The History of Cancer

The History of Cancer

By Lisa Fayed, About.com Guide
Updated July 08, 2009

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"The History of Cancer"

The History of Cancer: How Cancer was First Discovered and Treated
Believe it or not, cancer has afflicted people for several centuries. It is not a new disease. It is because of the early research that we hold a greater knowledge of cancer today.

Origin of the Word "Cancer"
The word cancer came from the father of medicine, Hippocrates, a Greek physician. Hippocrates used the Greek words, carcinos and carcinoma to describe tumors, thus calling cancer "karkinos." The Greek terms actually were words to describe a crab, which Hippocrates thought a tumor resembled. Although Hippocrates may have named "Cancer," he was certainly not the first to discover the disease. The history of cancer actually begins much earlier.

The First Documented Case of Cancer
The world's oldest documented case of cancer hails from ancient Egypt, in 1500 b.c. The details were recorded on a papyrus, documenting 8 cases of tumors occurring on the breast. It was treated by cauterization, a method to destroy tissue with a hot instrument called "the fire drill." It was also recorded that there was no treatment for the disease, only palliative treatment.

There is evidence that the ancient Egyptians were able to tell the difference between malignant and benign tumors. According to inscriptions, surface tumors were surgically removed in a similar manner as they are removed today.

What Early Physicians Thought Caused Cancer
Today, we know so much about the human body; however early Greek physicians weren't so fortunate. Hippocrates believed that the body was composed of four fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. He believed that an excess of black bile in any given site in the body caused cancer. This was the general thought of the cause of cancer for the next 1400 years.

In ancient Egypt, it was believed cancer was caused by the Gods.

The Birth of the Pathological Autopsy
Autopsies done by Harvey in 1628 paved the way to learning more about human anatomy and physiology. Blood circulation was discovered, opening the doors for more research on diseases. It wasn't until 1761 that autopsies were performed to research cause of death in ill patients. Giovanni Morgagni of Padua was the first to do such autopsies.

More Theories on the Causes of Cancer
The lymph theory developed in the 17th century, replacing Hippocrates' black bile theory on the cause of cancer. The discovery of the lymphatic system gave new insight to what may cause cancer. It was believed that abnormalities in the lymphatic system was the cause.

It wasn't until the late 19th century that Rudolph Virchow recognized that cells, even cancerous cells, derived from other cells.

Other theories surfaced, such as cancer being cause by trauma, parasites, and it was thought that cancer may spread "like a liquid." It was later concluded that cancer spread through malignant cells by German surgeon, Karl Thiersch.

In 1926 a Nobel Prize was wrongfully awarded for the discovery of the cause of stomach cancer a worm.

The 20th century saw the greatest progression in cancer research. Research identifying carcinogens, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and better means of diagnosis were discovered.

Today, we are able to cure some types of cancer, and research is ongoing. Clinical trials and research studies are our key to finding a cure, or a definitive method of prevention.


Sources:
American Cancer Society - History of Cancer.
The Chemical Heritage Foundation -Chemotherapy Timeline.
National Cancer Institute - Closing in on Cancer: Solving a 5000-Year-Old Mystery).

http://cancer.about.com/od/historyofcancer/a/cancerhistory.htm