Hacker News Reader

People didn’t live long enough to have cancer back then.

It's a bit of a myth that humans have only had long life in modern times. This is partially due to the calculated "life expectancy" of many eras including infant mortality where perhaps 30% of the population died at age 0.

If a quarter or half of your population is dying at age 0, then another quarter or half must likely be living into their 70s for the mean age to end up 35.

> This is partially due to the calculated "life expectancy" of many eras including infant mortality where perhaps 30% of the population died at age 0.

Well not really age 0, rather between 0 and 5.

The rest of your point stands.

The total life expectancy of a white male infant in 1850 in the US was 38; at age 10, 58; at age 20, 60. White female, 40, 57, and 60. In 2011, the male expectancies were 76, 77, and 77; female, 81, 82, and 82. (https://www.infoplease.com/us/health-statistics/life-expecta...)

Life expectancy of children and young adults has increased significantly in addition to the reduction in infant mortality.

Very young children get cancer even today.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com