Wilhelm Waldeyer-Hartz was born in 1836 in Brunswick, Germany. He was a professor of anatomy and pathology. He is best known for his research on the nervous system and for coining the words ‘neuron’ and ‘chromosome’.
Waldeyer pointed out in 1867 that cancer is formed when cell division becomes uncontrolled. He also explained that cancer begins as a single cell and spreads by multiplying rapidly and initiating new growths. He said that cancer could be cured if it was diagnosed and treated in the early stages.
For many years the surgical removal of cancerous tumours was seen as the only remedy, till the discovery of radiation at the end of the 19th century. Radiation and chemotherapy made non-surgical treatment of cancer possible.
Now cancer, which was believed to be incurable not so long ago, is viewed as a disease that can be cured, just as Waldeyer had suggested.
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