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The word 'cancer" came from the Greek word 'carcinos' which means crab or crayfish. This name came because the appearance of the cut surface of a tumour was like a crab or a crayfish.

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Arvid Yost

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2y ago
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11y ago

The word cancer is Latin for "crab". Its use for cancer goes back to Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC - ca. 370 BC) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer#History), who is said to have derived it from the appearance of the cut surface of a solid malignant tumour, with "the veins stretched on all sides as the animal the crab has its feet, whence it derives its name".

As early as the 16th century the word "canker" was used in medival English for disease in crops and later for extraneous growth or any of various types of non-healing sore or ulcer. Later it came to be used in the modern medical sense, frequently with a distinguishing word usually indicating the type or site of origin of the cancer. (Oxford English Dictionary)

The reason Hippocrates saw what he did when he cut into malignant tumors is because malignant tumors have "angiogenesis"; the ability to create new blood vessels to feed and support the tumor by linking it to an exisiting blood supply. By the time the host died and was autopsied, the tumor (frequently round in appearance) had a crab-like appearance. Therefore it was called "cancer" after the astrological star sign and horoscope.

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12y ago

Cancer in latin refers to the diseases crab like invasion of tissues.

(Greek?)

See "Why is the disease Cancer called Cancer?"

The Ancient Greek, 'Father of Medicine' Hippocrates, used the Greek words, carcinos and carcinoma to describe (cancerous) tumors, thus making him the first person, historically, to bestow the disease with the 'cancer'-like name, "karkinos.".

The contributing terms were used by the Ancient Greeks in describing a common crustacean, still known to us today by its Greek label in Astrology; 'Cancer, the crab'. Hippocrates saw a physical resemblance, in the way blood vessels ran from the sides of dissected, cancerous tumors, to the legs of a crab. Hence, we may assume, the reasoning behind Hippocrates analogous, observational label for the tumor causing disease of unknown origin.

There does not appear to be any evidence that Cancerous afflictions and crabs have ever been attributed any causal link throughout history.

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11y ago

A cancer is labeled based on where it started in the body.


Cancer is an abnormal growth or mutation of cells. If it starts in the brain, it's called brain cancer.

Any cancer can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body; but it will retain some of the cellular characteristics of where it started. So even after the cancer spreads, it may grow tumors in the lungs, bones or other places, but if it originated in the brain, it's still a brain cancer cell.

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12y ago

Narwhals Narwhals swimming in the Ocean Causing a CommotionCuz they are so awesome

Narwhals Narwhals swimming in the ocean

Pretty big and pretty White

They beat a polarbear in a fight

Like an underwater Unicorn

They got a kickass facial horn!

Their the jedi's of the sea!

They stop Cthuly eating ye!

Narwhals they are Narwhals Narwhals!

Just dont let them touch your balls!

Narwhals They are narwhals!

Inventors of the Shishkebab!

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Q: Why is the disease cancer called cancer?
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