An ancient skull shows signs that Egyptians tried to treat cancer The skull had lesions indicative of cancer There were also cut marks near the lesions, indicating an attempt to cut away cancer WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A 4,000-year-old skull provides evidence that ancient Egyptians might have tried to treat cancer , a new study claims. Microscopic observation of the skull revealed 30 or so lesions scattered across its surface that are consistent with cancer, researchers report. They were stunned to also find cut marks around these lesions, probably made with a sharp object like a medical instrument.
“When we first observed the cut marks under the microscope, we could not believe what was in front of us,” said first study author Tatiana Tondini , a researcher with the University of Tubingen in Germany. “It seems ancient Egyptians performed some kind of surgical intervention related to the presence of cancerous cells, proving that ancient Egyptian medicine was also conducting experimental treatments or medical explorations in relation to cancer,” said researcher Dr. Albert Isidro , a surgical oncologist at the University Hospital Sagrat Cor in Spain.
The skull belonged to a man who was 30 to 35 years old when he died, researchers said. It dates from between 2687 and 2345 BCE, and is now held in a collection at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Experts already knew from ancient texts that ancient Egyptians were very skilled at medicine.
For exampl.
