Scrutable

In industrialized societies, cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of death. The history of this disorder has the potential to improve our understanding of disease prevention, aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment. A striking rarity of malignancies in ancient physical remains might indicate that cancer was rare in antiquity, and so poses questions about the role of carcinogenic environmental factors in modern societies. Although the rarity of cancer in antiquity remains undisputed, the first published histological diagnosis of cancer in an Egyptian mummy demonstrates that new evidence is still forthcoming.

jimbob wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 08, 2023 6:41 pm

bl..dy hell, this is bad

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/n ... -man-made/

It appeared on my news feed today and I see it dates to 2010.

with a link to the paper (I can see the abstract)

https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc2914

In industrialized societies, cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of death. The history of this disorder has the potential to improve our understanding of disease prevention, aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment. A striking rarity of malignancies in ancient physical remains might indicate that cancer was rare in antiquity, and so poses questions about the role of carcinogenic environmental factors in modern societies. Although the rarity of cancer in antiquity remains undisputed, the first published histological diagnosis of cancer in an Egyptian mummy demonstrates that new evidence is still forthcoming.

I wonder why something that is predominantly a disease of older people would be rarely seen in a neolithic population.

I suspect infection, accidents, and violence would probably explain a lot. Plus possibly cultural reasons why it might be considered unclean or cursed.

Professor Rosalie David, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: “... There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle.”

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:11 pm

Professor Rosalie David, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: “... There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle.”

WTAFF?

dyqik wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:02 pm

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:11 pm

Professor Rosalie David, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: “... There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle.”

WTAFF?

I hadn't realized that cosmic rays and sunlight were man-made.

tenchboy wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 11:00 am

Imagine if a genetic immunity to the black death was linked to an increased susceptibility to cancer.
You write the nov, I'll take 20% of the film rights.

It is believed that the mutation results in the absence of the C282Y protein on host cell surfaces, causing an increase in the affinity of cellular receptors for transferrin (an unaffected protein in humans which carries iron in the blood) and hindering transferrin acquisition by pathogens.

This survival advantage during the plague is thought to be responsible for the current high rates of the mutation in those with European ancestry. If true, this mutation may have been responsible for an increased survival during the plague, but at the cost of a decreased life expectancy for them later on.

dyqik wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:02 pm

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:11 pm

Professor Rosalie David, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: “... There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle.”

WTAFF?

I hadn't realized that cosmic rays and sunlight were man-made.

Sciolus wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:11 pm

Professor Rosalie David, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: “... There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle.”

WTAFF?

from Latin cancer "a crab," later, "malignant tumor," from Greek karkinos, which, like the Modern English word, has three meanings: a crab, a tumor, and the zodiac constellation represented by a crab. "

Formerly AvP wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 10, 2023 8:48 am

Cancer

from Latin cancer "a crab," later, "malignant tumor," from Greek karkinos, which, like the Modern English word, has three meanings: a crab, a tumor, and the zodiac constellation represented by a crab. "

https://www.etymonline.com/word/cancer

The Greeks saw a fancied connection between tumours and crabs, perhaps due to the swollen veins surrounding the tumour, or a skin cancer giving the impression of being gnawed by an invisible crab. Greek society would count as pre-industrial, although if Hero had just put a little more thought into his radial steam turbine..