Oncology

This is the story of oncology, an evolving history of tracing cancer from its ancient observations of tumors to the treatment of today. The earliest descriptions of what we would later know as cancer was mentioned around 1600 B.C. in ancient Egypt in various records of breast tumors. The Greek physician known as Hippocrates initially coined the term “carcinos,” or crab, referring to cancer because of how it spreads like a crab’s legs. He and other ancient doctors concluded that this disease could not be cured.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance little improved in the management of this common disease, which remained largely mysterious. The 18th and 19th centuries, however, saw some significant advances. In 1775, British surgeon Percivall Pott demonstrated a direct relationship between soot exposure and scrotal cancer-one of the first documented cases of an environmental cause of cancer. Isolation of the anesthetics in the 19th century made it possible to remove tumors surgically.

Developments in the 20th century saw the unfolding of the modern science of oncology. Starting from the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, radiotherapy became one of the important treatments after the discovery of chemotherapy during World War II. Scientists found that nitrogen mustards could actually shrink tumors, significantly advancing the field. This brought in the discovery of DNA’s role in cancer in the 1950s and gave birth to targeted therapies.

On the other hand, oncology today is considered to be quite advanced with the discovery of immunotherapy, gene editing, and precision medicine, which result in more effective treatments and targeted cure sources. Its end remains in the constant quest for improved cures and prevention measures.