignant neoplasm that develops in the organ’s gastric mucosa cells and first affecting the epithelium and then growing into the stomach tissue.
• Breast Cancer: The Story of One Patient It is fascinating to trace the gradual transformation of a person throughout a history of the illness. The story of one patient who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Skin Cancer Prevention in Australia Skin cancer, or melanoma, is the abnormal behavior of skin cells that is mainly caused by prolonged exposure of unprotected skin to ultraviolet rays.
• Behavioral Theory: Education Program for Oral Cancer This article uses the social learning theory and the theory of planned behavior to demonstrate the tenets of an effective health education program for the prevention of oral cancer.
• Health Promotion to Reduce Lung Cancer: Grant Proposal Template The project aims to reduce the rate of lung cancer infection and deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia.
• The New Cancer Cure Cancer is caused by cells that grow out of control in the human body thereby forming body masses known as tumors.
• The Colon Cancer: Main Aspects The essay looked into historical aspects of colon cancer, its prevalence, prevention and treatment of colon cancer, and further scientific research in colon cancer.
• Cancer: Symptoms and Consequences The research of the symptoms of cancer and its consequences to evaluate the seriousness of the problem in the USA but and the whole world.
• Physical and Mental Care for Cancer Patients The approach to the care of cancer should include physical and psychological treatment, appropriate diagnosis procedures, education for patients and their families.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening and Its Importance Colorectal cancer screening is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force as an effective way to reduce disease-related morbidity and mortality.
• Cancer: Disease Specifics and RNA-Based Detection The paper presents the analysis of cancer as one of the most common causes of death. It shows that there are many types of this disease.
• The Science Behind Obesity and Its Impact on Cancer The paper addresses the connection between cancer and physical activity, diet, and obesity in Latin America and the USA. The transitions in dietary practices may be observed.
• Cancer Treatment and Role of Nurses The primary purpose of this paper is to draw attention to current issues related to the treatment of cancer and the role of nurses.
• Breast Cancer: Research Review Paper Plenty of scholars’ investigations help doctors, nurses, and patients to take precautionary and care measures to improve their physical and psychological condition.
• Esophageal Cancer and Its Treatment The paper researches the causes of esophageal cancer, its various symptoms, diagnostic, treatment and possible ends.
• Breast Cancer: Analysis and Data Collection The study to determine the quality of health was a qualitative research study because it showed a significant improved in the quality of life for the breast cancer victims.
• Type C Personality as a Risk Factor for Cancer The paper is on the scientific relationship between personality C and the aspects of gene and hormonal activity that leads to the build-up of cancer cells.
• Cultural Sensitivity in Medicine and Cancer Treatment Any medical practitioner should understand the cultural aspects of a community for him to be able to come up with a lasting solution for cancer treatment.
• Skin Cancer, Its Causes and Preventive Measures Skin cancer is one of the most common of all cancers, therefore, society needs to know the risks involved and must be better educated when it comes to preventative measures.
• “Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” the Article by Hanson, H., Schroeter, K., Hanson, A., Asmus, K., & Grossman, A. The present article reports on one of many research studies that aim to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding complementary therapy for patients with cancer.
• Reactive Oxygen Species and Cancer Cells Relationship The study research problem focuses on the relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by oxidative stress and cancer cells
• Breast Cancer and Effective Medical Treatment The aim of this paper is to characterize breast cancer and to describe the modern methods of its treatment and prevention.
• Cancer Management: Effective Diagnosis, Treatment, Lessening the Effects of Complications Cancer refers to any dangerous and abnormal mass of tissue caused by hysterical dissection of cells in the body. Effective management of cancer entails timely and effective diagnosis.
• Lung Cancer and Colorectal Cancer The rate of lung cancer is indeed lower in China when compared to Canada. Colorectal cancer is on the top list of cancerous diseases that kill people.
• Epigenetic Drugs for Cancer Treatment Cancer is a disease that requires special attention since it is not curable in all cases. However, scientists are developing new epigenetic drugs, which include HDAC inhibitors.
• A Critical Examination of WHO Screening and Treatment Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Cervical cancer is a devastating illness that affects women all over the world and continues to represent a serious threat to their health.
• Conference: Breast Cancer Survival In the medical sphere, cancer studies are one of the most essential and necessary specialties. For millions of cancer patients worldwide, life is a continued fight for survival.
• Colorectal Cancer and Other Cancer Signs and Diagnoses The reasons for increased colorectal cancer rates and decreased cervical cancer rates in Western society may be related to preferred lifestyles.
• Researching of Cervical Cancer In its initial stages, the cancer process is asymptomatic and is only detected during an extensive gynecological examination.
• Cancer Treatment Process Perceived by Women With Ovarian Cancer The current paper explores how the process of treating ovarian cancer affects the well-being and physical and emotional state of women.
• Smoking and Gender Factors of Lung Cancer The rising prevalence of lung cancer in young females compared to young males is widespread and not entirely explained by gender variations in smoking habits.
• The Importance of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention In the last few decades, the role that diet and nutrition play in the development, progress, and management of cancer has become an important area of study.
• Breast Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Recent efforts from medical professionals and interest groups like Breast Cancer Awareness Month facilitate open discussion around breast cancer.
• Bilateral Mastectomy for Breast Cancer Prevention One of the options for preventing the development of breast cancer is a bilateral mastectomy. But it may not be a good preventive choice for genetic markers of breast cancer.
• Drug Repurposing in Cancer Treatment This article examines the concept of drug repurposing in the context of pharmaceutical companies’ innovation policy: the methods and economic feasibility of repurposing drugs.
• Breast Cancer: Diagnostic and Treatment Breast cancer is one of the most common oncology disorders among females. It has a complicated chain of immune reactions and various structures identified histologically.
• Thyroid Cancer as a Public Health Issue Due to the explosion and fire at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a huge quantity of radioactive iodine and cesium penetrated the air.
• EBP Guideline for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical guidelines are the recognized standard and most synoptic evidence-based practice policies.
• The Ethics of Control Groups in Cancer Research A study is proposed to determine whether women with breast cancer who underwent a mastectomy have a higher rate of survival.
• Health-Related Misconceptions Regarding Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer There is a myth about the use of antiperspirants, especially aluminum-containing ones, as a risk factor for breast cancer.
• Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention Physical activity (PA) has to be efficient in preventing cancer, evading cancer repetition, and increasing good results.
• Social Determinants of Health and Cancer A larger population of the black community suffering from cancer loses their lives while receiving treatment at the hospital due to failed cancer care.
• Esophageal Cancer: Description, Population Affected, and Prognosis In esophageal cancer, malignant cells develop in the esophagus tissues, leading to tumor formation; it accounts for 1% of all malignancies diagnosed in the USA each year.
• Diet, Physical Activity, Obesity, and Related Cancer Risk One’s health is affected by their lifestyle, which should be well managed since childhood to set a basis for a healthier adulthood.
• The Cancer Trial: Useful Medical Tool A cancer trial is a tool that helps medical professionals examine and trace the illness to develop its background and establish treatment methods.
• Macmillan Cancer Support Organization’s Data-Driven Decision-Making Macmillan Cancer Support Organization’s stakeholders must examine the cancer care workforce and predict how the future ratio might look for strategic management.
• Cancer Screening Promotion for Middle-Aged Adults Public health policy among middle-aged adults that promotes cancer literacy and the importance of frequent screenings is likely to yield positive results.
• Naturalistic Observation of Couples Coping With Breast Cancer Couples who are suffering with cancer and their spouses’ psychological well-being were explored in study, which focused on the natural setting and substance of dialogues.
• Passive Smoking and Pancreatic Cancer in Women The association between ETS and pancreatic cancer is weak. The pancreatic cancer risk associated is confounded by environmental tobacco smoke exposures.
• Breast Cancer: Preventive Measures and Support Methods One of the most common types of cancer that women encounter worldwide is breast cancer. This disease was the cause of approximately 570,000 deaths in 2015.
• Health & Medicine: Breast Cancer in XIX Century The disease of breast cancer was a disease of women, which began to be actively noticed from the beginning of the nineteenth century.
• Breast Cancer: Threat to the Patients Cancer is developed from mutations, namely from atypical changes in genes that regulate cell growth and keep them healthy.
• Environmentally and Lifestyle Linked Cancer The paper argues it is critical to clearly understand the causes of cancer to avoid public misinformation that’s why the paper presents etiology and diagnosis of cancer.
• Case Brief on Colon Cancer and Colostomy The paper presents a medical case brief on a 54-year-old patient suffering from colon cancer who had undergone a surgery known as colostomy.
• Cancer Insurance Evaluation An evaluation of what cancer insurance is, what it covers, how it works, the best providers, and how it differs from health insurance can facilitate a better sense of the policy.
• How to Lower your Cancer Risk. Nutrition Action Health Letter Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells. If a person is genetically predisposed to the disease, it can be difficult to avoid getting it.
• Cancer Patients: The Effectiveness of Pain Diary The pain diary assists the cancer patients in pain management by helping them to identify the nature of pain and where it is localized.
• Herceptin and Breast Cancer Treatment Cancer growth is a series of processes that are driven by alterations of genes that bring about the progressive conversion of usual body cells into extremely malignant imitation.
• The Diagnosis and Staging of Cancer The essay describes the diagnosis of cancer. It also highlights three complications associated with cancer. The discussion offers a detailed approach towards better care of cancer.
• American Cancer Society: The Aspects of Melanoma The current paper discusses the aspects of melanoma. It is a type of skin cancer caused by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes.
• HIV-AIDS, Nutrition and Cancer in Society Patients suffering from HIV/AIDS need to have a perfect schedule for their nutrition. It is important that they watch their diet to boost their immunity.
• Cancer Early Detection, Prevention, and Survivorship in Arab Countries This paper aims to analyze perception, attitudes, and practice towards cancer early detection, prevention, and survivorship in Arab countries and Oman.
• BRCA Gene Mutation and Breast Cancer This study aims to determine how BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations contribute to breast cancer, to analyze the role of BRCA1 and BRCA 2 in the restoration of the damaged DNA.
• Postoperative Breast Cancer Care The chosen for the paper articles support the implementation of risk reduction strategies for depression in post-operative breast cancer patients.
• Public Health Initiative on Prostrate Cancer Among Maryland’s Blacks The primary goal of the public health initiative is to improve the quality of life for all people in the US and reduce the racial prostate cancer disparities.
• Researching of Testicular Cancer Men with undescended testicles are at increased risk of developing testicular cancer. If the undescended testicle is not in the groin but in the abdomen, the risk is even higher
• Lung and Bronchus Cancer in Smoking Americans Among the causes of lung and bronchus cancer, smoking is the first to be distinguished, which is the reason for the vast majority of incidence cases.
• Breast Cancer and Exercise. Article Summary The research study focused on breast cancer survivors in the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute (RMCRI) who had already been treated.
• Addressing Cancer: The Nursing Process Nurses must use as much information and resources as possible to offer the highest-quality patient-oriented care.
• Dental Caries Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer Some professionals considered caries to be one of the long-term health consequences experienced after cancer while others do not support such an idea.
• The Risk Factors of Breast Cancer This paper will throw light upon what breast cancer is all about, the risk factors, the distribution, and determinants of the same.
• A Collaborative Stress Management Initiative for Mothers of Cancer Children The article explored the psychological stress experienced by mothers who have cancerous children. The research is current and relevant to contemporary health issues.
• Multicausality: Reserpine, Breast Cancer, and Obesity All the factors are not significant in the context of the liability to breast cancer development, though their minor influence is undeniable.
• Reducing Cancer Risk With Diet and Lifestyle Change This paper explores the reasons why a strict diet together with changes in lifestyle could significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
• Understanding Epigenetic Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Human cells become cancerous when they undergo genetic modifications that make them acquire growth and multiplication advantages.
• Prostate Cancer Among the Blacks in the State of Maryland Empirical evidence reveals that race or ethnicity is the leading risk factor in the predisposition of men to prostate cancer.
• Breast Cancer: Etiology, Signs and Symptoms Breast cancer is believed to have claimed many human lives in the last four decades, but its prevalence rate has decreased significantly due to improved disease awareness.
• The Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Young Women The researcher has clearly outlined the essence of the referenced study as aimed at reviewing the epidemiology of breast cancer in young women.
• Factors of Older Adults’ Decision on Cancer Treatment Puts et al. conducted a qualitative study in order to establish the factors that affect the elderly in making a decision to accept or reject cancer treatment.
• Optimal Care For Patients With All Forms of Cancer The nursing profession can benefit from several findings in this study. Optimal care for patients with all forms of cancer can indeed improve the quality of life.
• Breast Cancer: Pathophysiology, Types and Treatment Breast cancer is a common malignant neoplastic disease in women and mostly develops in the stage of women postmenopausal.
• “Identifying Dietary Patterns Compatible With the Reduction of Cancer Risk” Article Review The review analyzes the purpose of the study aimed at assessing the viability of building healthy eating guidelines in four international settings.
• Processed Meat Consumption Causes Pancreatic Cancer In the United States, more than 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually, whereas in Europe over 60,000 people suffer from pancreatic cancer yearly.
• Cancer Biology: Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes This paper seeks to interpret the role oncogenes and tumor suppressors play in transformation during cancer formation.
• Addressing Risk Factors for Lung Cancer Lung cancer cannot be pinpointed to a particular cause. The first prevention measure is ceasing smoking as cigarettes carry chemicals poisonous to the lungs.
• Wellness Programs for Colorectal Cancer In this plan, the researcher intends to give a clear intervention plan that can help address the problem of colorectal cancer that has affected so many elderly people in our society.
• Skin Cancer Types, Cells of Origin Melanoma is the severest form of skin cancer that grows quickly, and it can appear as a spot of a red, brown, black, or grey color with asymmetric sides.
• Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in UK As of 2011, the incidences of breast cancer have been increasing continuously over forty years. Also, there was a general reduction in the rate of mortality caused by breast cancer.
• Genetic Alterations and Cancer The paper will discuss cancer symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, side-effects of treatment, and also its link with a genetic alteration.
• Approach to Cancer Care: Diagnosing and Treatment This paper will discuss the process of diagnosing and staging cancer, the complications that are common among patients, and the various treatment remedies available.
• Prostate Cancer Among Blacks in Maryland: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis In the context of the black community in Maryland, the cost-effectiveness analysis portrays the ability of the chosen intervention to minimize the consequences of prostate cancer.
• The Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Genes Cancer, in general, is a disease caused by genes that have mutated or adapted in a different way than was intended.
• Does Marijuana Use and Misuse Cause Cancer? The purpose of this paper is to review two studies that have attempted to define the possible link between marijuana use/misuse and lung cancer.
• Colorectal Cancer Intervention Model The unique skills needed are for successful colorectal cancer intervention includes knowledge of the behavioral challenges, interventions strategies, and health policies.
• How Cancer Affects the Skin? Melanoma represents a type of cancer that affects the melanocytes based in the epidermis section of the skin, and it presents itself as patches of lesions on the skin.
• Functional Characterization of MicroRNAs in Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is the name given to cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a part of the man’s reproductive system and is as big as a walnut.
• Pathology the Respiratory System: Lung Cancer Lung cancer is among the leading causes of death through respiratory illnesses and it has posed a major challenge to the global healthcare system.
• A Perfusion Based 3D Cancer Model for Micro Tumor Formation In vitro perfused 3D cancer model, developed in this thesis, proved valuable for cancer cell culture and related anti-cancer drug tests.
• Deathography of Cancer From an early age, children get to learn about relatives and friends who have passed away and who passed away during their lifetime.
• Breast Cancer Development and Progression: Understanding Epigenetic Mechanisms The development and progression of breast cancer have been attributed to a series of cellular and molecular events, most of which are not well understood.
• Cervical Cancer: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice This essay seeks to discuss the annual cervical cancer screening practice to identify the EBP that can be used to replace it.
• Impact of Alcohol Abuse on Breast Cancer Risk in Women This paper will examine the effects of alcohol abuse on the development of breast cancer in women to uncover its devastating consequences.
• Cancer Pain Experiences in Caucasians vs. Minorities Race, age, genetics, cancer type, culture, and psychosocial context have all been shown to impact the manner in which cancer patients experience pain during their illness.
• Cancer Treatment Practice Data Research Evidence-based practice in the nursing profession is fundamental towards effective delivery of care services to patients.
• Effects of Nutrition on Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Control The high prevalence rate of cancer and heart disease has necessitated the need to underline not only the use of drugs but also the role of nutrition in eradicating cancer.
• Virtual Colonoscopy to Screen for Colon Cancer The aim of this paper is to estimate the technology of virtual colonoscopy from the perspective of several factors, for filling the mentioned gap with the proper amount of arguments.
• African American Women and Cancer The existing disparities regarding healthcare services provision in the United States is a critical issue related to such phenomena as racial and gender discrimination.
• Americcan College of Radiology Protocol and Cancer Therapy Response to Antiangiogenetic Drug Chemotherapy and antiangiogenic drug use are essential in the process of treatment the organs affected with caner cells because the drugs are aimed at reducing the effect of cancer.
• Lung Cancer: Causes and Treatment In the current paper, the crucial peculiarities of lung cancer, as well as the reasons that cause it, will be discussed.
• Approach to Care. Human Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases caused by the uncontrolled division of cells. There is a great variety of cancers, and they are ranked by the type of sell, which the tumor imitates.
• Grant Proposal: Cancel Cancer To ensure that patients diagnosed with cancer can effectively reduce their stress and anxiety levels, a grant is needed to use the program of emotional relief.
• Socioeconomic Factors of Oral Cancer The significant probability of oral cancer being incident in unemployed people was high since the OR (odds ratio) is 2.27.
• Summaries of Three Articles About Lung Cancer One of the most straightforward and efficient ways to understand the pathogenesis of lung cancer is researching the molecular mechanisms that slowly initiate it.
• Cervical Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment Cervical cancer is a condition that affects the cells close to the vagina that can be located in the lower section of the uterus, which is called the cervix.
• Prophylaxis Breast Cancer This paper examines the majority of the parts in detail and considers every risk linked to the development of this dangerous disease.
• Expanded Treatment Options in the Adjuvant Therapy of Colon Cancer Nurses can make a difference in improving survival rates for stage III and IV patients by remaining up to date about treatment options offered by new adjuvant agents.
• Pancreatic Cancer: Diagnostics and Treatment The article analyses the most recent techniques in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer malignancy with a very poor prognosis.
• Nutrition Research With Reference to Colorectal Cancer The present paper is concerned with evaluating the validity and reliability of nutrition research with reference to colorectal cancer.
• Nutritional “Cures” for Clients With Cancer or HIV-AIDS The paper analysis nutrition, which can play a pivotal role in providing some relief to patients especially those with HIV/AIDS.
• Human Patient Simulation for Skin Cancer Prevention Kuhrik et al. conclude that human patient simulation (HPS) can benefit future healthcare providers and promote early prevention and detection.
• The Disease of Breast Cancer: Definition and Treatment Breast cancer is a serious disease during which the breast cells experience abnormal growth. Females usually have a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Cancer and Humor in Children: Approach to Research The paper has discussed the factors that a researcher must consider when planning to investigate the relationship between the sense of humor and hospitalized childhood cancer stressors.
• Synthetic Lethality Approach as Used in Cancer Treatment The essay aims to demonstrate that Synthetic Lethality (SL) is an effective therapy that triggers two mutations in cancer cells that lead to cell death in the result.
• Virtual Colonoscopy – Colon Cancer Screening Virtual Colonoscopy is constantly becoming more and more popular, in comparison with the traditional approach and conventional colonoscopy in particular.
• Genetic Mechanism of Colorectal Cancer Colorectal Cancer (CRC) occurrence is connected to environmental factors, hereditary factors, and individual ones.
• Care of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphoedema The lymphoedema’s clinical manifestations include swelling of the upper or lower extremities, violation of skin nutrition, and subcutaneous fat tissue.
• Lung Cancer among Indigenous Australians A great number of severe diseases are widespread among the Indigenous Australian community. Cancer, especially lung cancer, is one of the most frequent cases.
• Spread of Respiratory Cancer and Ethnicity of the Patient Based on the descriptive statistics, it is possible to study how the spread of respiratory cancer and the ethnicity of the patient are related.
• The Use of Nanotechnology: Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment This article provides an overview of research and presentations on the use of nanotechnology for cancer treatment.
• Cancer: Definition, Epidemiology, and Pain Management Cancer is estimated to reveal itself in as many as 100 types. Statistically, in 2008 the mortality rate from cancer was at the level of 62%.
• A Family Experience of a Child Being Diagnosed With Cancer Family members of a child being diagnosed with cancer have to go through a long and complicated road that regrettably, not always leads to success.
• Women’s Disease: Breast Cancer and Its Consequence Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide amounting to 25-30% of all cancer cases detected yearly among women.
• Listing Occupational Carcinogens and Cancer Prevention Occupational carcinogens make up bulk of the known human carcinogens. In the quest to define occupational carcinogens the number of staff exposed is of paramount importance.
• Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lung Cancer The evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) target early detection of lung cancer in patients based on screening tools and techniques suggested by the recent literature.
• Cancer Prevalence and Health Care More than 5 million people living today in the US are living with cancer. Sixty three percent of 65 years and above have had cancer.
• Cancer Problem for Today’s Women The critique imposed in the study encompasses the fullness of the knowledge base in medical innovative therapies and pre-caution procedures for women living with cancer.
• Racism in Breast Cancer Treatment Cancer treatment is the least studied field that arises numerous ambiguities and requires a more sophisticated approach in studying.
• Cancer Interference With Dna Replication Reports indicate that a greater percentage of human cancers originate from chemical substances as well as environmental substances.
• Understanding the Skin Cancer Causes and Protecting the Skin Exposure to too much sun can lead to skin cancer. If we do not change our habits majority of us will one time get skin cancer during our lifetime and many people will die from it.
• Cancer and Contemporary Therapeutic Approaches Cancer is a hazardous disease due to its potential lethality. This essay describes the basic traits of cancer and contemporary therapeutic approaches to the condition.
• Breast Cancer: Discussion of the Problems and Way of Treatment An analytical and evaluative case that is intended to recover fully the problem of breast cancer and explain the ways of its treatment in the context of nursing.
• Colon Cancer: Possible Treatment Analysis Colon cancer also referred to as colorectal cancer, is characterized by a high incidence in the USA, especially among men above 50.
• Ethical Dilemma: Handling a Request for No Further Cancer Treatment
• Lung Cancer Early Screening in African Americans
• “Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” the Article by Hanson et al.
• “Preferences for Photographic Art Among Hospitalized Patients With Cancer” the Article by Grossman, A., Schroeter, K., Hanson, A. and Hanson, H.
• Computed Tomography and Related Cancer Risks
• Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
• Miami Breast Cancer Conference: Scholarly Activity
• Databases in Early Lung Cancer Screening
• Evaluating Intrinsic and Non-Intrinsic Cancer Risk Factors
• Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Screening in Low-Income African Americans in Tennessee
• The Approach to the Care of Cancer
• American Cancer Society: Risk Factors, Effective Care and Enhancing Nursing Knowledge
• Cancer: Approach to Care
• American Cancer Society Guidelines Implementation
• “A Culturally Tailored Internet Cancer Support Group for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors”: Article Analysis
• Lung & Bronchus Cancer Rates in the United States
• Cancer Pain Management and Education Programs
• Depression in Female Cancer Patients and Survivors
• Cervical Cancer Intervention in Clinical Practice
• Skin Cancer in Latin American Population
• Breast Cancer and Stress Heightening
• Colorectal Cancer: Factors and Prevention
• Prevention of Breast Cancer
• Pain Management Issues in Cancer Patients
• Anthem Blue Cross: Breast Cancer Screenings
• Cancer Care, Diagnostics and Complications
• Women’s Healthcare: Breast Cancer Prevention & Treatment
• Cancer Patients and Survivors Support Group
• Colon Cancer Among Male Hispanic Population
• Vomiting and Nausea in Patients with Gastric Cancer
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer
• Cervical Cancer: Pathophysiological Processes
• Breast Cancer Inheritance Biophysical Factors
• Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment
• Gastric Cancer Treatment: Research Instrument
• Cancer Stages, Treatment and Side Effects
• Anxiety and Depression Among Females with Cancer
• Breast Cancer Screening Promotion
• Cancer Risk Factors: Biology Concepts
• Bladder Cancer, Its Mortality Trends and Projection
• Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy and Cancer Treatment
• Mammary Cancer: Health Screening Initiative
• Mammography Screening and Breast Cancer Mortality
• Skin Cancer: Examination and Prevention
• Cervical Cancer in the UK
• Cancer Effects Management Methods
• Cancer Burden and Prevention Strategies
• Approach to the Care of Cancer
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Cancer Patients
• Cervical Cancer Prevention Among British Women
• Breast Cancer Studies: Evaluation and Analysis of Scientific Papers
• Value Care of Cancer
• Community Cancer Screening and Detection Project
• Cancer Care Approaches: Diagnosis, Side Effects, and Treatment
• Music Therapy Effects for Breast Cancer Patients
• Gastric Cancer Treatment: Data Collection
• Cancer: Steps of the Implementation Plan
• Cervical Cancer Screening Methodology
• Endometrial Cancer Symptoms in Women After 35
• Birth Control Pills and Cervical Cancer Development
• Lung Cancer, Its Etiology Pathophysiology
• Who Work with Cancer Patients?
• Cancer Diagnostics, Staging and Complications
• Breast Cancer: Disease Screening and Diagnosis
• Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy in Cancer Patients
• Prostate Cancer: African American Cancer Initiative
• Cancer Treatment Research: Informed Consent
• Possible Trends in the Cause of Cancer
• Cancer Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment
• Inner Strength in Women Survivors of Cancer
• Approaches to Cancer Care
• From Breast Cancer to Zika Virus – Nursing Issues
• Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer
• Tanning Booths and Skin Cancer Relationship – Medicine
• Massage Therapy vs. Simple Touch to Improve Pain and Mood in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Trial
• A Research of Breast Cancer Survival
• Can Aspirin Help Reduce the Risk of Lung Cancer?
• What Are the Challenges for Relative Effectiveness Assessment and Early Access of Cancer Immunotherapies in Europe?
• Does Cellular Phone Use Contribute to Cancer Formation?
• Has Medical Innovation Reduced Cancer Mortality?
• Can Diet and Exercise Help Prevent Cancer?
• Does Detecting Breast Cancer with MRIs Increase the Rate of Mastectomies?
• How Are Cancer Cells Structurally Different From Normal?
• Can Elderly Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Gain Survival Advantages Through More Radical Surgeries?
• How Does Cancer Affect Individuals From All Backgrounds?
• Can Immunogenic Chemotherapies Relieve Cancer Cell Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?
• Does Diet Really Help Prevent Colon Cancer?
• Why Do African American Women Contract Breast or Cervical Cancer More Than Any Other Ethnic Group?
• How Does Cancer Form and Spread in the Human Body?
• Can Korean Red Ginseng Increase the Life Span of Cancer Patients?
• Does Natural Killer Cell Deficiency Increase the Risk of Cancer?
• Why Do Women Generally Get Breast Cancer Rather Than Other Cancers?
• Should the Cervical Cancer Vaccine for Girls Be Compulsory?
• Can Religion Help the Healing Process of Cancer?
• Does Green Tea Offer the Prescription for Beating Cancer?
• How Can Nanomedicine Help Cure Cancer?
• What Are the Symptoms and Treatments for Breast Cancer?
• Does Medicare Coverage Improve Cancer Detection and Mortality Outcomes?
• Are Pet Owners Really at Greater Risk of Cancer?
• How Can People Protect Themselves From Cancer?
• Does the Immune System Naturally Protect Against Cancer?
• Understanding cancer: causes, types, and risk factors.
• Complementary and alternative medicine for cancer patients.
• Environmental factors affecting cancer risk.
• The connection between cancer and aging.
• The role of artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis.
• Strategies for improving quality of life after cancer treatment.
• Precision oncology: how it works.
• The significance of biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
• The role of diet in preventing and managing cancer.
• Ways to reduce cancer risks.
• Breast cancer awareness campaign: causes and prevention.
• Art therapy sessions for cancer patients.
• A healthy eating cookbook for a balanced diet during chemotherapy.
• Inspirational storytelling: collecting personal stories of cancer survivors.
• Raising awareness of the effects of smoking on cancer risk.
• Cancer prevention podcast: interviewing experts.
• Decision-making guide for cancer treatment for patients and their families.
• Surveying the impact of cancer treatment on patients’ daily lives.
• Volunteer-based transportation services for cancer patients.
• A social media campaign for raising awareness about cancer.

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StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 272 Cancer Research Topics for Undergraduates and High School Students. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/cancer-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "272 Cancer Research Topics for Undergraduates and High School Students." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/cancer-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "272 Cancer Research Topics for Undergraduates and High School Students." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/cancer-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Cancer were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 20, 2024 .

The Unique Hell of Getting Cancer as a Young Adult

W hen I got diagnosed with Stage 3b Hodgkin Lymphoma at age 32, it was almost impossible to process. Without a family history or lifestyle risk factors that put cancer on my radar, I stared at the emergency room doctor in utter disbelief when he said the CT scan of my swollen lymph node showed what appeared to be cancer—and lots of it. A few days away from a bucket list trip to Japan, I’d only gone to the emergency room because the antibiotics CityMD prescribed to me when I was sick weren’t working.I didn’t want to be sick in a foreign country. So when the doctor told me of my diagnosis, the  only question I could conjure was: “So Tokyo is a no-go?”

Around the world, cancer rates in people under 50 are surging, with a recent study in BMJ Oncology showing that new cases for young adults have risen 79% overall over the past three decades. In the U.S. alone, new cancer diagnoses in people under 50 hit 3.26 million, with the most common types being breast, windpipe, lung, bowel, and stomach. A new feature in the Wall Street Journal highlights the mad dash among doctors and researchers to determine what’s causing this troubling rise. Strangely, overall cancer rates in the U.S. have dropped over the past three decades, while young people—particularly with colorectal cancers—are increasingly diagnosed at late stages. “We need to make it easier for adolescents and young adults to participate in clinical trials to improve outcomes and study the factors contributing to earlier onset cancers so we can develop new cures,” says Julia Glade Bender, MD, co-lead of the Stuart Center for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City (where I am currently a patient.)

Doctors suspect that lifestyle factors and environmental elements, from microplastics to ultra-processed foods, could be to blame. But many adults in their 20s and 30s, such as myself, were otherwise healthy before their diagnoses. It felt like all those years of forcing myself to run, eat high-fiber foods, and choke down kombucha were for nothing. 

Cancer is hell at any age, but the challenges facing young adults are especially steep, as the disease disrupts a formative period for building a career, family, and even healthy self-esteem, from body image to gender identity. It’s critical that our approach to treating and supporting these patients reflects the severity of this disruption. In recent years, a growing number of cancer hospitals have developed young adult-specific programming like support groups, information sessions on dating and sexual health, and even mobile apps to help counter social alienation. But there is still a long way to go.

Read more: Why I Stopped Being A “Good” Cancer Patient

Shockingly enough, canceling my trip to Japan was the least of my worries. Beyond the excruciating physical side effects of high-dose chemotherapy and a number of life-threatening complications, cancer pulverized my self-esteem into nothingness, as I watched peers get married and promoted from my bed. Thankfully, after switching to a new hospital, I found support groups that connected me with a community of peers who got it, as well as social workers who work exclusively with young adults and thus recognized many of my biggest challenges, like social isolation, financial strain, the dating nightmare, and hating my bald head.

Perhaps the biggest reason I resented cancer was for disrupting a milestone I’d worked for my whole life: a book launch. (My diagnosis came two months before my first book was published.) Young adulthood is meant to be littered with these kinds of professional and personal benchmarks, many of which are hard enough to accomplish without tumors; dating, for instance, is impossible for me even as a healthy person. Now I have to re-enter the pool older, weaker, and more traumatized? 

“Young adult patients may be trying to assert independence from parents, establish a career or intimate relationship, or even be parents themselves,” says Bender. “Most will be naïve to the medical system or a serious health condition.” And so they require flexible, creative clinicians who can help navigate them “to and through the best available therapy and back to their lives, inevitably ‘changed’ but intact.” Not only do these patients need specialized psychosocial support, but research initiatives should prioritize developing treatments that minimize long-term toxicities.

Given that many young patients haven’t yet built financial stability and are often in some form of debt, organizations like Young Adults Survivors United (YASU) have emerged to support young adult survivors and patients through the financial overwhelm. Stephanie Samolovitch, MSW and founder of YASU, says that there’s still an enormous need for resources supporting young adult cancer patients and survivors.

“Cancer causes a young adult to be dependent again, whether it’s moving back in with parents, getting rides to appointments, or asking for financial help,” says Samolovitch, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, two weeks before her 20th birthday. “Young adults never expect to apply for Medicaid or Social Security Disability during our twenties or thirties, yet cancer doesn't give us a choice sometimes. That causes stress, shame, depression, and anxiety when trying to navigate the healthcare system.”

Read more: How to Create an Action Plan After a Cancer Diagnosis

When Ana Calderone, a 33-year-old magazine editor, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at 30, the most challenging part of getting diagnosed so young was “everything.”

“I felt like it set my whole life back, which sounds stupid because I was literally fighting for my life,” she says. “Who cares if I had to delay my wedding a year because I was still getting radiation treatment? But it was really hard at the time. Everything was delayed, and still is.”

During chemo, Calderone’s doctors gave her a shot that she still receives to try and preserve her ovaries, and she’s been able to try IVF twice. She says she had to proactively advocate for those things with her care team. While Calderone is currently cancer free, she still must take medication that has further delayed her plans to build a family. “I’m fairly confident I’d have a child by now if I didn’t get cancer. That’s been the most devastating part,” she says. “My oncologist would consider letting me get pregnant in two more years, which would be 4.5 years post-diagnosis, and even that is still a risk.”

For 32-year-old Megan Koehler, whose son was one and a half when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, the hardest part “was knowing the world continued on while I spent days in bed,” she says. “My coworkers still worked on projects I was supposed to be part of, and the worst was knowing my son was growing up, learning to speak sentences, and just becoming a toddler without me – or so it felt that way.” 

She remembers crying for most of his second birthday because she was in bed post chemo, feeling devastated that she didn’t have the energy to spend the day with him. During a 50-plus day hospital stay caused by an adverse reaction to a chemotherapy drug, she would Facetime him and cry when he spoke in sentences, because he wasn’t doing that before she was admitted. While she’s grateful for the support she had from her husband and mother, she felt alienated. “I spoke to a few people my age via social media, but no one in person. My center mostly catered to the older generations, so it was somewhat isolating. I did have a great relationship with a few of the infusion nurses who were around my age.”

While oncologists may be rightly focused on saving patients’ lives, there must be more consideration for quality of life during and after treatment – both physical and mental. “More questions need to be asked about their relationships, fertility options, and any mental health concerns or symptoms,” says Samolovitch. From a research perspective, initiatives must expand to pinpoint not only the reason for the rise of cancer in young adults, but find ways to screen and diagnose earlier.

Towards the beginning of my treatment, before I switched hospitals, my oncologist seemed to treat my concerns about self-esteem and hair loss as trivial compared to the real work of saving my life. At my weakest, I had to advocate repeatedly to get accurate information on cold capping, a process of scalp cooling that can preserve most of your hair during chemotherapy, and I had to beg again and again for a social worker to reach out to me, which took weeks. 

It’s a beautiful thing that more young adults with cancer are surviving their illnesses. But that means they’ll have decades of life ahead of them. Providers must do a better job supporting young adult patients through all the collateral damage that comes with cancer and its treatment.  

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Oncology — Cancer

Essays About Cancer

When it comes to writing an essay about cancer, choosing the right topic is crucial. The topic you choose will determine the depth and breadth of your research, as well as the impact your essay will have on your readers. In this article, we will discuss the importance of choosing the right topic, provide advice on how to choose a topic, and offer a detailed list of recommended essay topics, divided by category.

The topic of your essay is important because it will determine the focus of your research and the angle from which you will approach the subject. A well-chosen topic will allow you to delve deep into a specific aspect of cancer, while also engaging your audience with a fresh and insightful perspective. Additionally, the right topic will enable you to make a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge about cancer, whether by shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of the disease or by presenting a novel interpretation of established facts.

When choosing a topic for your cancer essay, consider your interests, expertise, and the potential impact of the topic. Think about what aspect of cancer you are most passionate about, what you have the most knowledge about, and what you believe will be most valuable to your audience. Additionally, consider the current state of research in the field and look for gaps or controversies that you may be able to address in your essay. Finally, make sure to choose a topic that is sufficiently narrow to allow for in-depth analysis, but also broad enough to be of interest to a wide range of readers.

Recommended Cancer Essay Topics

Types of cancer.

• The Role of Genetics in Breast Cancer
• The Impact of Lifestyle Choices on Lung Cancer
• The Challenges of Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
• Exploring the Link Between HPV and Cervical Cancer
• The Rising Incidence of Skin Cancer in Young Adults

Treatment and Prevention

• The Promise of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment
• The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Recovery
• The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Survival Rates
• Alternative Therapies for Cancer Patients
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Cancer Clinical Trials

Social and Psychological Impact

• The Stigma of Lung Cancer and Its Impact on Patients
• The Support Networks for Families of Children with Cancer
• Cancer Survivorship: Challenges and Triumphs
• The Psychological Effects of Hair Loss in Cancer Patients
• The Role of Palliative Care in Cancer Treatment

Public Policy and Advocacy

• The Economics of Cancer: The Cost of Treatment and Care
• The Role of Government in Funding Cancer Research
• Cancer Awareness Campaigns: Effectiveness and Ethical Considerations
• The Role of Advocacy Groups in Shaping Cancer Policy
• The Impact of Insurance Policies on Cancer Patients' Access to Care

Emerging Trends and Technologies

• The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Diagnosis
• The Role of Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment
• The Promise of Nanotechnology in Targeted Cancer Therapies
• Exploring the Gut Microbiome's Influence on Cancer Development
• The Role of Liquid Biopsies in Early Cancer Detection

With these recommended essay topics, you can explore various aspects of cancer from different perspectives, ensuring that your essay is both informative and engaging. Remember to choose a topic that resonates with you and has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the discourse on cancer. Good luck!

Cancer: Types, Causes, Effects and Treatment

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Different views on cancer based on religion, culture, race, class and gender, social perspective of cancer: the 10/90 gap, neuroblastoma, role of umb in oxaliplatin induced peripheral neuropathy, effective diagnosis of melanoma using artificial intelligence, melanoma: different forms & characteristics, zika virus and its potential to treat brain cancer, common oral health problems in the philippines, melanoma: the risk factors and preventative approach in adolescents , an overview of leukemia - blood cancer, the correlation between cancer and carcinogens, the importance and challenges of a multidisciplinary oncology team (mot), leukemia, an in-depth look at the skeletal system, non small cell lung cancer, epoca theory in cancer treatment, the effectiveness of exercise in treating childhood leukemia, the use of pesticides in agriculture and the risk of cancerogenesis, cancer-specific relationship in "to cancer-with love – my journey of joy" by neelam kumar, skipper’s laws, relevant topics.

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What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family member and an oncologist

It is not uncommon for physicians to write about what “they think” matters to patients. This essay explores “what really matters” from the perspective of a patient, a family member of another patient and an oncologist. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic small bowel cancer. The family member is the spouse of a 48-year-old man who had advanced gastroesophageal cancer. The medical oncologist is a mid-career clinician–scientist who cared for both patients.

The perspectives presented in this essay evolved from conversations that occurred initially between the oncologist and each of the other authors individually; eventually, the three authors met to discuss writing an essay. The three sections were written independently to ensure that they accurately reflected each author’s personal perspectives.

A patient’s perspective

After my diagnosis, I had to accept that I am not invincible. Once diagnosed with cancer, you will never be treated the same again. You will be perceived as fragile, weak and frail. Unless they have walked your path, others cannot know how tired, cold, weak, painful or anxious having cancer can be.

At this juncture, it would be well advised to accept that this is your diagnosis, your life, your death and that you must own it. The cancer trail will be less burdened by accepting the impermanence of the human condition. We are truly equals with the same conclusion no matter what our wealth, status or privilege. Without fear of death, we can live as full a life as possible. I chose to live joyfully and not accept just to exist!

In walking my cancer trail, I have been blessed to cross paths with some amazing people. It is imperative to have a medical team that is competent, attentive, efficient and compassionate. Doctors with minimal egos. Doctors who have ears for listening. These doctors know the difficult art of listening, have the ability to stay focused and to make my concern important. Good listeners know how to make me understand their perspective and give me time to process; this makes me feel worthy and important. These doctors are very aware that waiting breeds anxiety and distrust. The diagnosis of cancer quickens time and patients lose patience; the good doctor will realize this. My experience has been superb, blessed with staff who never left me worried if the test has been booked, the diagnosis delayed or my symptoms untreated.

As a patient, we too have obligations to our doctors. We must give our doctors permission to be honest. Sometimes with this honesty comes words of pain, but this in turn facilitates an understanding so that if the patient says, “no thank you,” the doctor will understand. This honesty comes not from ego or extended education; it comes from the heart. Honesty builds trust, and trust leads to better communication, better symptom management and an enriched quality of life. I have always felt like my voice is heard. I often see a flush of relief from the young doctor who realizes that I understand where this race stops, so he need not find words to mask the seriousness of the situation. I encourage these doctors to speak openly.

Some of my friends were amazed that I declined chemotherapy. It was the correct decision for me; I have had three plus years and a gifted life. Treatment becomes an addiction for some patients who become terrified to stop and lose their support team. I pay close attention to “appointmentitis.” My team understands that each day is precious and make every effort to stack my appointments.

Having loving friends and family, and a stable home make cancer bearable. Having physical touch reinforces that “someone still thinks I am worthy of touch.” The warmth of hands relieves anxiety and offers connection. To be hugged or held reminds the patient that they are loved. I have relied on calming activities such as gardening, walking, music and working the farm. I seldom think about cancer unless I am at the clinic. I now pay close attention to and appreciate my many blessings.

A family member’s perspective

I became a widow at 42 years of age. I lost my husband after a 16-month battle with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer. Cancer is a word no one ever wants to hear, especially if it is preceded by the word incurable. It is amazing how two words together can have such a big impact. Our epicentre comprised three people: my husband, his oncologist and myself. We were anchored together as a team within moments of his diagnosis. In this context, the process of “team-building” is full of paradox and irony. Patients and families seek out the best and most compassionate care, to build a “dream team,” all within the “nightmare” of cancer. We all know where this path ends. It is just a matter of negotiating the time between the start and the finish.

As the primary caregiver, my role was to listen, interpret and organize information in a way that was digestible and honest while looking for hope. This was the most difficult task. “Making lemonade out of lemons,” as my husband would say. I sought to make each day the best possible for my husband and my family; to free them from emotional pain, physical discomfort and anxiety. Most days, this was easier said than done. I discovered early on that the “system of care” was not a system at all. “System” implies connection between parts forming together as a whole. What I encountered was, for the most part, contrary to this definition. A set of binders containing all necessary health and care information became my constant companions. This enabled collaboration among parts of the system where there was none.

We did have glimmers of hope and cause for celebration. The first line of palliative chemotherapy gave us nine months within which to make happy memories. We planned activities to make the most of our time together. We pushed the boundaries for travel while doing our best to mitigate risk.

It was hard to know what to hope for. The most hopeful scenario would be to get better and never look back. Without that option available, the guiding light for me was to balance the desire for more time with quality of life. I had the good fortune of reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This book in some way influenced my every decision. Our decision-making was framed within a context of humanism and compassion as we balanced “curative” versus “care-ative” approach to treatment options.

In the darkest of days, there is opportunity for learning and growth. Despite finding ourselves in a scenario we could never have imagined, our team became a cherished relationship characterized by compassion, hope, care, comfort and understanding. Perhaps that is the key to success as a caregiver, to seek out the people who and things that contribute to the best possible life in the face of death. It is all any of us could hope for under the circumstances.

An oncologist’s perspective

I gravitated to oncology because of the rich doctor–patient relationships. I knew I would cherish these privileged conversations throughout my career. During my training, I was surprised by the magnitude of “benefit” associated with many standard palliative therapies. Although some treatments offer substantial benefit to patients, I was struck that many standard treatments extend life by only a number of weeks. These initial impressions were formed when I was more layperson than oncologist; years later, I still wonder to what extent patients understand how marginal some of our treatments are. Despite limited benefits of many standard regimens, I learned how oncologists can make a real difference through compassion and symptom management. Having been in practice for a decade, I now retain a healthy skepticism about how much our drug therapies actually benefit patients. In caring for the two patients described in this essay, I struggled with how to balance discussions of benefit and harms, and trying to strike a balance with hope and realism.

I worry that technology-driven medicine has led to a decline in our traditional “art” that emphasized caring and compassion. The quality-of-life “cost” of new therapies to a patient and the associated financial costs to society make it increasingly important to discuss these issues. However, I have learned that no two patients are alike in how they balance the pros and cons of treatment for incurable cancer. What remains uniform across all patients is the need for honest communication and compassion. For a number of reasons, including the fear of taking away hope and emotional discomfort, these conversations may not happen as often as they should.

Although I try to communicate clearly these issues to my patients, I know I could do a better job. Many tests and treatments are done because they represent “standard care,” even though the extent to which they align with the values of each patient is not clear. I struggle with questions such as how to explain the absolute benefit of therapies better? How to help patients find hope in incurable cancer? At what point is “hope” helpful and at what point is “false hope” harmful? Is there intrinsic value in “doing something?” What really does matter to my patients? Although careful research might provide insight to some of these questions, the most powerful lessons will come from our patients and their families.

Putting it together

Patients and families facing incurable cancer will have unique goals, preferences and needs. What unifies us is the search for hope and meaning, when from the outset, there appears to be none. We all hope for long lives filled with joy and meaning. When that time is cut short, we must shift our hope toward care that is focused on a life that is free from as much pain, discomfort and anxiety as possible, and a death that comes as peacefully and humanely as possible.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Gord Sinclair and Duncan Sinclair for their input on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

We lost Penny just before the submission of this article. We offer these perspectives as a tribute to the many lessons we learned from her. We hope that our combined voices will provide comfort and support to others on similar journeys.

CMAJ Podcasts: article reading at https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/171285-enc

This article has been peer reviewed.

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Cancer Research Catalyst The Official Blog of the American Association for Cancer Research

Home > Cancer Research Catalyst > Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

This year alone, an estimated 1.8 million people will hear their doctor say they have cancer. The individual impact of each person can be clouded in the vast statistics. In honor of National Cancer Survivor Month,  Cancer Today would like to highlight several personal essays we’ve published from cancer survivors at different stages of their treatment. 

In  this essay , psychiatrist Adam P. Stern’s cerebral processing of his metastatic kidney cancer diagnosis gives rise to piercing questions. When he drops off his 3-year-old son to daycare, he ponders a simple exchange: his son’s request for a routine morning hug before he turns to leave. “Will he remember me, only a little, just enough to mythologize me as a giant who used to carry him up the stairs? As my health declines, will he have to learn to adjust to a dad who used to be like all the other dads but then wasn’t?” he questions. 

In  another essay from a parent with a young child, Amanda Rose Ferraro describes the abrupt change from healthy to not healthy after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May 2017. After a 33-day hospital stay, followed by weeklong chemotherapy treatments, Ferraro’s cancer went into remission, but a recurrence required more chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Ferraro describes harrowing guilt over being separated from her 3-year-old son, who at one point wanted nothing to do with her. “Giving up control is hard, but not living up to what I thought a mother should be was harder. I had to put myself first, and it was the hardest thing I had ever done,” she writes.

In January 1995, 37-year-old Melvin Mann was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which would eventually mean he would  need to take a chance on a phase I clinical trial that tested an experimental drug called imatinib—a treatment that would go on to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval under the brand name Gleevec. It would also mean trusting a system with a documented history of negligence and abuse of Black people like him: “Many patients, especially some African Americans, are afraid they will be taken advantage of because of past unethical experiments like the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study​,” Mann writes, before describing changes that make current trials safer. Mann’s been on imatinib ever since and has enjoyed watching his daughter become a physician and celebrating 35 years of marriage.

In  another essay , Carly Flumer addresses the absurdity of hearing doctors reassure her that she had a good cancer after she was diagnosed with stage I papillary thyroid cancer in 2017. “What I did hear repeatedly from various physicians was that I had the ‘good cancer,’ and that ‘if you were to have a cancer, thyroid would be the one to get,’” she writes.

In another piece for Cancer Today , Flumer shares  how being diagnosed with cancer just four months after starting a graduate program shaped her education and future career path.

For Liza Bernstein, her breast cancer diagnosis created a paradox as she both acknowledged and denied the disease the opportunity to define who she was. “In the privacy of my own mind, I refused to accept that cancer was part of my identity, even though it was affecting it as surely as erosion transforms the landscape,” she writes . “Out in the world, I’d blurt out, ‘I have cancer,’ because I took questions from acquaintances like ‘How are you, what’s new?’ literally. Answering casual questions with the unvarnished truth wasn’t claiming cancer as my identity. It was an attempt to dismiss the magnitude of it, like saying ‘I have a cold.’” By her third primary breast cancer diagnosis, Bernstein reassesses and moves closer to acceptance as she discovers her role as advocate.

As part of the staff of  Cancer Today , a magazine and online resource for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, we often refer to a succinct tagline to sum up our mission: “Practical knowledge. Real hope.” Part of providing information is also listening closely to cancer survivors’ experiences. As we celebrate National Cancer Survivor Month, we elevate these voices, and all patients and survivors in their journeys.

Cancer Today is a magazine and online resource for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers published by the American Association for Cancer Research.  Subscriptions to the magazine are free ​ to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers who live in the U.S. 

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Biology EE Topics: How to Choose, Plus Good Examples

by  Antony W

September 3, 2022

Have you scoured the web for Biology EE topics but came out empty? Or maybe you’ve considered writing an EE in the subject but you still have no idea what to focus your research on?

You’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the best biology extended essay topic to explore in your assignment. In addition, we’ll give you some topic ideas as well as teach you how to treat the topic you choose.  

What’s the Purpose of a Biology Extended Essay? 

An extended essay in biology allows you to apply biological knowledge while conducting research on a topic of personal interest within the area of biology.

A concentration on biology within the framework of a broader scientific research is what defines the nature of a biology extended essay.

How to Choose Biology EE Topics

The following are important considerations to make when selecting a topic for your biology extended essay:

1. Select a Topic Focusing Strictly on Biology

Biology is the scientific discipline concerned with living beings and biological processes. Therefore, a biology extended essay should contain biological theory and underline the subject's fundamental character.

It is essential that the emphasis of the extended essay be clearly biological and not more closely connected to another subject.

Although identical grading criteria apply to all extended essays in the experimental sciences, the topic you choose for a biology extended essay must provide a distinct biological perspective.

2. Avoid Topics That May Cause Harm

Certain topics are inappropriate for research due to ethical concerns. Investigations based on trials that are likely to cause pain or needless stress to living beings are ineligible for submission.

Investigations that are likely to have a negative impact on health, such as microorganism cultivation at or near body temperature, or that may require access to or release of personal medical information are inappropriate.

Some topics may not be acceptable for examination due to safety concerns.

You need to avoid experiments involving the use of poisonous or hazardous chemicals, carcinogenic compounds, or radioactive materials, unless proper safety equipment and trained supervision are available.

3. Avoid Obvious Topics

Other topics may be inappropriate because the conclusion is already well known and documented in standard textbooks.

Biology Extended Essay Writing Help

Are you finding Biology Extended Essay topic selection process tedious? Have you selected a topic but have no idea how to proceed?

Or maybe you have other overwhelming assignments waiting for you and you can’t find the time to complete an EE in this subject?

We’re here to help. 

You can  buy an EE in Biology online   from Help for Assessment and get professional writing help within your time limit Whether you have a week left before submitting your first draft or you’re planning to attend the last reflection meeting to present your final draft, our writers are here to help.

Our writing service involves topic selection, preliminary research, development of a research issue, and writing and editing.

The topic we select is strictly within Biology, and we come up with research issues that we can address within the scope of the Biology Extended Essay assignment. 

10+ Biology Extended Essay Topics

The following are 20+ examples of Biology Extended Essay topics. You can pick a topic from the list, modify it further, and share it with your supervisor for review.

Or you can use this list as an inspiration to help you come up with a topic that would suit your research.  

• Determine the link between the growth hormone indole acetic acid and the growth of X.
• How much do living cultures in dairy products such as milk, yoghurt, and cheese lower the lactose content after 2 hours of incubation?
• The connection between photoreceptor cells in the human retina, “age, and gender."
• Are commercial techniques of oral rinse (mouthwash) more efficient at preventing the growth of Micrococcus luteus than traditional methods of oral hygiene?
• Which of hand sanitizer, hand soap, or antibacterial wipes inhibits the development of E. coli the most effectively?
• Investigating the time necessary for two distinct species of tadpoles to attain metamorphic climax from the pre-metamorphosis stage at four different temperatures
• How much does a 2-hour incubation at 37°C lower the lactose content in yogurts containing live cultures?
• The effect do different light combinations on the movement of red-eared sliders, in relation to the position of the light sources.
• What is the prevalence of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among kids at Tanglin Trust School, and what are the related risk factors?
• Investigate the antibacterial effects of copper, barium, and silver on bacterial growth.
• Photo acclimation is the capacity of diverse symbiodinium-hosting coral species to endure aberrant light circumstances.
• Is it feasible for plants in the same ecosystem to act differently?
• The risk of painkillers and similar medications to the human brain
• Near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are indications of life's development on Earth.
• Current ideas and evidence concerning the molecular reasons responsible for the rising prevalence of allergy disorders in industrialized nations
• Blood group relative frequencies in distinct geographic locations used to trace ancient migrations of humans.
• How millennia of breeding have caused domesticated dogs to respond to eye contact through bonding (by producing oxytocin hormone)
• An examination of malnourished children in Indonesia and the degree of their recovery following a period of supervised increased nutrition.
• The competitive and evolutionary nature of Paramecium Bursaria’s symbiotic connection

Related Reading

• The Complete Guide for Biology Extended Essay
• Learn About Chemistry EE From This Guide
• A List of Mathematics Extended Essay Topics

How to Analyze Your Biology Extended Essay Topic

You should explain early in the essay how you formulated the research topic and, if applicable, how you narrowed it by briefly elaborating on any relevant elements.

You should develop one or more hypotheses, especially since a single, well-formulated inquiry can generate a handful of specific hypotheses.

It’s possible to base your biology extended essays on data obtained through experiments, survey, microscopic observations, biological sketching, fieldwork, or any acceptable biological method.

Alternately, you can base the essay on facts or information collected from literature, ideally from primary sources, then alter or analyze in an innovative way. 

If you’re working on an essay that requires laboratory or fieldwork test, you should provide a clear and brief description of the experimental methodology.

Explain how you chose the research technique and methodology, as well as any options that you investigated but rejected.

Final Thoughts

Now that we’ve given you a list of 10+ Biology extended essay topics, it should be easy for you to identify an area to explore.

It can be an area you’re always interested in or a topic that you’ve always wanted to explore.

You should do research for your essay under the direct supervision of a supervisor.

Regardless of where or under what conditions you conduct studies, you must demonstrate your personal contribution to the research methodology and selection of methodologies in the essay.

Generating and presenting data should not be a goal in and of itself. Remember, proper scientific analysis is vital.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Essay on Cancer for Students and Children

500+ words essay on cancer.

Cancer might just be one of the most feared and dreaded diseases. Globally, cancer is responsible for the death of nearly 9.5 million people in 2018. It is the second leading cause of death as per the world health organization. As per studies, in India, we see 1300 deaths due to cancer every day. These statistics are truly astonishing and scary. In the recent few decades, the number of cancer has been increasingly on the rise. So let us take a look at the meaning, causes, and types of cancer in this essay on cancer.

Cancer comes in many forms and types. Cancer is the collective name given to the disease where certain cells of the person’s body start dividing continuously, refusing to stop. These extra cells form when none are needed and they spread into the surrounding tissues and can even form malignant tumors. Cells may break away from such tumors and go and form tumors in other places of the patient’s body.

Types of Cancers

As we know, cancer can actually affect any part or organ of the human body. We all have come across various types of cancer – lung, blood, pancreas, stomach, skin, and so many others. Biologically, however, cancer can be divided into five types specifically – carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia.

Among these, carcinomas are the most diagnosed type. These cancers originate in organs or glands such as lungs, stomach, pancreas, breast, etc. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood, and this does not form any tumors. Sarcomas start in the muscles, bones, tissues or other connective tissues of the body. Lymphomas are the cancer of the white blood cells, i.e. the lymphocytes. And finally, melanoma is when cancer arises in the pigment of the skin.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Causes of Cancer

In most cases, we can never attribute the cause of any cancer to one single factor. The main thing that causes cancer is a substance we know as carcinogens. But how these develop or enters a person’s body will depend on many factors. We can divide the main factors into the following types – biological factors, physical factors, and lifestyle-related factors.

Biological factors involve internal factors such as age, gender, genes, hereditary factors, blood type, skin type, etc. Physical factors refer to environmental exposure of any king to say X-rays, gamma rays, etc. Ad finally lifestyle-related factors refer to substances that introduced carcinogens into our body. These include tobacco, UV radiation, alcohol. smoke, etc. Next, in this essay on cancer lets learn about how we can treat cancer.

Treatment of Cancer

Early diagnosis and immediate medical care in cancer are of utmost importance. When diagnosed in the early stages, then the treatment becomes easier and has more chances of success. The three most common treatment plans are either surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

If there is a benign tumor, then surgery is performed to remove the mass from the body, hence removing cancer from the body. In radiation therapy, we use radiation (rays) to specially target and kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is similar, where we inject the patient with drugs that target and kill the cancer cells. All treatment plans, however, have various side-effects. And aftercare is one of the most important aspects of cancer treatment.

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Essay: How Cancer Changed Me In Unimaginable Ways

• Rachel Zimmerman

By Marie Colantoni Pechet Guest Blogger

Normally I don’t notice my body. I’ve always been relatively thin and people tell me that I appear to be fit even when I know that I’m not. Growing up, I wore glasses, was physically awkward, and didn’t feel particularly attractive, so I studied diligently and lived more in my head than my body. Sure, I love fun clothes, but more for how they make me feel than how I look in them. On top of all this, I live in Cambridge, Mass. where you can pair a Chanel dress with Birkenstocks and no one would look twice.

But the other day after a shower, I caught myself in the mirror. Suddenly noticing the scars from all my surgeries, the colostomy bag on my abdomen and the power port embedded in my chest, it felt like I was looking at someone familiar but not me. I was jolted into accepting that this is really me, now.

The noises from the kids getting ready for school snapped me back to starting my day, so I got dressed and moved on.

Later, I reflected on how much my life has changed since I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer four years ago. Sure, there were the physical changes, including my shorter hairstyle. Nothing says “chemo patient” like a super-short hairstyle.

After each physical change occurred, it was upsetting, and then I would get used to it. I got used to the way my once-flat abdomen now pooches. I got used to dealing with the colostomy bag. I got used to the power port. I even love the super-short hair.

The diagnosis itself shook the ground beneath me, but I was lucky enough to find a new stable spot to stand. Then the ground shook a few more times: When I learned of a recurrence, and then another. When I learned it was stage four. When I learned that I would need to integrate chemotherapy every other week into my otherwise happily full calendar. Each time, I was unsettled for awhile, then eventually got used to the change and found a new normal.

It is the intangible changes that rock my daily life and the life of my family.

Most people would say that, on my good days, I look like any other person walking around. They can’t see the change in how my mind works, but it looks like this:

I watched my husband drive a new, sporty car into our driveway. He has been thinking about getting a sportier car since we met 20 years ago, so I was thrilled for him.

The boys and I made a big fuss about the car, then we continued with our evening.

Later, I asked my husband what made him decide to get a new car today. I didn’t mind that he didn’t consult me; it is just unlike him to do anything without careful thought over an extended period of time.

“We talked about this,” he reminded me, without defensiveness or blame. “I asked if you wanted to look at cars with me, and I told you that I was trying to decide between a practical car and something sporty. Do you remember?” He showed me a few brochures. “We talked about it with our neighbors at the party last month. You told me to go for something sporty, something that made me feel good.”

I remembered none of these conversations (blame it on chemo brain). But, like a doddering old lady, I knew they all very likely happened and I genuinely appreciated that my husband explained things so patiently and kindly.

Our children are impacted by my inept mind. For example, I cannot seem to keep track of which day is library day and which day they have movement. At ages 5 and 8, they are fully responsible for knowing when to return their library books and when they need to dress for sports. Honestly, I am not much help here: It's not my picture of the totally on-top-of-everything mother I aspire to be, but it is our reality.

My energy level is unpredictable as well. One minute I am dancing; the next, I am sacked out on the sofa. One minute I tell the kids we are headed for the museum, and just before we leave the house, I abruptly cancel and tell them to play together in the backyard instead.

Like my body, this is not the life I envisioned. It falls short of the “me” that I hold in my mind.

Then, just as suddenly, I reframe it. So my kids have a crazy, unpredictable mother. They wouldn’t be the first, and they seem to take it in stride. My husband became a very involved father, and he would say a better parent than he even envisioned. I allow myself to be taken care of, in ways that I never imagined I would need, much less welcome. We lead less stressful, lower-key lives together, and we learned that we have quite a resilient relationship. I see blessings around every corner and find few things to complain about.

So my body has missing parts, added parts, and scars, but it still seems to work. My life has daily bumps and twists and turns, as well as joy and beauty. If I feel that my body, my life, or I, fall short in any way, it is because those things are not what I imagined they would be, and not necessarily because of what they actually are.

Marie Colantoni Pechet lives in Cambridge with her husband and two sons. Read her previous posts here and here and listen to her speak frankly about her life with cancer here .

This program aired on February 23, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

Rachel Zimmerman Reporter Rachel Zimmerman previously reported on health and the intersection of health and business for WBUR. She is working on a memoir about rebuilding her family after her husband’s suicide. 

More from WBUR

What Is Cancer?

Get email updates from NCI on cancer health information, news, and other topics

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A dividing breast cancer cell.

The Definition of Cancer

Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. 

Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow and multiply (through a process called cell division) to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Tumors can be cancerous or not cancerous ( benign ). 

Cancerous tumors spread into, or invade, nearby tissues and can travel to distant places in the body to form new tumors (a process called metastasis ). Cancerous tumors may also be called malignant tumors. Many cancers form solid tumors, but cancers of the blood, such as leukemias , generally do not.

Benign tumors do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. When removed, benign tumors usually don’t grow back, whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do. Benign tumors can sometimes be quite large, however. Some can cause serious symptoms or be life threatening, such as benign tumors in the brain.

Differences between Cancer Cells and Normal Cells

Get Answers >​​

Have questions? Connect with a Cancer Information Specialist for answers.

Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many ways. For instance, cancer cells:

• grow in the absence of signals telling them to grow. Normal cells only grow when they receive such signals. 
• ignore signals that normally tell cells to stop dividing or to die (a process known as programmed cell death , or apoptosis ).
• invade into nearby areas and spread to other areas of the body. Normal cells stop growing when they encounter other cells, and most normal cells do not move around the body. 
• tell blood vessels to grow toward tumors.  These blood vessels supply tumors with oxygen and nutrients and remove waste products from tumors.
• hide from the immune system . The immune system normally eliminates damaged or abnormal cells. 
• trick the immune system into helping cancer cells stay alive and grow. For instance, some cancer cells convince immune cells to protect the tumor instead of attacking it.
• accumulate multiple changes in their chromosomes , such as duplications and deletions of chromosome parts. Some cancer cells have double the normal number of chromosomes.
• rely on different kinds of nutrients than normal cells. In addition, some cancer cells make energy from nutrients in a different way than most normal cells. This lets cancer cells grow more quickly. 

Many times, cancer cells rely so heavily on these abnormal behaviors that they can’t survive without them. Researchers have taken advantage of this fact, developing therapies that target the abnormal features of cancer cells. For example, some cancer therapies prevent blood vessels from growing toward tumors , essentially starving the tumor of needed nutrients.  

How Does Cancer Develop?

Cancer is caused by certain changes to genes, the basic physical units of inheritance. Genes are arranged in long strands of tightly packed DNA called chromosomes.

Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, it is caused by changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide.

Genetic changes that cause cancer can happen because:

• of errors that occur as cells divide. 
• of damage to DNA caused by harmful substances in the environment, such as the chemicals in tobacco smoke and ultraviolet rays from the sun. (Our Cancer Causes and Prevention section has more information.) 
• they were inherited from our parents. 

The body normally eliminates cells with damaged DNA before they turn cancerous. But the body’s ability to do so goes down as we age. This is part of the reason why there is a higher risk of cancer later in life.

Each person’s cancer has a unique combination of genetic changes. As the cancer continues to grow, additional changes will occur. Even within the same tumor, different cells may have different genetic changes.

Fundamentals of Cancer

Cancer is a disease caused when cells divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues.

Cancer is caused by changes to DNA. Most cancer-causing DNA changes occur in sections of DNA called genes. These changes are also called genetic changes.

A DNA change can cause genes involved in normal cell growth to become oncogenes. Unlike normal genes, oncogenes cannot be turned off, so they cause uncontrolled cell growth.

 In normal cells, tumor suppressor genes prevent cancer by slowing or stopping cell growth. DNA changes that inactivate tumor suppressor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.

Within a tumor, cancer cells are surrounded by a variety of immune cells, fibroblasts, molecules, and blood vessels—what’s known as the tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells can change the microenvironment, which in turn can affect how cancer grows and spreads.

Immune system cells can detect and attack cancer cells. But some cancer cells can avoid detection or thwart an attack. Some cancer treatments can help the immune system better detect and kill cancer cells.

Each person’s cancer has a unique combination of genetic changes. Specific genetic changes may make a person’s cancer more or less likely to respond to certain treatments.

Genetic changes that cause cancer can be inherited or arise from certain environmental exposures. Genetic changes can also happen because of errors that occur as cells divide.

Most often, cancer-causing genetic changes accumulate slowly as a person ages, leading to a higher risk of cancer later in life.

Cancer cells can break away from the original tumor and travel through the blood or lymph system to distant locations in the body, where they exit the vessels to form additional tumors. This is called metastasis.

Types of Genes that Cause Cancer

The genetic changes that contribute to cancer tend to affect three main types of genes— proto-oncogenes , tumor suppressor genes , and DNA repair genes. These changes are sometimes called “drivers” of cancer.

Proto-oncogenes are involved in normal cell growth and division. However, when these genes are altered in certain ways or are more active than normal, they may become cancer-causing genes (or oncogenes), allowing cells to grow and survive when they should not.

Tumor suppressor genes are also involved in controlling cell growth and division. Cells with certain alterations in tumor suppressor genes may divide in an uncontrolled manner.

DNA repair genes are involved in fixing damaged DNA. Cells with mutations in these genes tend to develop additional mutations in other genes and changes in their chromosomes, such as duplications and deletions of chromosome parts. Together, these mutations may cause the cells to become cancerous.

As scientists have learned more about the molecular changes that lead to cancer, they have found that certain mutations commonly occur in many types of cancer. Now there are many cancer treatments available that target gene mutations found in cancer . A few of these treatments can be used by anyone with a cancer that has the targeted mutation, no matter where the cancer started growing .

When Cancer Spreads

In metastasis, cancer cells break away from where they first formed and form new tumors in other parts of the body. 

A cancer that has spread from the place where it first formed to another place in the body is called metastatic cancer. The process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis.

Metastatic cancer has the same name and the same type of cancer cells as the original, or primary, cancer. For example, breast cancer that forms a metastatic tumor in the lung is metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.

Under a microscope, metastatic cancer cells generally look the same as cells of the original cancer. Moreover, metastatic cancer cells and cells of the original cancer usually have some molecular features in common, such as the presence of specific chromosome changes.

In some cases, treatment may help prolong the lives of people with metastatic cancer. In other cases, the primary goal of treatment for metastatic cancer is to control the growth of the cancer or to relieve symptoms it is causing. Metastatic tumors can cause severe damage to how the body functions, and most people who die of cancer die of metastatic disease.  

Tissue Changes that Are Not Cancer

Not every change in the body’s tissues is cancer. Some tissue changes may develop into cancer if they are not treated, however. Here are some examples of tissue changes that are not cancer but, in some cases, are monitored because they could become cancer:

• Hyperplasia occurs when cells within a tissue multiply faster than normal and extra cells build up. However, the cells and the way the tissue is organized still look normal under a microscope. Hyperplasia can be caused by several factors or conditions, including chronic irritation.
• Dysplasia is a more advanced condition than hyperplasia. In dysplasia, there is also a buildup of extra cells. But the cells look abnormal and there are changes in how the tissue is organized. In general, the more abnormal the cells and tissue look, the greater the chance that cancer will form. Some types of dysplasia may need to be monitored or treated, but others do not. An example of dysplasia is an abnormal mole (called a dysplastic nevus ) that forms on the skin. A dysplastic nevus can turn into melanoma, although most do not.
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• Published: 07 July 2024

Impact of multidrug resistance on outcomes in hematologic cancer patients with bacterial bloodstream infections

• Ki-Ho Park 1   na1 ,
• Ye Ji Jung 2   na1 ,
• Hyun Jung Lee 2 ,
• Hong Jun Kim 2 ,
• Chi Hoon Maeng 2 ,
• Sun Kyung Baek 2 ,
• Jae Joon Han 2 ,
• Woojae Jeon 1 ,
• Dong Youn Kim 1 ,
• Yu-Mi Lee 1 &
• Mi Suk Lee 1  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  15622 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

253 Accesses

Metrics details

• Haematological cancer
• Infectious diseases

Despite the improved outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies, infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a new threat to these patients. We retrospectively reviewed the patients with hematological cancer and bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) at a tertiary hospital between 2003 and 2022 to assess the impact of MDROs on outcomes. Among 328 BSIs, 81 (24.7%) were caused by MDROs. MDRO rates increased from 10.3% (2003–2007) to 39.7% (2018–2022) ( P  < 0.001). The 30-day mortality rate was 25.0%, which was significantly higher in MDRO-infected patients than in non-MDRO-infected patients (48.1 vs. 17.4%; P  < 0.001). The observed trend was more pronounced in patients with newly diagnosed diseases and relapsed/refractory disease but less prominent in patients in complete remission. Among MDROs, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria exhibited the highest mortality, followed by vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae . Multivariate analysis identified independent risk factors for 30-day mortality as age ≥ 65 years, newly diagnosed disease, relapsed/refractory disease, MDROs, polymicrobial infection, CRP ≥ 20 mg/L, and inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, MDROs contribute to adverse outcomes in patients with hematological cancer and bacterial BSIs, with effects varying based on the underlying disease status and causative pathogens. Appropriate initial antibiotic therapy may improve patient outcomes.

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Introduction.

Survival outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies have substantially improved owing to recent advances in therapy, and the causes of death are changing. Non-cancer-related deaths are now more significant than cancer-related deaths, with infections being important contributors 1 . Patients with hematological malignancies are considered part of the immunocompromised group owing to the disease, host factors, and treatment-related factors such as chemotherapy, steroids, and severe/prolonged neutropenia 2 . Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are the most severe infection, occurring in approximately one-third of febrile episodes in patients with hematological malignancies 3 , 4 . BSIs disrupt chemotherapy, and the overall 30-day mortality rates are high, ranging between 12 and 50% 5 , 6 , 7 .

Antimicrobial resistance has increased in recent decades, posing a new threat worldwide. Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are frequently resistant to three or more antibiotics 8 . Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae , vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are highly resistant organisms that deserve special attention in healthcare facilities 9 . MDROs are increasingly implicated in bacteremia patients with hematological malignancies 7 , 10 , 11 . Recent studies have demonstrated that the clinical outcomes of hematologic cancer patients with bacterial BSIs caused by MDROs are worse than those of patients with bacterial BSIs caused by non-MDROs 7 , 12 .

To comprehensively assess the impact of MDROs on the outcomes of patients with hematological cancer and bacterial BSIs, we conducted a retrospective analysis spanning two decades. This study aimed to elucidate evolving trends in MDRO prevalence, associated mortality rates, and factors influencing clinical outcomes.

Study design and setting

This study was conducted at an 850-bed tertiary-care academic center in Seoul, South Korea. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all bacterial BSIs that developed in adult (≥ 18 years) patients with hematological cancer between January 2003 and December 2022. This study was approved by the institutional review board of Kyung Hee University Hospital (2023–06-068). The requirement for informed consent was waived owing to the retrospective nature of the study.

Study patients

Bacterial BSI was defined as the presence of bacterial growth in blood cultures. Clinical and microbiological assessments were performed to determine the etiological significance of the isolated pathogens. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Bacillus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Cutibacterium acnes were considered contaminants unless they were isolated from two or more separate blood culture sets. Polymicrobial BSI was defined as the detection of two or more different bacterial organisms on the first day of a BSI episode. When a patient experienced more than one episode of bacterial BSI during each admission, only the first episode for each admission was considered to avoid non-independence associated with repeated measures.

Definitions

In several previous studies, MDROs were defined as bacteria showing resistance to at least one agent in three or more antibiotic classes 8 , 11 , 13 . However, because of inconsistencies in the antimicrobials included in the automated susceptibility test panels in our hospital over the 20-year study period, MDROs were composed of typical highly resistant organisms, including MRSA, VRE, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae , and carbapenem-resistant GNB 9 . Carbapenem-resistant GNB were defined as Enterobactericae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter species that exhibit non-susceptibility to at least one of three carbapenem antibiotics (imipenem, meropenem, and doripenem). Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , which is intrinsically resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, was also classified as carbapenem-resistant GNB 14 . The susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics was determined according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 14 . The susceptibility breakpoints for imipenem, meropenem, and doripenem in Enterobacteriaceae were revised from ≤ 4 to ≤ 1 mg/L in 2010. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa , the susceptibility breakpoints were revised from ≤ 4 to ≤ 2 mg/L in 2012. Similarly, the susceptibility breakpoints for Acinetobacter species were revised from ≤ 4 to ≤ 2 mg/L in 2014 14 , 15 . To quantify the overall comorbidity burden, we calculated Charlson Comorbidity Index scores using codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) 16 , 17 . The initial antibiotic therapy administered within the first 72 h was categorized as appropriate or inappropriate, depending on the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing 18 .

Statistical analyses

Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare categorical variables between the two groups, as appropriate. Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used for continuous variables with normal and non-normal distributions, respectively. The normality of the distribution was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. We used a linear-by-linear association test for ordinal data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent factors associated with 30-day mortality. A multivariate logistic regression model included all significant variables (P  ≤ 0.05) following the univariate analysis. Continuous variables that were significant predictors in the univariate analysis were dichotomized using cut-off values derived from the classification and regression tree 19 . These dichotomized variables were then included in the multivariate model. Survival was determined using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the survival curves of the two groups were compared using the log-rank test. All statistical tests were two-tailed, and a P value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were performed using R statistical software (version 4.3.2; R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria).

Ethical approval and Informed consent

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The Institutional Review Board of the Kyung Hee University Hospital approved this study (approval number 2023-06-068), and given its retrospective nature, written informed consent was waived.

Patient characteristics

During the 20-year study period, we analyzed 328 episodes of bacterial BSIs in 228 patients with hematological malignancies. Of them, 67 (29.4%) patients experienced multiple episodes of bacteremia, ranging from 2 to 6 occurrences during the study period. Of 328 BSIs, 81 (24.7%) were caused by MRDOs. The prevalence of MDROs steadily increased from 10.3% during 2003–2007 to 39.7% during 2018–2022 ( P  < 0.001). Specifically, the prevalence of Gram-positive MDROs increased from 14.7% to 32.0% ( P  = 0.21) and the prevalence of Gram-negative MDROs increased from 7.0 to 44.4% ( P  < 0.001) (Fig.  1 ). Among the 328 episodes of bacterial BSIs, Gram-positive bacteria were identified as the causative agents in 141 cases (43.0%), GNB in 166 (50.6%), anaerobes in 3 (0.9%), and polymicrobial bacteria in 18 episodes (5.5%) (Table 1 ). Table 1 shows the details of bacterial pathogens in patients with bacterial BSIs, distinguishing between those with and without neutropenia.

Twenty-year trends in the rates of multidrug resistance (MDR) in bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients with hematological cancer. MDR rates during the periods of 2007–2010, 2011–2014, 2015–2018, and 2019–2022 were compared with those during the period of 2003–2006. The statistical significance was displayed using the following notation: * P  < 0.05, ** P  < 0.01, and *** P  < 0.001.

Baseline risk factors for MDROs

Table 2 shows the baseline characteristics and outcomes of 328 patients with hematologic cancer and bacterial BSIs caused by MDROs and non-MDROs. Patients infected with MDROs were more likely to have a more extended hospital stay before bacteremia onset (median 22 vs. 13 days; P  = 0.001), lower platelet counts (median 28 vs. 44 × 10 3 /µL; P  < 0.001), and higher C-reactive protein levels (median 16 vs. 10 mg/dL; P  = 0.001) than those infected with non-MDROs. Patients infected with MDROs were more likely to receive inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy (42.0 vs. 13.8%, P  < 0.001) (Table 2 ). There was a significant trend towards increasing MDR rate according to the length of hospital stay: 16.9% (≤ 13 days), 25.0% (14–27 days), and 39.7% (≥ 28 days) (linear-by-linear association test; P  < 0.001) (Fig.  2 ). This trend was also evident among patients infected with Gram-positive cocci (10.8%, 17.9%, and 40.5%; P  < 0.001) and Gram-negative bacilli (19.5%, 29.2%, and 38.9%; P  = 0.02) (Fig.  2 ). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was associated with a higher rate of MDROs and these patients exhibited the longest duration of hospitalization (median, 19 days) compared with those with acute lymphoid leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma (median, 18, 11, and 4 days, respectively).

The multidrug resistance (MDR) rates according to length of hospital stay. A significant trend was observed, showing an increase in MDR rates with more extended hospital stays. The P -value was calculated using the linear-by-linear association test.

Impact of disease status and MDROs on patient outcome

Of the 328 patients with bacterial BSI, 82 (25.0%) died within 30 days of BSI onset (Table 2 ). The 30-day mortality rate differed according to disease status: 35.9% (23/64) for newly diagnosed cancer, 7.9% (10/126) for complete remission, and 35.5% (49/138) for relapsed/refractory disease cancer ( P  < 0.001) (Table 3 ). The mortality rate was higher in patients infected with MDROs than in those infected with non-MDROs (48.1 vs. 17.4%; P  < 0.001). This finding was evident in patients who were first diagnosed with malignancy (63.2 vs. 24.4%; P  = 0.008) and relapsed/refractory disease (60.5 vs. 26.0%; P  < 0.001) but not in those who were in complete remission (16.7 vs. 5.9%; P  = 0.10) (Fig.  3 ). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the mortality rate of patients infected with MDROs was higher than that of patients infected with non-MDROs (log-rank test, P  < 0.001; Fig.  4 A). Similar findings were observed in patients infected with Gram-positive and Gram-negative MDROs (Fig.  4 B,C).

Comparison of 30-day mortality between patients infected with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and those infected with non-MDROs according to disease status. Among patients newly diagnosed with malignancy or experiencing relapsed/refractory disease, the mortality rate was higher in the MDROs group compared to the non-MDROs group. However, this difference was not observed in patients who were in complete remission.

Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a higher mortality rate among patients infected with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) compared to those infected with non-MDROs ( A ). Similar trends were observed in patients infected with Gram-positive MDROs ( B ) and Gram-negative MDROs ( C ). Patients who received inappropriate empirical therapy exhibited a higher mortality rate compared to those who received appropriate empirical therapy ( D ).

Among the MDROs, carbapenem-resistant GNB exhibited the highest 30-day mortality rate (61.9%), followed by VRE (50.0%), MRSA (45.5%), and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (26.1%) (Fig.  5 ). The mortality for each pathogen, except for ESBL-producing Enterobactericae , did not differ between patients with and without neutropenia (Supplementary Table S1 ). The association between MDROs and 30-day mortality was evident for carbapenem-resistant GNB (odds ratio [OR], 5.61; P  < 0.001) and VRE (OR, 3.25; P  = 0.02) but was less evident for MRSA (OR, 2.60; P  = 0.12) and not evident for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (OR, 1.06; P  = 0.90).

Bar chart showing 30-day mortality and 95% confidence intervals for BSIs caused by different pathogens. ESBL, extended-spectrum β-lactamase; GNB, Gram-negative bacteria; GPB, Gram-positive bacteria; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; MSSA, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus ; VRE, vancomycin-resistant enterococci; VSE, vancomycin-susceptible enterococci.

Table 3 presents the results of univariate and multivariate analyses for 30-day mortality among hematological patients with bacterial BSIs. Univariate analysis indicated that age ≥ 65 years ( P  = 0.002), newly diagnosed disease ( P  < 0.001), relapsed/refractory disease ( P  < 0.001), absence of central venous catheters ( P  = 0.02), white blood cell ≥ 15,000/µL ( P  = 0.01), C-reactive protein level ≥ 20 mg/L ( P  < 0.001), infections caused by MDROs ( P  < 0.001), and inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment ( P  < 0.001) were the independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the mortality rate of patients who received inappropriate empirical therapy was higher than that of patients who received appropriate empirical therapy (log-rank test, P  < 0.001; Fig.  4 D). Multivariate analysis indicated that the independent risk factors for 30-day mortality were age ≥ 65 years (OR, 2.15; 95% CI 1.12–4.23), newly diagnosed disease (compared with complete remission, OR, 5.80; 95% CI 2.25–16.20), relapsed/refractory disease (compared with complete remission, OR, 6.89; 95% CI 2.98–17.88), C-reactive protein level ≥ 20 mg/L (OR, 3.35; 95% CI 1.68–6.77), polymicrobial infection (OR, 3.68; 95% CI 1.07–13.31), infections caused by MDROs (OR, 3.02; 95% CI 1.52–6.04), and inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy (OR, 2.38; 95% CI 1.11–5.13).

This study assessed trends in the prevalence of MDROs and their impact on outcomes in 328 hematological patients with bacterial BSIs. Over the 20-year study period, the rates of MDROs in bacterial BSIs within the population increased significantly by fourfold, affecting both Gram-positive and GNB. This substantial increase in MDR rates was also well-documented in a recent study involving 552 patients with hematological malignancies 10 . This study demonstrated that carbapenem resistance and MDR rates increased from 0 to 40% in Pseudomonas species and from 17 to 82% in Acinetobacter baumannii 10 .

In this study, the two notable factors for mortality in patients with hematologic cancer and bacterial BSIs were disease status and MDROs. We observed a higher mortality rate in patients with a newly diagnosed or refractory disease than in those in remission (Table 3 ). This increased mortality in patients in non-remission may be due to immunosuppression resulting from a higher disease burden. After adjusting for disease status, we found that MDROs were independently associated with a threefold increase in the odds of mortality (Table 3 ). The adverse effect of MDROs on patient outcomes was more pronounced in patients who were not in remission, with a mortality rate exceeding 60%, as opposed to 17% in those in remission (Fig.  3 ). Consistent with our findings, Scheich et al. found that the overall survival of hematological bacteremia patients infected with Gram-negative MDR bacteria was significantly lower than that of patients infected with Gram-negative non-MDR bacteria (85.6 vs. 55.9%) 11 . However, they did not find a significant association between the disease status and outcomes, potentially because of the small number of patients in remission (only three) 11 . In patients with hematological cancer, MDRO colonization is associated with subsequent bacterial BSIs 7 , 13 . Based on these findings and our data, we suggest that stringent infection control measures are critical in patients with hematological cancer to prevent MDRO colonization and subsequent BSI.

We assessed the effects of various pathogens on the patient outcomes (Fig.  5 ). Carbapenem-resistant GNB had the most adverse outcomes, whereas streptococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and non-ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were associated with better outcomes. This finding aligns with recent observations by Weber et al., who analyzed 637 bacterial BSI episodes in patients with predominantly hematological malignancies 20 . Carbapenem-resistant GNB exhibited the highest mortality rate (62%), with a 5.6-fold increase in the odds of mortality in our study, consistent with the 9.5-fold increase in the hazard ratio for mortality reported by Weber et al. 20 . Notably, the CRE rate in this study was only 1.2%. Most carbapenem-resistant GNB were non-fermenting GNB, such as A. bauamanni , P. aeruginosa, and S. maltophilia (Table 1 ). Non-fermenting GNB are intrinsically resistant to many antimicrobials and can acquire resistance to any antimicrobial agents 8 , 14 . Bacterial BSIs caused by these organisms result in high mortality rates, ranging from 23 to 65% among patients with hematological cancer 21 , 22 , 23 . In a study by Scheich et al., patients with hematological bacteremia infected with MDR non-fermentators had worse overall survival than those infected with non-MDR non-fermentators (71 vs. 31%) 11 . VRE bacteremia resulted in a mortality rate of 50%, with a 3.2-fold increase in the odds of mortality compared to non-VRE bacteremia in our study, consistent with the 2.1-fold increase in the hazard ratio for mortality reported by Weber et al. 20 . Among patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation, those with VRE BSI had a 4.7-fold increased risk of 1-year non-relapse mortality compared with patients without BSI 24 . The negative impact of polymicrobial BSIs in our patients is consistent with the findings of previous studies 5 , 7 .

Appropriate selection of empiric therapy is critical in hematologic patients at high risk of MDRO infection. In this study, a three-fold higher rate of inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy was observed in bacterial BSIs caused by MDROs than in those caused by non-MDROs (42 vs. 14%, respectively) (Table 2 ).We found that inappropriate initial therapy was independently associated with a 2.4-fold increase in the odds of mortality (Table 3 ). Our data are consistent with those of a study documenting the same association in patients with hematological malignancies and Gram-negative bacterial BSIs 18 . We observed that AML and more extended hospital stays were risk factors for MDROs (Table 1 and Fig.  2 ). In a previous study, 155 (50%) of 312 patients with AML were colonized with MDROs before, during, or after their hospital stay after induction chemotherapy 25 . The high rates of MDRO colonization in patients with AML may be attributed to prolonged hospital stays stemming from significant bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy. In our study, patients with AML had the most prolonged duration of hospitalization compared to those with other diseases. Therefore, in patients with AML or a prolonged length of stay, empiric antibiotic therapy against MDROs should be considered for suspected bacterial BSIs. However, it cannot be emphasized enough that the initial broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage for MDRO infections should be modified based on the final blood culture results.

The main limitation of this study was its retrospective nature, which could lead to potential missing or inaccurate data collection. However, we attempted to mitigate this issue by using a standardized data form for detailed clinical data collection and involving three authors (K. H. P., Y. J. J., and J. J. H.) in the data review. Disagreements among the authors were resolved through regular meetings. To ensure accurate identification of comorbid illnesses, we utilized both chart review and ICD-10 codes. Additionally, because the study was conducted at a single center, the generalizability of the findings to other settings with different patient populations or microbiological pathogens may be limited. Finally, the relatively small sample size compromised the statistical power of the study, potentially hindering the detection of differences within subgroups.

In conclusion, hematological patients with MDR bacterial BSI had a higher mortality rate than those with non-MDR bacterial BSI. The effect of MDROs on mortality varied considerably according to the type of disease status and causative pathogens but was independent of the type of hematological malignancy. Our findings underscore the importance of tailored antibiotic strategies and rigorous infection control measures to improve outcomes in patients with hematologic cancer.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI23C0299) and the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. RS-2023-00246999).

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These authors contributed equally: Ki-Ho Park and Ye Ji Jung.

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Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Ki-Ho Park, Woojae Jeon, Dong Youn Kim, Yu-Mi Lee & Mi Suk Lee

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea

Ye Ji Jung, Hyun Jung Lee, Hong Jun Kim, Chi Hoon Maeng, Sun Kyung Baek & Jae Joon Han

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K.P. and J.H. had full access to the study data and takes responsibility for data integrity and accuracy of data analysis. K.P., Y.J., and J.H. designed the study. K.P., Y.J., J.H., and Y.L. collected the data. K.P., Y.J., J.H. acquired the data and performed the statistical analysis. K.P., Y.J., H.L., H.K., C.M., S.B., J.H., W.J., D.K., Y.L., and M.L. provided the final interpretation of the results. K.P. Y.J., and J.H. drafted the manuscript. K.P., Y.J., H.L., H.K., C.M., S.B., J.H., W.J., D.K., Y.L., and M.L. made critical revisions to the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Park, KH., Jung, Y.J., Lee, H.J. et al. Impact of multidrug resistance on outcomes in hematologic cancer patients with bacterial bloodstream infections. Sci Rep 14 , 15622 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66524-w

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ESG Turns 20: A Brief History, and Why It’s Not Going Away

12 things to know about ESG and sustainable investing, and a look at the next 20 years.

Sometime in your investing journey, you’ve probably encountered the term ESG. It celebrates its 20-year anniversary this year, and it stands for environmental, social and governance analysis of companies and investing. It evolved from an early approach called “socially responsible investing.” Sometimes, the term ESG is confused with the broader term “sustainable investing,” which includes a wide array of approaches , including ESG analysis. (You can learn more about the prehistory of ESG here .)

As the planet warms, and as younger consumers and investors make sustainability a priority, ESG has never been more financially relevant. But while it’s been roundly criticized in recent years, it’s here for good. We asked Morningstar analysts and other sustainable-investing experts how it came about, and what the next 20 years may hold.

ESG Turns 20 this year. How did it start?

ESG evolved from values-based investing as people sought more systematic ways to describe risks that weren’t strictly financial. In 2004, the UN Global Compact published “Who Cares Wins,” which discussed the concept of “environmental, social and governance” factors to describe these nonfinancial issues. It provided a systematic way of accounting for nonfinancial risks—the changing climate, say, or human rights violations―and rejected the view that investment should happen from a purely financial perspective. “In many cases, for example, responsible investors are compensating for a lack of effective public policy,” says Thomas Kuh, head of ESG Strategy for Morningstar Indexes.

Next, the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer showed that ESG issues are relevant for financial valuation and consistent with fiduciary duty. That laid the groundwork for using ESG analysis. Its report was commissioned by the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative, the first of a number of studies showing that fiduciaries needed to consider ESG issues, when they were material.

The same UN body launched the Principles for Responsible Investment in 2006, creating a framework for institutional investors to incorporate ESG into their investment processes.

The Freshfields report “was a turning point. It said that not only are investment funds allowed to include nonfinancial factors, but that they arguably must, because the time horizon for what’s material to financial returns is long and nonfinancial factors present all sorts of risk and opportunities for investors,” says Lisa Cooper, founder, Figure 8 Investing Strategies. “Soon you had big European pension plans asking banks and asset managers to figure it out.”

Two landmark events catalyzed the growth of ESG. Developments in society also helped it along.

In 2015, the Paris Climate Accord and the Sustainable Development Goals were signed. The Paris Agreement, now ratified by 180-plus countries, sets goals for curbing global warming.

The UN also established Sustainable Development Goals, calling for nations to address challenges related to poverty, inequality, climate change, and peace by 2030. The SDGs embrace actions that corporations and others can take to achieve the goals. This sets a framework by which business leaders and investors could speak the same language and work toward shared targets.

Soon after, “Corporate Sustainability: First Evidence on Materiality” was published, which showed that focusing on financially relevant ESG factors had a positive effect on shareholder value. For example, “If climate change matters for investors’ decisions, then climate risk is material even if the company is not inclined to state that in regulatory documents,” says Kuh.

Issues that weren’t on investors’ radar were now financially relevant. The 2008 global financial crisis showed how unchecked financial system weaknesses could erode value. Investors began framing the climate crisis as a market failure, providing momentum for the Paris Agreement, says Jackie Cook, who leads the proxy-voting advisory service for Morningstar Sustainalytics.

As they adopted ESG analysis, investors found new risks. Consider factory farming, where ESG analysis underscored risks such as food contamination and labor issues. The coronavirus pandemic disproportionately affected vulnerable communities and thrust companies in the public glare. “Remember workers in slaughterhouses continuing to work during covid? Suddenly, people realized ‘Oh, we’re looking at ESG issues,’” says Maria Lettini, executive director of US SIF, the trade organization for sustainable investing. “Covid highlighted how food system risk affects economies and commodities and access to food.”

Companies also saw ESG as increasingly relevant.

To help address the challenges of achieving the Paris Agreement goals, the G20 and Financial Stability Board created the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, to help people understand “carbon-related assets in the financial sectors.” TCFD would become a regulated reporting requirement across many global regions. By 2022, 61% of G250 companies disclosed information in line with at least one of the framework’s pillars.

In 2018, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink urged fellow CEOs to position for long-term profitability by focusing on the role of the corporation in society. Companies focused on minimizing negative environmental and social impacts and accentuating positive ones would be rewarded by customers, protect their brands, and attract top talent, enabling them to better navigate the transition to an increasingly low-carbon and digital economy, Fink wrote.

Previously, the economist Milton Friedman’s doctrine of shareholder primacy held sway . By 2019, the powerful Business Roundtable also reversed its stance on shareholder primacy, saying that other stakeholders—customers, employees, suppliers, communities—are also important.

“The shift toward a stakeholder view of the firm and how it should be governed was already happening well before the COVID pandemic—fueled by a post-financial crisis awakening to the systemic vulnerabilities introduced by short-termism, as well as a growing urgency for global action to halt climate change,” says Cook of Sustainalytics. “However, [the pandemic] brought to the fore fundamental flaws in shareholder primacy-style governance. The economic and political fallout ignited a collective awareness of the overlapping interests of stakeholder groups in securing resilience across systems.”

ESG goes mainstream.

In 2016, Morningstar introduced the Sustainability Rating for funds and ETFs and established its sustainability indexes. Jon Hale, a prominent sustainable-investing commentator and former Morningstar head of sustainability research, helped create the rating. Hale recalls: “I couldn’t believe how complex and sophisticated the frameworks had gotten. I asked Joe [Mansueto, Morningstar’s founder], ‘Can we do this?’ He said, ‘Sure.’ And once he said that, then people said, OK, we’ll shake loose some resources. When we launched the rating, it focused attention on sustainable investing. Academic papers were written. Morningstar had given its stamp of approval on this idea of sustainable investing. It got a lot of heads nodding.”

More big investors began to use ESG analysis. “In 2014, we noticed in our trends reporting that the biggest jump was in the use of the ESG integration strategy,” says Bryan McGannon, managing director of US SIF, the trade group for the sustainable-investing industry. “It began to permeate mainstream finance.”

As the value proposition grew clear, consolidation took place throughout the sustainable-investing ecosystem. Eaton Vance bought Calvert Research & Management in 2016, followed by Impax purchasing Pax World Management, both prominent sustainable-investing boutiques. In 2017, Morningstar took a stake in data and analytics provider Sustainalytics, which provided the data for its fund sustainability ratings, and bought the rest of the firm in 2020.

Morningstar’s own development, like that of many financial-services companies, is intertwined with ESG’s evolution.

Morningstar analysts covered socially responsible funds PAX World Fund, Dreyfus Third Century, and the Calvert funds, starting in the 1980s. Sustainalytics established global ESG research and ratings offerings in 2010 and expanded its offering to include governance research and carbon solutions in 2015. Morningstar’s approach to its own corporate sustainability drew on its approach to research, centering on independence, materiality, and transparency. “We’re founded on the idea that investors deserve transparency into what’s in their portfolios and the tools to make better decisions,” said Gabriel Presler, global head of enterprise sustainability for Morningstar. “Stakeholders, meaning our employees, shareholders, and clients, deserve that same transparency. Environmental, social, and governance information provides stakeholders with a more complete view of an issuer or investment or an organization―not only its value in the market and the risk it presents, but also the externalities, good and bad, it is creating.”

Europe takes the lead.

In 2017, the European Commission presented its sustainable finance action plan to refocus capital on a low-carbon economy. The plan included proposals for regulation of disclosures on sustainable investment and sustainability risks. The European Green Deal came in 2019, followed by a separate plan to help companies and investors identify economic activities that are environmentally sustainable, as well as an anti-greenwashing rule that makes fund managers and others communicate the environmental and social impact of their transactions. Such moves accelerated the adoption of ESG. By 2023, Morningstar’s coverage of ESG funds was worth $2.8 trillion dollars, with Europe representing more than 80% of these global ESG fund assets.

Transparency and comparability grow more robust .

It was a big year in 2023: The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive became law, new sustainability reporting standards were finalized, and California enacted two broad-based climate-related reporting laws. In 2024, the SEC finally adopted a sweeping rule to make companies listed in the US report climate-related risks and their plans to adapt to them. Today, according to the SEC, some 90% of companies in the Russell 1000 Index already disclose this kind of sustainability data. Other jurisdictions go further than the SEC: For example, companies that do business in Europe or California are preparing to make more detailed disclosures than what the SEC requires. (For more on sustainability reporting requirements around the globe, download Morningstar’s “Sustainability Reporting Requirements” white paper ).

But … the nomenclature grows confusing.

Increasingly, people use the term ESG investing for a vast array of approaches, whether investing according to their values, such as screening out stocks or finding companies that have an impact, or pursuing values based on nonfinancial factors, or some combination of approaches. ESG as a tool becomes conflated with the broader notion of sustainable investing.

Properly understood, ESG is an analytical framework that uses ESG factors to approach an investment, says Morningstar’s Kuh. “It’s is a useful tool for informing investment decisions.” There is no such thing as an “ESG company,” for example.

The ESG reckoning begins .

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2021, highlighted contradictions, inconsistencies, and conflicts between the E, the S, and the G, points out Hortense Bioy, head of sustainable investing research for Morningstar Sustainalytics. For example, in Europe, governments reneged on their environmental goals by turning to fossil fuels to reduce dependence on Russian gas. The war also boosted oil and gas shares, making fossil-fuel-light ESG funds underperform by comparison. It highlighted the need for a strong defense industry, “something that doesn’t align with the values of investors focused on sustainability,” says Bioy.

Meanwhile, as fund managers chased after new clients, greenwashing charges grew—just as critiques of sustainable investing were on the rise. In 2023, DWS, an investment firm controlled by Deutsche Bank, settled with the SEC over misstatements regarding its ESG investing. Separately, critics slammed ESG on grounds that it overpromises on performance or reduces motivation by governments to solve climate change. Others said it violates fiduciary duty because it ventures outside the economic interest, narrowly defined, of investors. Says Kuh: “Greenwashing can be seen as primarily overreach on the part of fund managers but also unrealistic expectations on the part of investors.”

ESG becomes politicized.

In 2021, Texas prohibited government contracts with companies it thought were punishing the fossil fuel and firearms industries and banned public pension funds from using ESG principles in investing. Republican opponents also slammed companies for venturing into social issues, dubbing ESG “woke capitalism.” This year, Florida effectively bans the term “climate change” from its state laws.

Today, dozens of states have passed either pro- or anti-ESG bills related to financial institutions and other large companies. The decisions have financial consequences: Wharton says decisions to ban certain banks as municipal bond underwriters in Texas means cities will pay an additional $303 million to $532 million in interest on $32 billion in bonds. As the term “ESG” became a political football, companies and investors shied away: BlackRock CEO Fink said he’d stop using it because it’s become weaponized on both sides, the right and the left, and it’s become too polarizing.

Should the term ESG be retired?

• Some people think so. Originally a specific term, “it’s often used to refer to both value- and values-based investing approaches which has fueled an opportunistic political attack on investing choice based on a deliberately narrow interpretation of ‘fiduciary duty,’” says Cook. Adds Leslie Samuelrich, President of Green Century Funds: “The term should be retired because it’s misused. There’s no such thing as ESG investing. There’s using ESG data to assess risk and reward. But too often it becomes synonymous with investments that are making an impact in the real world instead of companies that are just addressing their risks.”
• ESG is necessary. Most things that aren’t purely financial or economic have an ESG angle to them. “It’s that breadth that has sometimes left proponents of ESG integration in investing open to the charge that they are taking their eye off the ball when it comes to fiduciary duty,” says Lindsey Stewart, director of stewardship research and policy for Morningstar Sustainalytics. But considering ESG information is essential for getting a 360-degree view of the risks and opportunities a business is facing.
• ESG data and frameworks allow investors and companies to understand the actual costs of corporate behavior . “With negative externalities, it becomes the public’s responsibility to bear the cost. ESG data demonstrates the true cost of company behavior. It’s transparency in the hands of people who have not had this power before,” says Presler of Morningstar.

Says Andy Behar, CEO of shareholder advocate As You Sow: “ESG is about the relationship between shareholders and companies they own. Companies need to disclose [ESG information] honestly and in a standardized format for shareholders to make a good decision,” much as the SEC required standardized financial disclosures decades ago.

• And it’s too late to go back. Any factors that are material to investment returns will find their way back into the investment process. Most financial system participants, including central banks, regulators, large institutional investors, believe that nonfinancial investing factors are financially relevant. Consumers have increasingly voiced support for their own sustainability goals. “Couldn’t we just drop ESG altogether and get back to investing as we used to know it? It’s not that simple : ESG issues are already embedded into our lives,” says Adam Fleck, director of research, ratings, and ESG at Morningstar Sustainalytics.

The next 20 years. Remember that the year 2030—a target for many climate pledges—looms large.

• Expect regulations and standards globally for companies to measure and disclose climate risk management, says Stewart, “like the birth of generally accepted accounting principles half a century ago, but for sustainability. Today, it’s almost incomprehensible that there would be no standardized method for companies to disclose their revenues and profits, or assets and liabilities. Before long, we’ll feel exactly the same way about ESG disclosures like GHG emissions or workforce metrics.”
• Expect more impact-oriented investing and other data . “Impact is a new form of values-oriented investment,” says Bioy. New EU regulations require companies to report on risks to their business and their impact on the world around them. These regulations “will facilitate the new trend.”
• Expect funds to be more targeted . For example, about two thirds of sustainable funds have energy sector exposure, as they engage with companies. “It’s time to reconsider that view,” says Hale. “Sustainable funds that currently invest in fossil fuels should say they are going to spend no more than the next five years engaging—and after that, they are going to wind down their exposure to fossil fuels. There is no more time to wait.”
• Expect “S” factors to remain a political hot button . “Investors’ efforts to advance S-related policies, practices and investing approaches will continue, but will be increasingly referred to in general terms like human capital management and supply chain resilience,” says Cook.
• Artificial intelligence will transform how we gather and analyze sustainability issues in a world inundated with data. Sustainability research will complement company-reported information with data about companies from external sources, such as geospatial data on methane emissions. “Sustainable investing should not be expected to ‘solve’ complex, often global, problems, but it can be a force for change,” says Kuh.

The author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar’s editorial policies .

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About the authors, leslie p. norton.

Leslie Norton is editorial director for sustainability at Morningstar.

Norton joined Morningstar in 2021 after a long career at Barron's Magazine and Barrons.com, where she managed the magazine's well-known Q&A feature and launched its sustainable investing coverage. Before that, she was Barron's Asia editor and mutual funds editor. While at Barron's, she won a SABEW "Best in Business" award for a series of stories investigating fraudulent Chinese equities, which protected the savings of investors and pensioners by warning about deceptive stocks before they crashed.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Yale College, where she majored in English, and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

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The focal ablation group underwent an ablation of the area of the prostate with positive biopsy cores. The extended ablation group underwent a zonal ablation.

IRE indicates irreversible electroporation.

eTable 1. The MRI scan results

eTable 2. The MRI scan results related to the biopsy outcomes

eTable 3. Treatment failure rate in different tumor position

eTable 4. Treatment failure rate among patients with different positive cores at baseline biopsy

eTable 5. Treatment failure rate among patients with different ISUP group at baseline biopsy

eTable 6. The change of biopsy results in the treated area after treatment

eFigure 1. The changes on MRI before and after IRE treatment

eFigure 2. Lesion resolved on the MRI

Trial protocol 2015

Trial protocol 2019

Medical ethics approval

Protocol amendments

Data sharing statement

• Omitted Author and Locations Where Trial Was Conducted JAMA Surgery Correction August 1, 2023
• Prostate Cancer Recurrence and Persistence After Irreversible Electroporation Focal Ablation JAMA Surgery Invited Commentary April 1, 2023 Sumit Isharwal, MD; Kirsten L. Greene, MD, MS

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Zhang K , Teoh J , Laguna P, et al. Effect of Focal vs Extended Irreversible Electroporation for the Ablation of Localized Low- or Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer on Early Oncological Control : A Randomized Clinical Trial . JAMA Surg. 2023;158(4):343–349. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.7516

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Effect of Focal vs Extended Irreversible Electroporation for the Ablation of Localized Low- or Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer on Early Oncological Control : A Randomized Clinical Trial

• 1 Department of Urology, Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics, Beijing, China
• 2 S.H. Ho Urology Centre, Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
• 3 Department of Urology, Istanbul Medipol Mega University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• 4 Department of Urology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
• 5 Department of Urology, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
• 6 Department of Urology, King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
• 7 Department of Urology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Ev. Huyssens-Stiftung, Essen, Germany
• 8 Department of Urology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 9 Department of Radiology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
• 10 Department of Urology, McGill University Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Invited Commentary Prostate Cancer Recurrence and Persistence After Irreversible Electroporation Focal Ablation Sumit Isharwal, MD; Kirsten L. Greene, MD, MS JAMA Surgery
• Correction Omitted Author and Locations Where Trial Was Conducted JAMA Surgery

Question   What is the effect of focal vs extended irreversible electroporation (IRE) on early oncological control for patients with localized low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer?

Findings   In this randomized clinical trial with 106 patients, there was no significant difference in presence of clinically significant prostate cancer between the focal and extended IRE ablation groups on follow-up biopsy at 6 months.

Meaning   This study found that focal IRE ablation therapy may provide acceptable oncological outcomes while preserving quality of life among patients with localized low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Importance   Focal ablative irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a therapy that treats only the area of the tumor with the aim of achieving oncological control while reducing treatment-related functional detriment.

Objective   To evaluate the effect of focal vs extended IRE on early oncological control for patients with localized low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants   In this randomized clinical trial conducted at 5 centers in Europe, men with localized low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer were randomized to receive either focal or extended IRE ablation. Data were collected at baseline and at regular intervals after the procedure from June 2015 to January 2020, and data were analyzed from September 2021 to July 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures   Oncological outcome as indicated by presence of clinically significant prostate cancer (International Society of Urological Pathology grade ≥2) on transperineal template-mapping prostate biopsy at 6 months after IRE. Descriptive measures of results from that biopsy included the number and location of positive cores.

Results   A total of 51 and 55 patients underwent focal and extended IRE, respectively. Median (IQR) age was 64 years (58-67) in the focal ablation group and 64 years (57-68) in the extended ablation group. Median (IQR) follow-up time was 30 months (24-48). Clinically significant prostate cancer was detected in 9 patients (18.8%) in the focal ablation group and 7 patients (13.2%) in the extended ablation group. There was no significant difference in presence of clinically significant prostate cancer between the 2 groups. In the focal ablation group, 17 patients (35.4%) had positive cores outside of the treated area, 3 patients (6.3%) had positive cores in the treated area, and 5 patients (10.4%) had positive cores both in and outside of the treated area. In the extended group, 10 patients (18.9%) had positive cores outside of the treated area, 9 patients (17.0%) had positive cores in the treated area, and 2 patients (3.8%) had positive cores both in and outside of the treated area. Clinically significant cancer was found in the treated area in 5 of 48 patients (10.4%) in the focal ablation group and 5 of 53 patients (9.4%) in the extended ablation group.

Conclusions and Relevance   This study found that focal and extended IRE ablation achieved similar oncological outcomes in men with localized low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Because some patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer are still candidates for active surveillance, focal therapy may be a promising option for those patients with a high risk of cancer progression.

Trial Registration   ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01835977

Focal therapy for prostate cancer uses different sources of energy to treat targeted cancerous areas of the gland, thereby avoiding or limiting damage to surrounding structures and aiming to preserve urinary and erectile function. 1 , 2 Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a tumor ablation technique that uses nonthermal, high-voltage, low-energy electrical pulses between electrodes to create permanent pores in the cell membrane, which leads to a disruption in cellular homeostasis that triggers cell death. 3 , 4

We conducted a multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing focal and extended IRE ablation therapy for patients with localized low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. In this study, we present oncological results from short-term and mid-term follow-up.

This multicenter randomized clinical trial involved 5 centers in Europe: Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain; AMC University Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany; Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France; and King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom. The study was conducted in accordance with good clinical practices and the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the institutional review board of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. The protocol is registered with the Dutch Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (NL50791.018.14) and ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01835977 ). Patients provided written informed consent. Protocols and related details appear in Supplements 2 through 5. Reporting adheres to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials ( CONSORT ) guideline.

Transperineal 3-dimensional, template mapping biopsies were performed to identify and enroll patients with unilateral, histopathologically confirmed, organ-confined prostate cancer. A full list of inclusion and exclusion criteria were published elsewhere. 3

Patients were randomized to receive focal or extended IRE ablation with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Randomization was performed using the web-based data management system of the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society and stratified by age (≤60 vs >60 years), Gleason score (6 vs 7), and International Index of Erectile Function score (≤45 vs >45).

All patients underwent a multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) scan in supine position on a 1.5-T Avanto MRI scanner (Siemens Healthcare) using an integrated endorectal-pelvic phased array coil (Medrad). The images were evaluated by specialized uroradiologists. Extensive transperineal, 3-dimensional, template-mapping biopsies were performed to locate the tumor.

This study used the AngioDynamics NanoKnife IRE system, the first commercially available device to our knowledge. The focal ablation group underwent an ablation of the area of the prostate that had positive biopsy cores. The extended ablation group underwent a zonal ablation ( Figure 1 ). Details of the treatment protocol were described by Scheltema et al. 3 In brief, during the IRE ablation, up to 6 electrode needles were placed into the ablation zone under ultrasound image guidance. Ninety consecutive pulses of high voltage (1500 V/cm) with a direct current between 20 and 50 A were delivered. The total procedure time, including administration of general anesthesia, was approximately 1 hour.

The primary objective was to evaluate differences in adverse events and quality of life among patients treated with image-guided IRE for focal or extended ablation. The outcomes are presented elsewhere. 5 The secondary objective was to evaluate the oncological efficacy of focal and extended ablation. Here we report those results as reflected by presence of clinically significant prostate cancer (defined as International Society of Urological Pathology grade ≥2) on transperineal template-mapping prostate biopsy at 6 months after IRE ablation.

All related data were collected, including patient characteristics, procedure record, and oncological results. During follow-up visits at 6 months after IRE ablation, all patients underwent MRI and transperineal template biopsy. 3

In-field treatment failure was defined as persistent cancer of similar or different grade in the ablated area. Low-grade, low-volume tumor foci (<3 mm ISUP grade 1) found out of field was not considered treatment failure.

Based on the primary outcome, the sample size was powered on a common event, erectile dysfunction. This was based on absolute erectile function (question 2 of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire) and calculated by means of a 2-sample proportions Pearson χ 2 test (1-sided). Ahmed et al 6 - 9 performed 3 studies with concurrent focal ablation (high-intensity focused ultrasound), comparable ablative scenarios, similar patient population, and the same primary objectives. Based on this comparable research, we estimated that focal treatment would result in 15% absolute erectile dysfunction and extended treatment in 40% absolute erectile dysfunction.

With an α level of .05 and power of 0.80, the required sample size was 39 men in each group. We adjusted the sample size to allow for 35% of men (>50 years old) having poor baseline erectile function in general population, 9 and therefore, we aimed to recruit at least 106 men total.

The Shapiro-Wilk test was used for the assessment of normality of distribution. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values between the 2 groups. The χ 2 test was used to compare MRI and biopsy results. A 2-sided P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed from September 2021 to July 2022, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27 for Windows (IBM).

From July 2015 to February 2020, 106 patients were recruited for this study; 51 patients received focal ablation and 55 patients received extended ablation. Median (IQR) follow-up time was 30 months (24-48). The CONSORT diagram is shown in Figure 2 .

The demographic and baseline characteristics are presented in Table 1 . There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of age, PSA level, imaging evaluation, Gleason score, tumor T stage, number of positive cores, and procedure time. More IRE electrodes were used in the extended ablation group than in the focal ablation group.

Transperineal template-mapping prostate biopsy at 6 months after IRE was performed for 48 patients in the focal ablation group and 53 patients in the extended ablation group. Prostate cancer was found in 27 of 48 patients (56.3%) in the focal ablation group and 23 of 53 patients (43.4%) in the extended ablation group, and clinically significant prostate cancer (ISUP grade ≥2) was detected in 9 patients (18.8%) in the focal ablation group and 7 patients (13.2%) in the extended ablation group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups.

Among these patients, 15 of 48 patients (31.3%) in the focal ablation group and 14 of 53 patients (26.4%) in the extended ablation group had 1 positive biopsy core. In the focal ablation group, 17 patients (35.4%) had positive cores outside of the treated area, only 3 patients (6.3%) had positive cores in the treated area, and 5 patients (10.4%) had positive cores both in and outside of the treated area. By contrast, in the extended group, 10 patients (18.9%) had positive cores outside of the treated area, 9 patients (17.0%) had positive cores in the treated area, and 2 patients (3.8%) had positive cores both in and outside of the treated area.

Clinically significant cancer was found in the treated area in 5 of 48 patients (10.4%) in the focal ablation group and 5 of 53 patients (9.4%) in the extended ablation group ( P  = .64). According to the protocol, treatment failure was experienced by 12 of 48 patients (25%) in the focal ablation group and 12 of 53 patients (22.6%) in the extended ablation group ( P  = .82). The results are summarized in Table 2 .

Changes in PSA levels during follow-up were almost identical in the 2 groups. They increased in the first 24 hours after the procedure and then decreased over the subsequent 2 weeks. After the 1-month follow-up, values were lower than baseline and subsequently remained similar ( Figure 3 ).

At the 6-month follow-up, 50 patients in the focal ablation group and 53 patients in the extended ablation group received an MRI or mpMRI scan. The images showed that among 43 of 50 patients (86%) in the focal ablation group and 47 of 53 patients (88.7%) in the extended ablation group, the previous lesions treated with IRE were resolved or no suspicious lesions were found (eTable 1 and eFigures 1 and 2 in Supplement 1 ).

In each of the focal and extended ablation groups, among patients with MRI showing resolved or no lesions, only 6 cases of clinically significant prostate cancer were detected (12.8% and 11.5%, respectively) (eTable 2 in Supplement 1 ). By contrast, in the areas where MRI showed persistent or responsive but not resolved lesions, tumors were detected in all but 1 case.

In the focal ablation group, the treatment failure rate in the apex, middle, and base areas was 23.1%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively ( P  = .65). In the extended ablation group, the treatment failure rate in these areas was 28%, 18.8%, and 14.3%, respectively ( P  = .67) (eTable 3 in Supplement 1 ). For both groups, the treatment failure rate in the apex (25.5%) and middle areas (25%) was higher than in the base area (15.4%), even though there was no statistical difference ( P  = .99). Neither group showed an association between treatment failure rate and number of positive cores at initial biopsy (eTable 4 in Supplement 1 ).

Neither group showed an association between treatment failure rate and ISUP grade at the baseline (eTable 5 in Supplement 1 ). For clinically significant cancer, the treatment failure rate was 27.3% overall. However, for ISUP grade 1-3 tumors, only 9.4%, 12.5%, and 0% of clinically significant tumors were detected, respectively, in the treated areas (eTable 6 in Supplement 1 ).

The treatment failure rate at each of the 5 European centers was 27.3% (3 of 11 patients), 22.8% (13 of 57 patients), 33.3% (3 of 9 patients), 42.9% (3 of 7 patients), and 15.4% (2 of 13 patients). The rate was not associated with the patient volume at each center.

While 46 of 106 patients (43.4%) had clinically significant cancer at baseline and 50 of 101 patients (49.5%) had positive biopsy results at 6 months, only 16 of 101 patients (15.8%) had clinically significant cancer at the 6-month biopsy. Moreover, for 34 of 50 patients (68%) with cancer detected at 6 months, the positive cores were not in the treated area. This finding suggests IRE could provide promising oncological control as a focal therapy for localized prostate cancer. But this also illustrates that clinical assessment using current standards has significant limitations.

Focal therapy is gaining interest as an option to treat low-volume, low- and intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. The question remains whether this approach can provide acceptable oncological control while preserving quality of life. For decades, different types of energy sources in focal therapy have been studied, including IRE, high-intensity focused ultrasound, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, focal laser ablation or laser interstitial thermotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, and focal brachytherapy. 2 Reports describe rates of clinically significant cancer in the treated area as a median of 8.5% for IRE, 14.7% for high-intensity focused ultrasound, 15% for cryoablation, 10% for photodynamic therapy, 17% for focal laser ablation, 20% for radiofrequency ablation, 0% for focal brachytherapy, and 60% for prostatic artery embolization. 2 However, the treatment protocols vary among different studies, and the follow-up was rather short.

Several studies have reported early oncological results of IRE. The rate of clinically significant cancer in the treated area was reported by 4 studies as a median of 8.5% (range, 0%-33%). 2 In our study, clinically significant cancer was found in the treated area in 10 of 101 patients (9.9%).

In this study, detecting any tumors with an ISUP grade of 2 or higher in the untreated area was also designated as treatment failure. The treatment failure rate was 23.8% (24 of 101 patients) in this study, which is due not only to persistent cancer in the treated area, but also to tumors detected in the untreated area. Including only tumors detected in the treated area would result in a lower rate of treatment failure. The rate of cancer considered clinically significant that was found in the untreated area was equal to that in the treated area. This fact highlights the importance of baseline biopsy and patient selection.

Biopsy approach varies among different studies of focal therapy. 1 Transperineal mapping biopsies were used in our study, irrespective of patients undergoing MRI scan before biopsies. Many tumors were missed in the initial biopsy, causing an increase in treatment failure rate in our study. It is also a general limitation for all the prostate cancer focal therapy techniques. This study was started 7 years ago. At that time, the transperineal prostate biopsy technique might have been limited. Prostate cancer detection and visualization was significantly improved by MRI, which has been shown to reliably identify clinically significant cancer. 10 Hence, some studies suggested that MRI-targeted biopsy in combination with systematic biopsy can replace transperineal mapping biopsies. 11 , 12 However, each biopsy technique may miss tumors inevitably. One study evaluated the dominant tumor progression across serial biopsies for patients receiving active surveillance, showing that even with MRI-targeted biopsy and additional systematic biopsy, up to 21% unfavorable cancers were detected in the contralateral lobe during follow-up biopsies, which may reflect the limitation of biopsy and also reflects that prostate cancer often presents as a multifocal tumor. 13

In our study, MRI showed good accuracy to detect residual clinically significant prostate cancer following IRE. In another study, 50 patients underwent IRE and received follow-up mpMRI at 6 months and transperineal template-mapping biopsy at 12 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the infield regions of interest were 38%, 86%, 33%, and 88%, respectively, for clinically significant prostate cancer (ISUP grade ≥2 or ≥1 with a maximum cancer core length ≥4 mm). 14 A recently published study showed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of mpMRI to detect whole-gland residual clinically significant prostate cancer (ISUP grade ≥2 or ≥1 with a maximum cancer core length ≥4 mm) were 35.8%, 82.0%, 47.1%, and 74.1%, respectively. 15 Their studies indicated that the diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI to detect residual clinically significant tumor after IRE was insufficient. Significant prostate volume and lesion orientation changes occur after partial gland ablation. MRI is limited by the abundance of treatment artifacts, lack of standardization for acquisition and MRI reporting after treatment, and lack of familiarity with postfocal therapy MRI among radiologists. 16 A new postfocal therapy Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System would guide the risk assessment and the management of residual tumors. 17

Patient selection is critical for IRE and focal therapy. Biopsy approach should be further studied and improved to detect all the cancers in the gland as far as possible. As shown in our study, tumors located in the base area seem more likely to be treated successfully compared with those in the apex and middle areas. It is important to emphasize that treatment success rate was not associated with tumor grade in our study, suggesting that focal therapy need not be not confined to low-risk prostate cancer. In fact, for the past 5 years, 51% of patients who underwent focal therapy had Gleason 7 disease, with a stable small proportion of men with Gleason 8 tumor. 2 , 16 Because some men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer could still be candidates for active surveillance, focal therapy may be a promising option for those patients with a high risk of cancer progression. 13 In our study, treatment success was not related to the patient volume of the center, indicating that the learning curve for the IRE technique may be short.

To our knowledge, this is the first prospective randomized study comparing focal and extended ablation in patients with localized prostate cancer. However, this study is limited by the lack of long-term follow-up for oncological results. The sample size is relatively small and primarily powered for changes in quality-of-life issues. So it might not be adequately powered to detect small differences between the 2 groups on oncological results. Moreover, the treatment options and results for patients with persistent tumor were limited; these results will be reported when the data matures. This study was initiated in 2015 when it was recommended to assess potential candidates in performing transperineal template biopsies. In the meantime, the biopsy strategy has changed to using mpMRI-guided targeted biopsies plus systematic biopsies. However, this change does not impair the validity of the data presented but merely reflects the rapid change in imaging and related diagnostic assessment. Also, in earlier days, it was considered good practice to only treat low-risk disease, and therefore, a considerable number of ISUP grade 1 tumors are included. At present, that indication has been extended and is reflected in a significant number of patients with intermediate-risk disease. Finally, there was no central review of the mpMRI readings or pathology outcome.

This study found that IRE ablation achieved promising oncological control in men with localized low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer, and there was no significant difference between focal and extended ablation in their effect on the oncological results. Focal ablation therapy may be a promising option for those patients with a high risk of cancer progression.

Accepted for Publication: October 9, 2022.

Published Online: February 1, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.7516

Correction: This article was corrected on June 21, 2023, to include an author who was omitted and the specific centers and locations where the trial was conducted.

Corresponding Author: Jean de la Rosette, PhD, MD, Tem Avrupa Otoyolu Goztepe Cikisi No. 1, 34214 Bagcilar, Istanbul, Turkey ( [email protected] ).

Author Contributions: Drs Teoh and de la Rosette had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Laguna, de Reijke, Sanchez-Salas, de la Rosette.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Zhang, Teoh, Dominguez-Escrig, Barret, Ramon-Borja, Muir, Bohr, Pelechano Gómez, Ng, Sanchez-Salas, de la Rosette.

Drafting of the manuscript: Zhang, Teoh.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Zhang, Teoh.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Dominguez-Escrig, Muir, Bohr, Pelechano Gómez, Sanchez-Salas.

Supervision: Teoh, Laguna, Dominguez-Escrig, Ramon-Borja, Muir, Pelechano Gómez, Ng, de la Rosette.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Dominguez-Escrig reported grants from Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO) during the conduct of the study and personal fees from Proctor/AngioDynamics outside the submitted work. Dr Ramon-Borja reported grants from Fundación IVO during the conduct of the study and personal fees from Proctor/AngioDynamics outside the submitted work. Dr Bohr reported material support from AngioDynamics (ablation needles) used for the kind of procedure described in the study. Dr Pelechano Gómez reported grants from Fundación IVO during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Funding/Support: AngioDynamics provided an unrestricted educational grant to the Endourological Society to conduct this study.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The sponsor had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Data Sharing Statement: See Supplement 6 .

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