A History of Cancer Treatment

With the prevalence of cancer today and its treatment, it can feel like a very modern phenomenon. However society has been aware of cancer and has practised its treatment for thousands of years.

Cancer was referred to as early as around 400 BC when Greek philosopher Hippocrates described tumors on the nose, skin and breasts. At the time cancer treatment was carried out in accordance with the humor theory of four bodily fluids: phlegm, blood and black and yellow bile. Treatment involved blood-letting, diet and/or laxatives. The theory stayed popular until the 19th century, when cells were first discovered.

Hippocrates used the word ‘carcinos’, which is Greek for crab or crayfish, as the appearance of a cut tumor was said to look like a crab. In approximately 5 AD Celsus translated ‘carcinos’ into the Latin ‘cancer’ which also means crab. In the second century Galen called malignant tumors ‘carcinoma’ (oma is Greek for swelling) and benign ones ‘oncos’, which is Greek for bulk.

Surgery for cancer started in Egypt in about 1600 BC.

A cause for cancer was not identified until 1775 when Percivall Pott, a British surgeon, noticed many chimney sweeps developed cancer of the scrotum. Metastasis, the spread of cancer through the lymph nodes, was also discovered in the 18th century. Surgery did not see good results until the 19th century due to poor hygiene.

The genetic link in cancer was discovered by Theodor Boveri in 1902. He proposed that mutated chromosomes could cause cells to multiply abnormally and that this could be passed on to a person’s descendants. He hypothesized that radiation, chemicals or certain microorganisms could cause cancer.

The first effective cancer treatment that did not involve surgery came about at the end of the 19th century when Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radiation. Surgeons started working collaboratively with radiologists in hospital facilities, and patient information was recorded to compile statistics.

The twentieth century saw Janet Lane-Clayton publish a study on breast cancer for the Ministry of Health. In 1926 she compared 500 breast cancer patients with 500 control patients who had similar backgrounds and lifestyles. This progressive work on cancer epidemiology was then continued by Austin Bradford Hill and Richard Doll. In 1956 the researchers published "Lung Cancer and Other Causes of Death In Relation to Smoking. A Second Report on the Mortality of British Doctors", which is also known as British doctors study.

In 1968 Richard Doll went on to start the Oxford unit for Cancer epidemiology. This unit was the first to collate large volumes of cancer data with the use of computers.

Many diseases have a worse prognosis than cancer, such as heart disease, yet the condition brings about many fears. Phrases such as ‘The Big C’ are used to describe it. In addition, the most prevalent form of cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, is excluded from cancer statistics. It seems to be because this form of cancer is easily treated and usually cured in one simple outpatient visit.

The culture that has developed around cancer is that it is a disease that must be fought immediately and that the patient can control the disease by being strong and thinking positively. Although these actions would help anyone is any difficult situation they seem to be the focus of many narratives and words such as ‘my battle with cancer’ are common.

Roisin Evans is the author of this article on Cancer Treatment Mexico. Find more information on Cancer Treatment Program here.