Dinosaurs and Ancient Civilizations: Reflections on the Treatment of Cancer

Evidence from Ancient Civilizations (Egyptian, Greek, and Roman)

A recent overview of the literature investigating the presence of cancer in ancient civilizations has been published (David AR and Zimmerman MR [2010]. Cancer: an old disease, a new disease or something in between? Nat Rev Cancer 10, 728–733). Evidence of cancer in humans has been uncovered in the earliest medical records found left by the ancient Egyptians (3000–800 bc). Evidence consists of hieroglyphic inscriptions along with papyri writings noting both benign and malignant tumors. Egyptian culture allowed for working with human bodies as evidenced by the mummification of the dead. The first histological confirmation of cancer in an Egyptian mummy revealed that cancer was indeed present in ancient times (Zimmerman MR [1977]. An experimental study of mummification pertinent to the antiquity of cancer. Cancer 40, 1358–1362). In this report, Zimmerman diagnosed the presence of rectal cancer in an unnamed mummy who had lived in the Dakhleh Oasis during the Ptolemaic period (ce 200–400). The fact that palaeopathology has shown that cancer is present in ancient remains of Egyptians necessitated the need for the ancients to counter attack this disease. Deciphered papyri from around 1500 bc contain descriptions of cancer along with surgical intervention and treatments. Evidence for the use of surgical removal of superficial tumors has been found during this time. Deep-seated tumors were treated using different prescriptions including ears of pigs and other parts of animals and fish in such dispensions as poultices, ointments, and enemas. Thus, ancient Egyptian physicians treated patients for several forms of cancer, and their documents have provided both evidence of the disease along with the treatments administered at the time. Egyptians were considered the “fathers of pharmacology” as some treatments used were believed to be “magical” but were, in fact, true therapeutic remedies.

An interesting phenomenon has arisen during the course of multi-year studies related to the rarity of cancer in antiquity. This is of interest especially when considering that hundreds of Egyptian mummies and more than 10,000 dinosaur bones were evaluated. In contrast, the rate of cancer incidence has dramatically increased since the Industrial Revolution. The rarity of cancer in antiquity has been attributed to the lack of pollution and changes in diet and lifestyle, and most recent findings suggest that cancer may be a manmade disease (Nat Rev Cancer 10, 728–733). Thus, while a lack of adequate techniques for disease diagnosis and detection may partially explain the overall lack of cancer found during the millennia, the current cancer trends are now primarily associated with carcinogens in our modern industrialized society (Nat Rev Cancer 10, 728–733). Whether this hypothesis is indeed the case, what is clear from ancient Egyptian and Greek writings along with information accumulated throughout the millennia is that improved understanding of the biological basis for the disease as well as improved cancer treatments is needed.