THE TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER IN ANCIENT ROME: 27 BCE-476 CE

Valentine Belfiglio*

ABSTRACT

Thesis Statement: Roman physicians and surgeons established general protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. still followed by oncologists today. Methodology: Historiography and conceptual analyses of the writings of ancient and modern physicians and conceptual analysis. Results: Ancient and modern physicians used a similar protocol to diagnose breast cancer. This protocol included: 1) subjective information from the patients, 2) the objective findings of physicians, 3) assessment of these findings and their correlation with other patients with similar subjective and objective data, 4) formulating a treatment plan. They also used a similar protocol for treatment of breast cancer. This protocol included: 1) Mitigation, 2) Treatment of symptoms, and 3) Experimentation with known therapies. Conclusion: Roman and modern physicians treated breast cancer with similar protocols. Although the protocols are similar, modern oncologists have diagnostic and treatment options, techniques, and equipment unknown to the Romans.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Oncologist, Protocols, Diagnosis, Treatment.