The biggest difference is the ui improvements. You don't need to know how to use a command line you can just click an icon. A lot of tech is largely the same as it ever was but just has an easier to use interface. Going forward something like palm readers and facial id scanners will simplify this even further as you won't even need to know what icon to tap. For better or worse.
Vaccines are typically meant to protect against viruses or bacteria. Cancer is neither of those. hiv is a virus but the political will to produce effective treatments was not always there. I think a lot of young people underestimate the homophobia that was pervasive not all that long ago and how it was tied to the aids epidemic.