A abordagem do câncer no ensino médio: uma análise bibliográfica no contexto do ensino de biologia e da educação em saúde

Abstract

Cancer is one of the major public health problems of our time, with a high incidence and significant social, economic, and educational impacts. In addition to its biological aspects, the disease involves issues related to prevention, lifestyle habits, and fostering greater health awareness among individuals. In this context, schools—especially high schools—play a fundamental role in building scientific knowledge and promoting health education. The objective of this study was to analyze how cancer is addressed in the high school context, integrating biological, curricular, and educational dimensions, as well as to discuss the contributions and limitations identified in the literature. This is a descriptive and analytical bibliographic study with a qualitative approach, based on books, scientific articles, and official documents consulted in databases such as the Scientific Electronic Library Online, the Virtual Health Library, and Google Scholar, as well as national curriculum documents, covering the time period from 2010 to 2023. The results showed that cancer is still addressed in a fragmented manner in the school setting, generally limited to topics such as cell division, genetics, and mutations, with little connection to prevention and health promotion. Limitations were also identified in teaching materials and the curricular approach, as well as the need for more contextualized and interdisciplinary methodologies. It can be concluded that incorporating this topic more broadly into biology education can contribute to scientific literacy, the development of students’ critical thinking skills, and the adoption of healthier habits both inside and outside of school.