Henri François Le Dran

1685-1770

French surgeon who was among the first to recognize that cancer is a local, not systemic, affliction.

He pioneered surgical treatments for cancer and understood that cancer surgery had to occur before the tumor could metastasize through the lymphatic system and affect other parts of the body. He improved methods of mastectomy, lithotomy, and military surgery for gunshot wounds. As senior surgeon at La Charité, Paris, he was influential throughout Europe.