Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has its beginnings in ancient history, and it is notable the fact that it has been mentioned in all recorded periods of time. I must first mention that we cannot write an exact history of breast cancer but there are a few facts that might be useful for your information.  Breast cancer has been always considered to be visible even to an untrained eye due to the fact that it can evolve from a small lump to a significantly large tumor.



Although this disease had serious consequences on women and society, any discussions regarding this type of cancer were only found in medical journals that appeared before 1970. Over the time, the breasts have been carrying with them numerous cultural expectations, especially when it comes to nurturing and other sexual implications. It is safe to assume that many women have suffered from this disease and not only in modern times.



Centuries ago, women had not only suffered from breast cancer, but for them most probably this disease also brought shame and humiliation and when it came to discussing their condition most of them were uncomfortable with the situation. Today many things have changed. We often see that small pink ribbon and most of you recognize its signification – it is the international symbol for breast cancer awareness. Besides the fact that this cause is more and more supported by public faces like politicians, musicians or actors, the technology has evolved at a very fast pace and the developments in medicine really improve your chances of surviving this terrible disease. Nowadays, if you have cancer your odds are significantly higher.

Ancient Egyptians were those who first noted an encounter with this disease more than 3 millenniums ago. The earliest known medical document is the Edwin Smith Papyrus. In 1862 Edwin Smith brought this papyrus in London.  He obviously did not understand the importance of the papyrus, but in the 20th century this important document happened to be rediscovered. The document is from 1600 BC and it is considered the first known medical writing.  Significant for the history of breast cancer is the fact that the papyrus also presents in writing some of the earliest cases of breast cancer.

As you might probably know breast cancer can also occur in men, and one of the first cases was a man. In Ancient Egypt the treatment followed means actually the cauterization of the cancerous tissue the breast using different instruments. Although the tumor was usually easily removed, breast cancer was considered an unpreventable and incurable disease, since no treatment available would work.

In spite of the fact that many cases of breast cancer were documented throughout history, the disease was not entirely comprehensive for most doctors until the XVII^th century. In the first half of the XVIII^th century there was the first surgery that implied removing the breast tissue, the muscle and also the lymph nodes so that the cancer would be entirely destroyed. The technologies and treatments available have continued to improve until the point of today when cancer is widely considered curable



Breast cancer, and generally cancer, is a complex disease that can appear in many forms, has different personalities and its symptoms are very varied. What makes it most terrible is the fact that it depends on many factors like environmental conditions or genetic aspects. Although it hasn’t just one most efficient treatment the advances in the medical department are astonishing and will most definitely lead to a more permanent solution for this disease.