I imagine Cancer was more prevalent than the discovery record would show. I heard a show on Radio 4 some years ago discussing cancer in African tribal peoples, and even thought hey were essentially following a healthy hunter/gatherer lifestyle, the incidence of the disease was higher than you'd expect. The main culprit recognised in the programme was wood smoke/fires.
Much like diabetes, I'm sure the only obvious signs of the disease was that someone was getting sick, and there appeared to be no reason.
If you've ever read 'Cider With Rosie', there's a heartbreaking chapter where one of Laurie Lee's sisters essentially wastes away whilst he's ill in bed, which I think retrospectively has been recognised as un-diagnosed diabetes.
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