Cancer is a serious disease in which cells in a person's body increase rapidly in an uncontrolled way, producing abnormal growths.
Her mother died of breast cancer.
Jane was just 25 when she learned she had cancer.
Ninety per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking.
Synonyms: growth, tumour, carcinoma [pathology], malignancy More Synonyms of cancer
More Synonyms of cancer
Cancer
Word forms: plural Cancers
1. uncountable noun
Cancer is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Its symbol is a crab. People who are born approximately between the 21st of June and the 22nd of July come under this sign.
2. countable noun
A Cancer is a person whose sign of the zodiac is Cancer.
cancer in British English
(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
▶ Related prefix: carcino-
Derived forms
cancerous (ˈcancerous)
adjective
cancerously (ˈcancerously)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin: crab, a creeping tumour; related to Greek karkinos crab, Sanskrit karkata
Cancer in British English
(ˈkænsə)
nounWord forms: Latin genitiveCancri (ˈkæŋkriː)
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
a. 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
b. Also called: Moonchild
a person born during a period when the sun is in this sign
3. tropic of Cancer
adjective
4. astrology
born under or characteristic of Cancer
Also (for senses 2b, 4): Cancerian
cancer in American English
(ˈkænsər)
noun
1. [C-]
a N constellation between Gemini and Leo; the Crab
2. [C-]
the fourth sign of the zodiac, entered by the sun about June 21
, also called the Crab
3. [C-]
a person born under this sign
: also Canˈcerian (ˈkænˈsɪriən)
4.
a.
a malignant new growth anywhere in the body of a person or animal; malignant tumor: cancers tend to spread locally and to distant parts of the body
b.
any of various diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells that disrupt body tissue, metabolism, etc.
see also carcinoma, sarcoma
5.
anything bad or harmful that spreads and destroys
Derived forms
cancerous (ˈcancerous)
adjective
Word origin
ME & OE < L, a crab; later, malignant tumor; by dissimilation (? already in IE) karkar-, redupl. of base *kar-, hard > hard, Gr karbinos, crab, Sans karkara, rough, hard, karkata, crab
Examples of 'cancer' in a sentence
cancer
We will miss some cancers and serious diseases.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The osteoporosis medication stops cancer spreading to the bones.
The Sun (2016)
Tissue biopsies can be inaccessible in lung cancer patients.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The drugs alter bone tissue, making it harder for cancer cells to survive there.
The Sun (2016)
Her mother died of cancer, she has no contact with her father and lives in a hostel for young people with mental difficulties.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Alzheimer's is the poor relation of health charities, way behind cancer and strokes in funding and research.
The Sun (2017)
Billed as a successor to the human genome project, it is expected to answer questions such as why immune cells near cancers so often shut down.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
YOU would have to eat 320 slices of burnt toast a day to make any significant increase to your cancer risk, an expert claims.
The Sun (2017)
We have no evidence of a link to cancer or an increased risk of rupture.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Shortly after this he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The most serious and least common skin cancer is malignant melanoma.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
No two people share the same cancer journey just like no two people share the same fingerprints.
Christianity Today (2000)
This is aimed at wiping out any remaining cancer cells.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
Then a scan showed the cancer had spread to her liver and spine.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Two months ago he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She handled the cancer the same way.
The Sun (2016)
She then heard that her mother had cancer and we had to come home early.
The Sun (2015)
These are not always obvious and can be caused by conditions other than cancer.
The Sun (2011)
This exposure can cause a small increase in cancer risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is a cancer of the lymphatic system and can strike anywhere in the body.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is also highly likely to give her malignant skin cancer.
The Sun (2012)
No studies have been done on humans about the cancer link just yet.
The Sun (2012)
Tests on cancer cells in the lab had similar results.
The Sun (2013)
It was the one place her cancer had spread that might become unstable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
cancer
Human diseases, Constellations
In other languages
cancer
British English: cancer /ˈkænsə/ NOUN
illnessCancer is a serious illness in which abnormal body cells increase, producing growths.
Ninety per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking.
American English: cancer illness
Arabic: سَرَطَان
Brazilian Portuguese: câncer
Chinese: 癌症
Croatian: rak bolest
Czech: rakovina
Danish: kræft
Dutch: kanker
European Spanish: cáncer
Finnish: syöpä
French: cancer
German: Krebs Erkrankung
Greek: καρκίνος
Italian: cancro
Japanese: 癌
Korean: 암
Norwegian: kreft
Polish: rak choroba
European Portuguese: cancro
Romanian: cancer
Russian: рак
Latin American Spanish: cáncer
Swedish: cancer
Thai: มะเร็ง
Turkish: kanser hastalık
Ukrainian: рак
Vietnamese: bệnh ung thư
British English: Cancer /ˈkænsə/ NOUN
sign of zodiacCancer is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Its symbol is a crab. People who are born between the 21st of June and the 22nd of July come under this sign.
American English: Cancer horoscope
Arabic: بُرْجُ السَّرَطَان
Brazilian Portuguese: Câncer
Chinese: 巨蟹座
Croatian: rak horoskop
Czech: Rak znamení
Danish: Krebsen
Dutch: Kreeft sterrenbeeld
European Spanish: Cáncer
Finnish: rapu horoskooppimerkki
French: Cancer
German: Krebs
Greek: Καρκίνος
Italian: Cancro
Japanese: 蟹座
Korean: 게자리
Norwegian: Krepsen
Polish: Rak horoskop
European Portuguese: Caranguejo
Romanian: Racsemn zodiacal
Russian: Рак
Latin American Spanish: Cáncer
Swedish: Kräftan
Thai: ราศีกรกฎ
Turkish: Yengeç Burcu
Ukrainian: Рак
Vietnamese: cung Cự Giải
All related terms of 'cancer'
cancer gene
oncogene
lung cancer
a disease caused by a malignant tumour growing in the lung
skin cancer
a cancerous or malignant skin growth
bowel cancer
cancer of the colon
breast cancer
cancer affecting the breasts
cancer cells
A cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that is able to function independently. Every animal or plant is made up of millions of cells.
cancer death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
cancer stick
a short tightly rolled cylinder of tobacco , wrapped in thin paper and often having a filter tip , for smoking
colon cancer
a type of cancer that affects the colon
bladder cancer
any cancer of the bladder
cancer-causing
having the ability to induce the growth of a malignant tumour
cancer charity
A charity is an organization which raises money in order to help people who are sick or very poor , or who have a disability .
cancer hospital
A hospital is a place where people who are ill are looked after by nurses and doctors .
cancer patient
a person who is receiving medical treatment for a malignant growth or tumour
cancer research
Research is work that involves studying something and trying to discover facts about it.
cervical cancer
a cancer of the cervix (the lower end of the womb )
ovarian cancer
a disease in which cancerous cells are present in either or both of the two female reproductive organs , which produce ova and secrete oestrogen hormones
Paget's cancer
a chronic disease of the bones characterized by inflammation and deformation
prostate cancer
cancer of the prostate
cancer diagnosis
Diagnosis is the discovery and naming of what is wrong with someone who is ill or with something that is not working properly.
cancer specialist
a medical professional who specializes in the treatment or study of malignant growths or tumours
cancer treatment
Treatment is medical attention given to a sick or injured person or animal.
secondary cancer
a cancerous growth in some part of the body away from the site of the original tumour
disseminated cancer
a cancerous tumour that has spread from the site of original growth to a secondary site
tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line around the Earth 23° 26′ north of the equator.