"Fossil evidence reveals that cancer in humans goes... " Topic

…back 1.7 million years.

"Cancer is often viewed as a fundamentally modern and monolithic disease. Many people think its rise and spread has been driven almost exclusively by the developed world's toxins and poisons; by our bad eating habits, lifestyles, and the very air we breathe…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Not sure why people think that. IMHO, Cancer is normal in all Homo-x (and even others) populations

And it is in most cases a disease of the elderly, especially in the case of tumors and other observable cancers. Prior to the modern age, the portion of the population surviving long enough to get cancer instead of succumbing to infectious disease, malnutrition, parasites, predators, pointy sticks, etc. would be much lower, so it is not surprising to me that ancient cancers are rarely found.

To me was a surprice…

Amicalement
Armand

This "cancer is a modern disease" myth has been floating around for years. It may be true cancer is more prevalent in the population than in the past, mostly because of unhealthy lifestyle choices (like smoking) and because people live longer. But it isn't something that popped into existence in recent times. Heck, if you want to look beyond humans, we have evidence of cancer in dinosaurs.

Yes, the 'rise of cancer' has much more to do with extended lifespans than with anything else (not to say that stuff like smoking does not contribute). In fact, if you were otherwise immortal, your chance of developing cancer over your lifetime is 100%.

-Will