For many of us, the term ‘ancient Egypt’ conjures up images of grand monuments, the Nile determining the rhythm of life of the ancient Egyptian people, and the perpetual pursuit of immortality. However, just below the surface of this fascinating civilisation lay many of the same health challenges we face today – including cancer. Although it is usually considered a modern-day disease, research shows that ancient Egyptians were also afflicted with cancer, raising critical questions about its prevalence in antiquity. Ancient Egyptian medical understanding was based on observable symptoms rather than on the underlying pathology, and thus did not recognise cancer as uncontrolled cell growth. The Papyrus Ebers (c.1538 BC) contains references to swelling and lesions; however, these descriptions cannot be clearly connected to a specific condition, and are interpreted today only speculatively as possible references to malignancies.
At first glance, investigating cancer in ancient populations may seem like an academic exercise suitable only for the proverbial ivory tower. One might ask what practical value is there in the study of disease in people who lived thousands of years ago. But there are compelling reasons for such lines of research in that it can benefit people living today. By examining how frequently – and in what forms – cancer occurred in the past, we gain a valuable reference point for understanding the disease today. Studying cancer in ancient populations enables us to disentangle which aspects of its prevalence are deeply rooted in human biology, and which are shaped by modern-day environmental conditions and lifestyles. Far from being irrelevant, this line of inquiry contributes to a more nuanced perspective on one of the most pressing health challenges of our time.
Contemporary understanding of cancer is profoundly shaped by its relentless increase in prevalence. The case numbers of nearly all types of cancer have been escalating worldwide for decades, frequently challenging our models and assumptions about the mechanisms of this complicated disease and the factors that most significantly influence it. Perhaps one of the most pertinent insights is the relatively recent realisation that there is no single cause. Rather, a cancer diagnosis is the result of a vast array of factors. Despite some victories in this ongoing battle, such as the development of highly effective vaccines to prevent cancers induced by human papillomavirus (HPV), and ongoing advances in treatment options, we have yet to discover a comprehensive, potent weapon to ward off this daunting disease.
Urban jungles