# Use of the term 'Cancer' as illness

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-term-cancer-as-illness/237132>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-term-cancer-as-illness/237132 "2004-03-29T19:08:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HumptysHamhole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f0a364/32.png) [@HumptysHamhole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumptysHamhole)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-term-cancer-as-illness/237132/1 "2004-03-29T19:08:20Z")

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I understand the word cancer is rooted in the Greek root karkino- (crab). How and when and why did this term come to use in describing tumorous growths of tissue? Anybody?

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-term-cancer-as-illness/237132/2 "2004-03-29T19:11:14Z")

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It’s generally believed to be because many cancerous growths branch out, looking like they’re spreading tendrils throughout the body, so they resemble crabs.

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**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-term-cancer-as-illness/237132/3 "2004-03-29T19:35:25Z")

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\<hijack\>

Just because I thought it would be amusing to have 3 posts in a row that had DNA quotes in the sig.

\</hijack\>

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-term-cancer-as-illness/237132/4 "2004-03-30T00:48:16Z")

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This has already been answered, but here’s an earlier thread anyway:

> **[deadly disease = delicious crustacean -- I dont get it](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=119049)**
>
> Whats the relationship between the disease cancer and the animal crab? These are similar words in just about every European language. I dont understand the connection.