AI in Cancer Detection: How High School Students Are Joining the Fight
- BetterMind Labs
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 18
Cancer isn’t new—it’s as old as humanity, maybe even older.
The earliest evidence of cancer was found in a 1.7-million-year-old hominin fossil in South Africa, which showed signs of osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. In ancient Egypt, scrolls revealed mentions of breast tumors, often with grim notes like “no treatment available.”
Around 400 BCE, Hippocrates, the Greek physician widely regarded as the “Father of Medicine,” described cancer as "karkinos, " meaning crab. The term was inspired by the appearance of tumors with swollen blood vessels—like a crab’s legs stretching out.
Why Early Detection Matters So Much
Cancer isn’t just one disease. It’s a group of diseases that all share one terrifying trait: cells that grow out of control
Detecting cancer early significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Today, doctors use a variety of diagnostic tools:
Mammograms for breast cancer
CT scans and MRIs for tumors
Biopsies for cellular analysis
Blood tests for cancer markers
Despite these technologies, even trained professionals can miss signs—especially when symptoms are vague or when multiple scans are required. Human fatigue, oversight, and data overload play a role. Even machines make mistakes due to outdated models or limited training data.
When life is at stake, these margins of error are simply too big.
Enter AI: Precision Meets Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence, particularly Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning, is revolutionizing cancer diagnostics. Here’s how:
Image Recognition: AI algorithms trained on thousands of medical images can detect minute changes or patterns that the human eye might miss.
Predictive Analytics: AI can analyze patient history, genetics, and test results to predict the risk of cancer even before symptoms appear.
Pathology Analysis: AI models like Google's LYNA (Lymph Node Assistant) have shown over 92% accuracy in detecting metastatic breast cancer.
Real-time Monitoring: AI tools can flag anomalies instantly during routine check-ups or scans.
Student Spotlight: AI Cancer Detection Project Built by a High School Student
One of our BetterMind Labs Alumni - let’s call him Richard, had a close family member who went through a delayed diagnosis for skin cancer. Watching the emotional and physical toll it took, Richard decided to take action.
With no prior coding experience, Richard joined our AI/ML Summer Program for High School Students. Over 12 weeks, guided by a mentor and using Python, TensorFlow, and public dermatological datasets, he built an AI-powered Skin Cancer Detection Tool.
Here’s how it works:
Image Upload: A user uploads a clear image of a mole or skin lesion.
Preprocessing: The image is normalized and resized.
Prediction Model: Using a convolutional neural network (CNN), the tool compares the image against labeled datasets like HAM10000.
Diagnosis: The model gives a probability score indicating the risk level (benign vs malignant).
The tool was shared with his school’s health club and local community center. While it’s not meant to replace doctors, it helped raise awareness, sparked interest in regular screening, and even flagged two suspicious cases that were later diagnosed early.
Why This Matters
Cancer has existed for thousands of years, but our ability to fight it is evolving faster than ever—thanks to artificial intelligence. And while we usually associate breakthroughs with labs and PhDs, today, AI cancer detection for high school students is no longer just possible—it's powerful.
At BetterMind Labs, we’re not just teaching students how to use AI—we’re helping them solve problems that matter to them. Richard’s story isn’t an outlier. Our mentors provide personalized guidance, helping students build real-world, impactful projects.
Whether it’s healthcare, education, finance, or climate tech, we believe students learn best when they work on what they care about.
Conclusion: You Can Be Part of the Cure
AI in cancer detection is only the beginning. As technology advances, our ability to prevent, detect, and cure life-threatening diseases will grow stronger. And innovation doesn’t just happen in billion-dollar labs, it can just as easily begin with a teenager, a laptop, and the determination to solve a problem close to their heart.
BetterMind Labs' AI/ML Internship for High School Students is now accepting applications.
Ready to build your passion project and make a real-world impact? Let’s get started.
Apply now. Because the world needs what only you can build.
Relevant Links
The History of Cancer:
AI's Role in Modern Cancer Detection:
Student-Focused AI Projects & Datasets:
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