Cancer Is Man Made

Cancer is a modern, man-made disease caused by environmental factors such as diet, a study suggests.

The study includes the first histological diagnosis of the disease from an Egyptian mummy.

Michael Zimmerman, a visiting professor at Manchester University, said: ‘In an ancient society lacking surgical intervention, evidence of cancer should remain in all cases.

‘The virtual absence of malignancies in mummies must be interpreted as indicating their rarity in antiquity, indicating that cancer-causing factors are limited to societies affected by modern industrialisation.’

Pollution is another factor according to the study.

Researchers say that cancer has increased sharply since the industrial revolution.

Diet, exercise and early detection may help prevent the disease.

Professor Rosalie David, at Manchester University’s Faculty of Life Sciences, said:

“The important thing about our study is that it gives a historical perspective to this disease. We can make very clear statements on the cancer rates in societies because we have a full overview. We have looked at millennia, not one hundred years, and have masses of data.”