Cancer Revolution, a new exhibition at the Science Museum in London, explores the advances behind cancer care, from this mask worn by a throat cancer patient for their treatment, to black hellebore root, a remedy used in the 1700s

Health 18 May 2022

The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

THIS eclectic selection of objects is linked by a single goal: to defeat one of the most common, but deadliest, diseases. They form part of Cancer Revolution: Science, innovation and hope, an exhibition developed by the UK’s Science Museum Group that explores the advances behind cancer care.

Radiotherapy mask used in treatment by Steve Bergman for Stage 4 HPV Squamous Throat Cancer. Object submitted for the Cancer Revolution exhibition via the Collecting Project call out.

The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Some treatments for cancer can be nasty. People may need to take medication to manage any side effects, as demonstrated by the one-month supply of drugs for a person with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma seen in the first image. These are to alleviate the unwanted impacts of chemotherapy, which can include pain and sight loss.

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Boiling water type gas x-ray tube with osmosis vacuum regulator, for intensive therapy, invented by C. H. F. Muller, made by Cuthbert Andrews Limited, London, England, 1917-1919.

The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

During radiotherapy, masks moulded to a patient’s affected region are used to hold them still and ensure a radiation dose can be given accurately, such as the one worn by a throat cancer patient shown in the second image.

3D printed anatomical model of tumour of Leah Bennet, made for surgeons at Alder Hey Hospital, made by 3D LifePrints, 2021.

The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Other objects at the exhibition include: an early device for producing X-rays for radiotherapy from around 1917 (third image), used to treat tumours near the surface of the skin; an anatomical model of the inside of a 6-year-old girl’s abdomen (fourth image), 3D printed to allow surgeons to plan the removal of her tumour; capsules of radium that are placed inside patients to deliver localised radiotherapy (fifth image); and a jar of the root of black hellebore (Helleborus niger) (sixth image), which was used to treat cancer in the 1700s.

Bracytherapy radium seed cases used to implnt radium

The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Tin-glazed earthenware albarello, complete with parchment lid, blue and yellow decoration, labelled "R.ELEB.NIGRI" (black hellebore root), from Catalonia or Alcora, Spanish, 18th century

The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cancer Revolution is on at the Science Museum in London from 25 May.

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