Ancient Egyptians ‘were trying to understand and treat cancer 4,000 years ago’

Cutmarks on an ancient skull suggest they may have tried to operate on tumours

Smaller lesions on the skull showing cutmarks (Tondini/Isidro/Camaros/Frontiers in Medicine)

Nilima Marshall

Ancient Egyptians were trying to understand and treat cancer more than 4,000 years ago, scientists believe.

Researchers have found evidence of cutmarks on a skull around a large lesion thought to have been caused by a cancerous growth.