Challenge: Science Against Cancer (Canada Dept. of Health & Welfare, US Nat'l Cancer Inst., 1950)

This film attempts to explain why researchers are having a difficult time discovering the causes and cures for cancer. It begins with an overview of the birth of man from one cell and generally explores the complexity of the human body. It shows the isolation and testing of cancer cells and explains the effects of heredity and environment on normal cells. It explains the difficulties of tracing several generations for heredity research and the multitude of chemicals, etc. which affect cells and turn them cancerous. Shots include: laboratory testing, hospital waiting room, university science classroom with one female black woman, researchers interviewing former cancer patients at their homes, cancer treatment equipment, radium inserted in patient's mouth, radiation equipment lowered onto lesion of man's face, researchers making coffee on a Bunsen burner and eating lunch in the laboratory, a researcher in the laboratory alone late at night making a personal call home, special animated effects of cells and body organs, etc. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/8700851A Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films