Modern life creates a modern disease-Cancer.

Cancer is a worldwide killer. Scientists have found out that it is a man- made disease caused by the excesses of modern life, such as pollution as well as poor diet and a lack of exercise. The disease is so big that people warn about it openly on boxes of cigarettes. In today’s Daily Telegraph we could read about Prof Rosalie David and Prof Michael Zimmerman’s research about Egyptian Mummies whose death was hardly ever caused by Cancer. In fact there was only a few that suffered from something that now kills one in three people, which proves that cancer was extremely rare in antiquity. According to the researchers, the disease rates have risen massively since the Industrial Revolution, in particular childhood cancer – proving that the rise is not simply due to people living longer.

David and Zimmerman also analysed ancient literature from Egypt and Greece for indications of cancer, as well as medical studies of human and animal remains going back to the age of dinosaurs. They suggested that the evidence of cancer in animal fossils, non-human primates and early humans was rare, with a few uncertain examples. As they analyzed ancient literature, they did not find descriptions of operations for breast and other cancers until the 17th century. The first reports in the scientific literature of distinctive lumps have only occurred in the past 200 years, such as scrotal cancer in chimney sweepers in 1775, nasal cancer in snuff users in 1761 and Hodgkin's disease in 1832.

One possible reason cancers might have been comparatively rare in antiquity is that the short life span of individuals back then precluded the development of the disease. Still, the researchers did note some people in ancient Egypt and Greece did live long enough to develop all different types of serious diseases.

Well, if we know what causes such a nasty disease we can surely avoid getting it. Scientists say that a healthy diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight could prevent a third of the most common cancers. Therefore, our life will not be in such a big risk of getting killed by the disease.