At the earliest years, physicians have been unable to understand the causes of cancer which led to several theories about cancer causes were set such as Humoral theory, …show more content…
Hippocrates Believes that the body had four body fluids (humors) blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. A good balance between the four humours was important to retain a healthy body, as imbalance of any of the humors caused disease. This theory of cancer Remained unchallenged for more than 1,300 years. During that time the study of the body, including autopsy was banned for religious reasons which limited improve of medical knowledge.
Lymph theory: The formation of cancer by another body fluid, lymph replaced the humoral theory of cancer by Lymph theory. Life consist of continuous and appropriate movement of the fluid. Blood and lymph were the most important of all the fluids. The cancer was Consisted of fermenting and degenerating lymph, differing in density, acidity, and alkalinity. The lymph theory obtained Support from John Hunter the Scottish surgeon at the 17th agreed upon that tumors grow from lymph constantly thrown out by the blood.
Blastema theory: It proved that cancer is made up of cells and not lymph by Johannes Muller German pathologist in 1838. But he believed that cancer cells did not arise from normal cells. Muller suggested that Cancer cells arose from budding or blastema elements between normal tissues. And, it is determined that all cells are derived from other cells including cancer