Psychosocial aspects of Mammary carcinoma

Abstract

Malignant neoplastic diseases in man are as old as mankind itself. The Hindu epic, Ramayana, dating back to c 2500 B C, described tumours and their treatment. Since then Hippocrates (c 460 - 375 B C), Celsus (c 30 B C - A D 38), Galen (c 130 - 200 A D) and Leonides of Alexandria (c 180 A D), and numerous other scientists have studied and recorded these phenomena. Heller from the National Cancer Institute stressed that “Man’s attempt to understand cancer and to find ways of preventing, controlling and curing it began in ancient times”. (Heller, I960)