According to researchers at Manchester's KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, who have been examining the remains of hundreds of Egyptian mummies for the disease -- and finding only one case -- believe it proves that cancer was extremely rare in antiquity. Their study strongly suggests that cancer is a modern, man-made disease caused by environmental factors such as pollution and diet.

Professor Rosalie David, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: "The important thing about our study is that it gives a historical perspective to this disease. We can make very clear statements on the cancer rates in societies because we have a full overview. We have looked at millennia, not one hundred years, and have masses of data."