ANCIENT Egyptians tried to perform brain surgery to remove cancer, experts say.
They discovered cuts – believed to be from metal tools – on the inside of skulls with signs of tumors from more than 4,000 years ago.
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Their findings come from examination of the skulls of a man in his 30s from 2500 BC and a woman in her 50s from 500 BC.
Although they both had damaged bone – showing they were likely suffering from brain cancer – they also had tool marks.
Researchers said they were proof that healers were trying to operate on brain tumors.
Professor Edgard Camaros, from the University of Santiago de Compostela, in Spainsaid: “This is unique evidence of how ancient Egyptian medicine would have attempted to tackle or investigate cancer.
“It's an extraordinarily new perspective to understanding the world history of medicine.”
Egyptians were known to be good with metal and used copper, iron and gold to make decorations.
They also experimented with medicine by repairing dental cavities with metal fillings, fixing broken bones with splints, and using honey and honey. plants to cure disease.
The findings suggest that the ancient Egyptians understood cancer but could not treat it.
Cancer It is thought to have been rarer in ancient times Egypt compared to today, because people didn't live as long.
Researcher Tatiana Tondini added: “Although the ancient Egyptians could deal with complex fractures, cancer was still an area of medical knowledge.”
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