Scientists report in a paper soon to appear in the International Journal of Paleopathology that the mummy, known as M1, died when he was between 51 and 60. He is the oldest case of prostate cancer identified in ancient Egypt, and the second oldest in the world (the oldest was in the 2700-year-old skeleton of a Scythian king in Russia). M1′s scans also show a malignant cancer that had spread to his spine and other areas around his pelvis.
Both cancers were identified using a high-resolution computerised topography scanner that can detect tumours just 1-2mm in diameter. A device that can discern such minute lesions has been available only since 2005. So researchers think that the number of cases of all types of cancer throughout human history were probably underestimated.
Science Now reports that a 1998 study in the Journal of Paleopathology found just 176 cases of skeletal malignancies in tens of thousands of ancient human remains. So researchers thought cancer cases were much lower before industry started polluting everything. However, there were actually plenty of carcinogens around way back when: soot from wood-burning chimneys and fireplaces, and the bitumen used to build ancient boats has been linked to lung cancer.
In fact, in a recent paper in the journal Science, scientists reported that indoor cooking stoves kill two million people every year.
What I really want to know is: did they time this publication to fall near Halloween?
[Science Now via Wired Science]
keith
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:56 AMDon’t be silly, people never use to get cancer until big pharma and all this new technology like mobile phones and wifi came about.
Everyone knows that cancer is manufactured by the government to keep big pharma in a job. They had a cure years ago…. /s
Sorry I must have been channelling a nut job there.
People have been getting cancer for as long as people have existed. It is not at all surprising seeing as it is such a leading cause of death.
chefu
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 11:25 AMcancer cancer?
sounds scary……
B
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 11:30 PMShouldn’t that say “tomography” not “topography”?
Rambunctious
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 9:42 AMtopography!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Smart!
Rambunctious
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 9:40 AMKristen Philipkosk wrote The mummy tumours were detected using a technology that only recently became available, so it might mean lots more ancient cancer cancer cases will be revealed.
I agree with chefu. cancer cancer?????