History of Cancer

1600- oldest known description and surgical treatment of cancer was discovered in Egypt .
The Papyrus describes 8 cases of ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization, with a
tool called "the fire drill.
16th and 17th centuries- it became more acceptable for doctors to dissect bodies to discover
the cause of death.
German professor Wilhelm Fabry believed that breast cancer was caused by a milk clot in a
mammary duct.
Dutch professor Francois de la Boe Sylvius, a follower of Descartes, believed that all disease
was the outcome of chemical processes, and that acidic lymph fluid was the cause of cancer.
Nicolaes Tulp believed that cancer was a poison that slowly spreads, and concluded that it
was contagious
1775- Sir Percival Pott- discovery cancer in chimney sweep that cause cancer thru
inhalation, some develop cancer of scrotum thru carcinogen sooth believe that after
in contact had rubbed to scrotal region.
1871-1874 English surgeon Campbell De Morgan .[5] The use of surgery to treat cancer had poor results
due to problems with hygiene.

1875- German epidemiologist-discover skin cancer among workers in chemical

industries who work on a tar.
1895- Konrad Roentgen develop ca after 20-25 years of exposure
Miners at Joachinstall Polish Uranian Mine deve lung cancer post inhalation of
radioactive ore.
Tghose who painted the phosphorescent watch dial in the United states developed
bone cancer

19th century - Scottish surgeon Alexander Monro saw only 2 breast tumor patients out of 60 surviving
surgery for two years.

1910- Whipple Rous- chicken sarcoma , inject a free cancer cell extract of original
tumor- RNA result to reverse transcriptase
1941- Helen Lane ( fictitious name) Baltimore was renowned in vitro studies
-

Rabbit was taught to smoke and develop cancer

Tumor was inserted to mice and conduct studies , end up develop cancer

1945- atomic bomb- Hiroshima and Nagazaki

Cause not immediate cancer , but later on increase incidence of leukemia,

cancer of thyroid, breast and lungs and thalidomide newborn

1986- Chernobyl Accident , fire and explosion emit only 5% of radio reactor cause
increase cases of thyroid cancer and acute radiation poisoning
ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS- Fungi (AFLATOXIN) cause cancer of liver when turkey are
feed with contaminated peanuts
SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM-parasitc FLUKE infection in Egypt, cause leukemia