What if cancer — one of today’s most feared diagnoses — simply didn’t exist in the ancient world?
A fascinating multi-year study reported in 2010 from the University of Manchester says just that. Researchers examined ancient Egyptian mummies and texts, as well as writings from ancient Greece, and found something striking: cancer was extremely rare. In fact, out of hundreds of mummies examined, only one had cancer.
This tells us something important. Cancer is not just a natural consequence of aging or bad luck. According to Professor Rosalie David, who led the study, cancer is a man-made disease — linked to toxins (indoor, personal care products, synthetics ), modern diets (such as ultra-processed foods), and industrialized lifestyles (convenience, little self movement, industrial food, industrial farming, industrial pharma). It’s a powerful reminder that our bodies were not designed to handle the toxic overload of modern living.
Even more compelling is that ancient people lived long enough to develop other age-related diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis, and atherosclerosis. So age alone doesn’t explain cancer’s modern explosion.
And no, tumors wouldn’t have simply disappeared over time. Mummification preserves tissues well — in fact, tumors should have shown up even more clearly. But they didn’t.
So what changed?
We did.
With the rise of industry came environmental toxins, processed foods, sedentary habits, and chronic stress. Childhood cancer rates have soared — and not because kids are living longer. It’s because their little bodies are now exposed to more toxic input than ever before.Professor David sums it up beautifully:
“Cancer is man-made and something we can and should address.”
Yes. And that gives us hope. If cancer is largely a disease of modern living, then changing how we live may very well be the key to prevention — and even healing.Once again, ancient evidence offers a clear message: cancer is not a mysterious curse of nature — it is largely man-made, the result of modern lifestyles, processed foods, and environmental toxins.
This reinforces the timeless wisdom of Dr. Weston A. Price, who found that people living on ancestral diets — rich in minerals, animal fats, and whole foods — experienced vibrant health and freedom from the diseases that now plague industrialized nations. When we live in alignment with nature’s design, the body has a far better chance to thrive.
Let’s reclaim our ancient inheritance of terrific health — clean air, nourishing whole foods, limited toxins, vibrant movement, and natural rhythms. The wisdom is there, written in our bones — and in the bones of those who came before us.
(I am writing extensively about Dr. Price's research. Click here for the Intro and also click on Weston A. Price under the Blog Categories for a complete listing of posts I have written about his work.)
🌿 Terri’s Tips: Giving your body the best chance to thrive (the Ancient Way!)
✅ Eat Like Your Ancestors
Prioritize animal fats, organ meats, wild-caught seafood, and fermented foods. Avoid ultra-processed, packaged foods that your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize.
Prioritize animal fats, organ meats, wild-caught seafood, and fermented foods. Avoid ultra-processed, packaged foods that your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize.
✅ Breathe Clean Air
Limit exposure to synthetic fragrances, household chemicals, and indoor air pollutants. Open windows. Diffuse pure essential oils instead of using candles or plug-ins.
Limit exposure to synthetic fragrances, household chemicals, and indoor air pollutants. Open windows. Diffuse pure essential oils instead of using candles or plug-ins.
✅ Move with Joy
Your body was made to move! Dance, stretch, walk barefoot. Movement stirs lymph, lowers stress, and boosts immunity.
Your body was made to move! Dance, stretch, walk barefoot. Movement stirs lymph, lowers stress, and boosts immunity.
✅ Soak in the Sun
Sunlight (without sunscreen) helps your body make vitamin D — a key player in immune health and cancer prevention.
Sunlight (without sunscreen) helps your body make vitamin D — a key player in immune health and cancer prevention.
✅ Detox Daily
Use dry brushing, sweating (saunas or sunshine), mineral baths, and lemon water to support your body’s natural cleansing systems.
Use dry brushing, sweating (saunas or sunshine), mineral baths, and lemon water to support your body’s natural cleansing systems.
✅ Use God's Pharmacy
Essential oils, herbs, and healing foods were given to us for such a time as this. Use them daily, not just in crisis.
Essential oils, herbs, and healing foods were given to us for such a time as this. Use them daily, not just in crisis.
✅ Live in Alignment
Say yes to peace, truth, and purpose — and no to chronic stress and soul-silencing. Emotional repression is toxic, too.
Say yes to peace, truth, and purpose — and no to chronic stress and soul-silencing. Emotional repression is toxic, too.
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