Early History of Cancer

Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. To learn more about how cancer forms and grows, see What Is Cancer?

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. About one-third of all people in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer.

Human beings and other animals have had cancer throughout recorded history. So it’s no surprise that from the dawn of history people have written about cancer. Some of the earliest evidence of cancer is found among fossilized bone tumors, human mummies in ancient Egypt, and ancient manuscripts. Growths suggestive of the bone cancer called osteosarcomahave been seen in mummies. Bony skull destruction as seen in cancer of the head and neck has been found, too.

Our oldest description of cancer (although the word cancer was not used) was discovered in Egypt and dates back to about 3000 BC. It’s called the Edwin Smith Papyrus and is a copy of part of an ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery. It describes 8 cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast that were removed by cauterization with a tool called the fire drill. The writing says about the disease, “There is no treatment.”
(2014) Cancer.org. American Cancer Society. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/history-of-cancer/what-is-cancer.html (Accessed: March 19, 2019).
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cancer on mummy - Google Search (2010) Google.com. Available at: https://www.google.com/search?q=cancer+on+mummy&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS839US839&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOnrnh2o7hAhUMi6wKHSSGAS8Q_AUIDigB&biw=1600&bih=708&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=mQS_mq2GCPGC6M: (Accessed: March 19, 2019).

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All cancers begin in cells. Our bodies are made up of more than a hundred million million (100,000,000,000,000) cells. Cancer starts with changes in one cell or a small group of cells. 

Usually, we have just the right number of each type of cell. This is because cells produce signals to control how much and how often the cells divide. If any of these signals are faulty or missing, cells may start to grow and multiply too much and form a lump called a tumour. A primary tumour is where the cancer starts. 

Some types of cancer, called leukemia, start from blood cells. They don't form solid tumours. Instead, the cancer cells build up in the blood and sometimes the bone marrow.

For a cancer to start, certain changes take place within the genes of a cell or a group of cells.

How cancer starts. (2017, November 28). Retrieved March 19, 2019, from https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancer-starts


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cancer on mummy - Google Search (2010) Google.com. Available at: https://www.google.com/search?q=cancer+on+mummy&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS839US839&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOnrnh2o7hAhUMi6wKHSSGAS8Q_AUIDigB&biw=1600&bih=708&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=qnuu5gU6A24DyM: (Accessed: March 19, 2019).

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