cancer

[ kan-ser ]

noun

, genitive Can·cri [kang, -kree].

1. Pathology.
   1. a malignant and invasive growth or tumor, especially one originating in epithelium, tending to recur after excision and to metastasize to other sites.
   2. any disease characterized by such growths.
2. any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively; blight.

   Synonyms: scourge, plague, evil, bane

3. genitive Cancri [kang, -kree]. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the Crab, a zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo.
4. Cancer, Astrology.
   1. the fourth sign of the zodiac: the cardinal water sign.
   2. a person born under this sign, usually between June 21 and July 22.
5. tropic of Cancer. tropic1a

Cancer

¹

/ ˈkænsə /

noun

1. astronomy a small faint zodiacal constellation in the N hemisphere, lying between Gemini and Leo on the ecliptic and containing the star cluster Praesepe
2. astrology
   1. Also calledthe Crab the fourth sign of the zodiac, symbol ♋, having a cardinal water classification and ruled by the moon. The sun is in this sign between about June 21 and July 22
   2. Also calledMoonchild a person born during a period when the sun is in this sign
3. tropic of Cancer
   See tropic

adjective

1. astrology born under or characteristic of Cancer

cancer

²

/ ˈkænsə /

noun

1. any type of malignant growth or tumour, caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division: it may spread through the lymphatic system or blood stream to other parts of the body
2. the condition resulting from this
3. an evil influence that spreads dangerously

Cancer

¹

1. A faint constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near Leo and Gemini. Cancer (the Crab) is the fourth sign of the zodiac.

cancer

²

/ kăn′sər /

1. A disease characterized by any of various malignant neoplasms composed of abnormal cells that tend to proliferate rapidly and invade surrounding tissue. Without treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, cancer cells can metastasize to other body sites and cause organ failure and death.
2. A malignant tumor.

cancer

1. A disease characterized by rapid growth of cells in the body, often in the form of a tumor . Cancer is invasive — that is, it can spread to surrounding tissues. Although this disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, research has provided considerable insight into its many causes (which may include diet, viruses , or environmental factors) and options for treatment (which include radiation , chemotherapy , surgery, and possibly gene therapy ).

Notes

The term cancer is often used to describe a nonmedical condition that is undesirable, destructive, and invasive: “ Watergate was a cancer on the presidency.”

Derived Forms

• ˈcancerous, adjective
• ˈcancerously, adverb

Other Words From

• cancer·ous adjective
• cancered adjective
• cancer·ous·ly adverb
• cancer·ous·ness noun
• non·cancer·ous adjective
• un·cancer·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cancer¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: literally, “crab”; Latin stem cancr-, dissimilated from unattested carcr-, akin to Greek karkínos, Sanskrit karkata “crab”; canker

Word History and Origins

Origin of cancer¹

C14: from Latin: crab, a creeping tumour; related to Greek karkinos crab, Sanskrit karkata

A Closer Look

The human immune system often fights off stray cancer cells just as it does bacteria and viruses. However, when cancer cells establish themselves in the body with their own blood supply and begin replicating out of control, cancer becomes a threatening neoplasm, or tumor. It takes a minimum of one billion cancer cells for a neoplasm to be detectable by conventional radiology and physical examinations. Cancer, which represents more than 100 separate diseases, destroys tissues and organs through invasive growth in a particular part of the body and by metastasizing to distant tissues and organs through the bloodstream or lymph system. Heredity, lifestyle habits (such as smoking), and a person's exposure to certain viruses, toxic chemicals, and excessive radiation can trigger genetic changes that affect cell growth. The altered genes, or oncogenes , direct cells to multiply abnormally, thereby taking on the aggressive and destructive characteristics of cancer. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are effective with many cancers, but they also end up killing healthy cells. Gene therapy attempts to correct the faulty DNA that causes the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Researchers are investigating other treatments, such as immunotherapy (the stimulation of the body's natural defenses), vectorization (aiming chemicals specifically at cancer cells), and nanotechnology (targeting cancer cells with minute objects the size of atoms).

Example Sentences

After four or five months of casual interaction, they realized they both had lost a young parent to cancer.

From The Daily Beast

A single father, he had been living abroad and returned when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.

From The Daily Beast

Family members say he developed also liver cancer after his capture.

From The Daily Beast

My father has suffered two strokes and endured brain cancer since I was arrested and imprisoned.

From The Daily Beast

Dean Sybil Todd passed away from pancreatic cancer before she could testify.

From The Daily Beast

(b) Diseases of the stomach associated with deficient hydrochloric acid, as chronic gastritis and gastric cancer.

From Project Gutenberg

To-day men of science are trying to conquer the horrors of cancer and smallpox, and rabies and consumption.

From Project Gutenberg

Since he died from cancer in the stomach, he could retain very little food.

From Project Gutenberg

The presence of lactic acid is the most suggestive single symptom of gastric cancer.

From Project Gutenberg

Considerable numbers of pus-corpuscles have been found in some cases of gastric cancer.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• corruption
• disease
• malignancy
• sickness
• tumor