Recently, cancer has been recognized as a disease that affects one out of two people in Japan.
So when did this come to be said?
Is cancer a recent disease?
Or has it always been around?
I was curious about the history of cancer, so I researched and summarized it for those who are interested.
Cancer Records in Antiquity
Egypt
Egyptian Medical Document: The oldest extant cancer record is believed to be an Egyptian medical document. This document dates from around 3000 B.C. and is known as the “Edwin Smith Papyrus” or “Brooklyn Papyrus.
Descriptions of tumors: Various descriptions of tumors can be found in these documents. For example, “a tumor is a hard mass that forms somewhere in the body,” “tumors can be classified as benign or malignant,” “treatment of tumors includes resection, cauterization, and drug therapy,” and so on.
Specific cases: In addition, specific cases are described. For example, you will find descriptions of cancers of various sites, such as “tumor of the breast,” “tumor of the uterus,” “tumor of the bone,” and so on.
Greece.
Hippocrates: Hippocrates, a Greek physician active from about 460 B.C. to 370 B.C., used the term “carcinoma (oncos)” to describe tumors.
Galens: Galen, a Greek physician active between 129 and 199, classified tumors as benign and malignant. He also advocated surgical treatment.
ROME
Celsus: In his book, Celsus, a 1st century Roman physician, details the surgical treatment of cancer.
Solanus: In his book, Solanus, a Roman physician from the 2nd century, details the treatment of cancer by drug therapy.
China
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine: The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, China’s oldest medical treatise, which is said to have been established around the 2nd century B.C., contains descriptions of tumors.
Hua Wabi: Hua Wabi, a Chinese physician active from 140 to 160 CE, is said to have been an expert in surgical cancer treatment.
Other Regions
Ancient India: Tumors are mentioned in the traditional medicine called Ayurveda.
Ancient Maya: Traces of bone tumors have been found in the remains of the Maya civilization.
Cancer Records in the Middle Ages
Influence of Christianity
In medieval Europe, cancer was considered God’s punishment. Therefore, religious relief was emphasized over medical treatment.
Penance: Cancer patients sought divine forgiveness by repenting of their sins.
Pilgrimage: Pilgrimages to sacred places were made as a means of praying for the cure of cancer.
Prayer: Prayer by monks was offered as a means of praying for the cure of cancer.
Surgery
Ancient Greek and Roman methods of cancer treatment were inherited in medieval Europe.
Excision: Surgery was performed to remove the tumor portion of the cancer.
Cauterization: Surgery was performed to cauterize the tumor portion of the cancer.
However, these surgeries were extremely painful and had a low success rate due to technical limitations and underdeveloped anesthetics.
Drug Therapy
Various plants and minerals were used as remedies for cancer.
Mandragora: used as a painkiller and anesthetic.
Arsenic: believed to have anti-tumor properties.
Gold: believed to have anti-tumor properties.しかし、これらの薬物の効果は科学的に証明されておらず、むしろ副作用の方が大きかった可能性があります。
Folk Therapies
Various folk remedies were also believed to cure cancer.
Animal blood: Drinking animal blood was believed to cure cancer.
Astrology: Astrology was used to predict the progression of cancer and to find a cure.
Spells: Cancer was tried to be cured by spells.
These folk remedies had no scientific basis.
Confusion with the Plague
In medieval Europe, cancer was sometimes confused with plague.
Plague: Plague was one of the most feared plagues in medieval Europe, claiming many lives.
Smallpox: Smallpox was also an epidemic in medieval Europe, killing many people.
Discrimination and Prejudice
Cancer patients sometimes faced discrimination and prejudice from society.
Incurable: Cancer was considered incurable at the time, and patients were viewed as hopeless.
Filth: Cancer was considered a disease of filth, and patients were shunned.
Social exclusion: Cancer patients were sometimes excluded from society.
Important Discoveries
Important discoveries related to cancer were made in medieval Europe.
Development of anatomy: The development of anatomy led to a better understanding of cancer pathology.
Establishment of Western medicine: The establishment of Western medicine stimulated research into cancer treatments.
Conclusion
The perception of cancer in medieval Europe was unique, influenced by Christianity while inheriting the knowledge of ancient civilizations. Cancer was considered God’s punishment, and religious relief was emphasized over medical treatment.
Surgery and drug therapy were used, but their effectiveness was limited due to technical limitations and lack of scientific evidence.
We now know that cancer is not a recent disease, having been around since BC.
In addition to that, it has been called incurable and very difficult to treat for a long time.
