Cause of death in 1900

[margarita]

I am aware that the answer to this question is probably "It all depends........." but I'll ask anyway:

A friend of mine is tracing her maternal ancestors to see if there is any history of breast cancer.

She has found her great grandmother's death in 1900 in Carlisle, Cumberland. If g g'mother did die of cancer would it be likely that it would be recorded as such on her death certificate in 1900? Or would her death be attributed to some side effect of her cancer. I know that at one time cancer was just never mentioned.

My friend isn't 'into' family history* other than this particular medical aspect and is unwilling to buy the certificate if she won't find the information she needs.

Regards,

Maggie

*aren't some people strange

[Jan1954]

Hi Maggie,

I have a death certificate for a several great grandmother, who died 18th February 1883 and the cause of death was recorded as being, "Cancer of the lung".

So, as this was 17 years earlier than 1900, there is a good chance that it could be recorded as cancer - if it was diagnosed as that.

[margarita]

Thank you, Jan.

I will pass the information on. As you say, even if she had cancer it might not have been diagnosed.

Regards,

Maggie

[maidofkent]

I have a certificate dated 1866 where the cause of death was 'cancer of the neck and face'.

I have also been told of a death in my family, dated 1840, where the cause was cancer of the cervix. I haven't seen that particular certificate myself, and until I do I still struggle to believe it. But it seems that cancer was certainly diagnosed far earlier than I ever would have thought.

[Lizzy9]

I have a death certificate dated 1843, the cause of death is entered as 'cancer of the uteri'

[Peter Goodey]

'cancer of the uteri'

Both of them, eh? That's really nasty.

[Lizzy9]

Both of them, eh? That's really nasty.

I know ouch!!

Exactly as written on cert, Peter.

[Peter Goodey]

Presumably it was certified - I think registrar's must often have had trouble reading doctors' handwriting.