What Was The Cancer Rate Of People In The Ancient History?
Did more people have cancer in the past such as 1 A.D -1000A.D? What do you think is causing the increase in cancer rates today? Is it due to our own advancements?
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Vanessa W said,
November 27, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
We don’t know cancer rates for people between 1 AD-1000 AD (traditionally, 1000 AD is not considered ‘ancient’). I don’t believe anyone has ever done a study on it, and it wouldn’t really be possible either, because as another answerer pointed out, the problems would be with diagnosis. Plus, it is just far too big an undertaking- it’d be impossible for any society, let alone on a global scale.
I’d say the increase in cancer rates is due to our knowing about the disease, and being able to diagnose it. However, most certainly some illnesses have increased today- i.e. tooth cavities, very common today due to sugar, surprisingly rather rarer in Antiquity (different from the absceses common for Ancient Egyptians), and heart disease/ diabetes, which is on the rise due to our more sedentry way of life and fatty foods, etc.
bikinkaw said,
November 27, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
I seriously doubt the cancer rate is that much higher now than back then. The difference is in the ability to diagnose it. And yes, increased longevity increases the opportunity to die of diseases that have super long incubation or development periods such as prostrate cancer or Alzheimer’s. A person had a much greater chance of dying at a young age from scarlet fever, the plague, yellow fever, German measles, a house fire, buggy accident, coal mine cave in, Indian attack, witch hunt, etc than from dying at 80 years old with prostrate cancer.
When I was a kid, senility in old folks was simply attributed to “hardening of the arteries”. No one had ever heard of the word Alzheimer’s. Now days it’s known that there are a number of causes, including but not limited to Alzheimer’s. The only difference is in the diagnosis.
B said,
November 27, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
they died before cancer could get to them in most cases. people didn’t live that long, maybe 35-45 years old. plus back then they couldnt detect cancer.
troopsho said,
November 27, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
They didn’t live long enough to get cancer.