Edwin Smith Buys the Edwin Smith Papyrus, the World's Oldest Surgical Documentation

The earliest known medical document known to man is what is known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus. Edwin Smith was an Egyptologist who bought fragments of the document in London in 1862. Although he understood its importance he never published on it and the papyrus became all but forgotten. In the 20th century this vastly important work was rediscovered. Dating back to 1600 BC it is our first known medical writing. Important to the history of breast cancer it also describes in writing the earliest known cases of the disease, one of which was a man.

In ancient Egypt the history of breast cancer treatment begins with cauterization of tumors found in the breast with an instrument known as "the fire drill." Although medical practitioners are able to remove these tumors in some cases they are for the most part unable to stop the disease from taking its course. Writes the ancient Egyptian doctor of breast cancer: "There is no treatment."

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