Archaeologists have found clear evidence that doctors in ancient Egypt attempted to treat brain tumors in a young man who lived 4,300 to 4,600 years ago. This is the oldest known surgical intervention for cancer, scientists emphasize in the journal Frontiers of Science. ‘This is where modern medicine begins,’ they emphasize. The skull is dated between 2686 and 2345 BCE and belonged to a man approximately 30-35 years old.
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Archaeologists discovered a large cancerous tumor with over 30 metastatic lesions on an ancient Egyptian skull. Some lesions had marks suggesting surgical intervention, indicating doctors attempted an operation to save the man’s life, showcasing advanced medical practices for the time. This case predates known ancient medical records by 700 to 1,000 years, demonstrating early attempts at cancer treatment. Another skull, belonging to a woman from around 664-343 BC, showed evidence of both cancer and healed blunt force trauma, further illustrating the medical sophistication of ancient Egypt.
