Unbelievably, discovered cancer cases have affected many people for a couple of centuries now. Cancer is not one of the new diseases. Due to the early research on cancer, we possess great knowledge of the disease today.
Origins of the Name ‘Cancer’
Hippocrates, a physician from Greece, who is also attributed as the father of medicine, initiated the name Cancer. He used carcinoma and carcinos, which are Greek names to explain tumors, and thereby named cancer ‘karkinos’. In reality, these Greek words were terms that described crabs that Hippocrates thought the tumors resembled. Hippocrates might have coined the term ‘Cancer’, but he was definitely not among those who first discovered cancer. Cancer’s history dates back many years earlier.
The First Cancer Case to Be Documented
The oldest discovered cancer case to be documented in the world was in 1500bc in Egypt. The particulars of the case were made on papyrus and documented eight tumor cases that occurred on breasts. The tumors were treated through cauterization, which is a method that destroys tissue by a ‘fire drill’, which is a hot instrument. The recordings also showed that the only available treatment for cancer was palliative treatment.
There is substantial evidence to show that ancient Egyptians could differentiate between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor. According to the writings on the papyrus, tumors on the surface were removed surgically much in the same way as it is done today.
The Rise of Pathological Autopsy
In 1628, Harvey performed some autopsies, which made it possible to learn more about the human physiology and anatomy. A discovery on the circulation of blood was made, which opened doors to further research on diseases. In 1761, the first autopsies to determine the reason for death in sick patients were performed. The first person to perform such autopsies was Giovanni Morgagni from Padua.
Other Theories That Explain Cancer Causes
The theory of the lymph, which replaced the theory of black bile by Hippocrates, was introduced during the seventeenth century as a reason for cancer. When the lymphatic system was discovered, there were new insights to the causes of cancer. Abnormalities in this system are what are thought to be the discovered cancer causes.
It was during the nineteenth century that Rudolph Virchow made recognition of cells, including cancerous cells, which are resultant of other cells. Other theories that have come up to try to establish the causes of cancer include parasites, trauma and the general assumption that cancer could spread in a liquid-like form. Karl Thiersch, a German surgeon reached the conclusion that cancer spreads through cells that are malignant.