Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies
Overview
The documentary series aims to reshape the way the public sees cancer and strip away some of the fear and misunderstanding that has long surrounded it. The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance but also of hubris, paternalism and misperception.
Crew
Seasons
1x3 - Finding the Achilles Heel
Scientists believe they have cracked the essential mystery of the malignant cell and the first targeted therapies have been developed. But very quickly cancer reveals new layers of complexity and a formidable array of unforeseen defenses. In the disappointment that follows, many call for a new focus on prevention and early detection as the most promising fronts in the war on cancer. But other scientists are undeterred, and by the second decade of the 2000s their work pays off. Perhaps most exciting of all is the prospect of harnessing the human immune system to defeat cancer. Doug Rogers, a 60-year-old NASCAR mechanic with melanoma, and Emily Whitehead, a six-year-old child afflicted with leukemia are both pioneers in new immunotherapy treatments.
