The problem however, is that scientists have not yet been able to ascertain what a mummified tumor would look like. Canadian bio-archeologist Jennifer Willoughby sought to recreate them, by asking oncologists for mouse remains, who had died from cancer.
After 50 days of drying, she plunged the mice dead bodies in pine resin and then striped them with linen fabric. Finally, the mummies were buried with incense and Willoughby read an ancient Egyptian memorial prayer over them.
Ultimately, Willoughby scanned the mummies’ bodies, using computer tomography and was able to spot the difference of tumors from other tissues and organs were apparent. With her success others may now use her research to gain more information about the cause of death in ancient rulers, as well as how diseases afflicted them millennia ago.
