Jump To:

• cancer
  cancer
• Cancer
  Cancer

  noun

  astronomy a small faint zodiacal constellation in the N hemisphere, lying between Gemini and Leo on the ecliptic and containing the star cluster Praesepe

cancer

American  

[kan-ser] / ˈkæn sər /

noun

• Cancri
  genitive

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. (initial capital letter) the Crab, a zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo.

4. Astrology. Cancer,

   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 British  

/ 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 called: the 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 called: Moonchild.  a person born during a period when the sun is in this sign

3. See tropic

---

adjective

1. astrology born under or characteristic of Cancer

cancer ² British  

/ 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 Scientific  

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

---

cancer ² Scientific  

/ 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 Cultural  

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).

---

Usage

What does Cancer mean? Cancer is the name of a constellation that’s interpreted as resembling a crab. It’s sometimes referred to as The Crab. A constellation is a group of stars that appear near each other in the sky—especially a group that has been given a name. Cancer is considered one of the 12 zodiacal constellations—constellations that appear within a particular portion of the sky called the zodiac. In astronomy, the zodiac is the band of sky along which the paths of the sun, the moon, and the planets appear to move. Despite its basis in astronomy, the word zodiac is mainly associated with and most often used in the context of astrology, the nonscientific practice in which the positions of heavenly bodies at certain times are thought to influence or be correlated with human behavior and events. In astrology, zodiac refers to a diagram (often a circular one) representing the zodiac belt and showing the symbols associated with each of the 12 constellations or sections, which are called the signs of the zodiac. Cancer is one of these signs. It is situated between Gemini and Leo and is considered the fourth sign of the zodiac. The other signs of the zodiac are Aries, Taurus, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The position of the sun in a particular portion of the zodiac at the moment of a person’s birth is thought to correlate with their personality. This is what people are referring to when they talk about their zodiac sign (or star sign or often just sign). People whose sign is Cancer are those born between June 21 and July 22. In the context of the zodiac, the word Cancer can also be used as a noun to refer to someone who is born during this time, as in I was born in early July, so I’m a Cancer. The word Cancerian can be used to mean the same thing. It can also be used as an adjective form of Cancer. Example: I’m a Cancer, but I don’t think I fit into the sensitive Cancer stereotype.

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).

Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

• cancerousness
  noun
• cancered
  adjective
• cancerous
  adjective
• noncancerous
  adjective
• uncancerous
  adjective
• cancerously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cancer

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”; see canker

Explanation

Cancer is a disease in which cells grow uncontrollably and form tumors. The best chance of surviving cancer usually involves finding and treating it early. The word cancer actually means "crab," like the zodiac sign. Around 400 B.C., Greek physician Hippocrates is said to have named the disease karkinos, which is Greek for "crab," when he noticed that tumors formed a crab-like shape. The word cancer describes not just a disease, but any sort of evilness that can spread. Hatred and bigotry are cancers that can destroy communities.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cancer Cancer Cancri

My dad died shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, so his policy was never used.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

So is her father-in-law, who has diabetes and is recovering from colon cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

We have shown photographs of Pam's scarring to Liz O'Riordan, a former breast cancer surgeon.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Hispanic women have a 40 percent higher incidence of cervical cancer and 20 percent higher death rate from it compared to non-Hispanic white women.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

He told her about a cancer scare his dad had, and about a robotics project he was working on.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

Cancer cells may be particularly vulnerable to this strategy because they already produce more reactive oxygen species than normal cells.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

Charity Breast Cancer Now said that while campaigners' "persistence paid off", thousands of people have missed out on access to Enhertu and many have died.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

The work, led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is now moving toward a first-of-its-kind neoadjuvant clinical trial.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026

Sarah then received follow up treatment at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff which included 10 rounds of chemotherapy and scans.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

When she told him she was a patient aide at Baltimore City Hospital, he said, “Really? I work at the National Cancer Institute.”

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

To describe 55 Cancri e as "rocky," however, could leave the wrong impression.

From Science Daily ● May 8, 2024

The so-called super Earth — known as 55 Cancri e — is among the few rocky planets outside our solar system with a significant atmosphere, wrapped a blanket of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

From Seattle Times ● May 8, 2024

Scientists hope to learn whether 55 Cancri e even has an atmosphere, and if so what is it made of.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2022

The two planets Webb officials highlighted include the super-hot, lava-covered 55 Cancri e, and LHS 3844 b, which lacks a substantial atmosphere.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 3, 2022

There is, however, a third star, known as 20 Cancri, near the same place, and this Watson probably mistook for Theta.

From The Story of the Heavens by Sir Robert S. (Robert Stawell) Ball

Related Words

• corruption
• disease
• malignancy
• sickness
• tumor