Definition

1. Noun:
   • A serious disease: A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
   • A zodiac sign: The fourth sign of the zodiac, represented by the Crab. The sun is in this sign approximately from June 21 to July 22.
   • A constellation: A small constellation (Cancer) in the northern hemisphere, located between Leo and Gemini.
   • A person born under the Cancer sign: (In astrology) a person whose birth date falls when the sun is in the sign of Cancer.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Disease):
  • Early detection is crucial for treating cancer.
  • She is a researcher studying the causes of lung cancer.
• Noun (Zodiac/Astrology):
  • My sister's zodiac sign is Cancer.
  • Cancers are often described as being emotional and intuitive.

Advanced Usage

• "Cancer of/on something": Used to indicate the specific location or type of the disease.
  • He was diagnosed with cancer of the liver.
• "A cancer on/in something": (Figurative) Used to describe a harmful, corrupting influence that spreads within a system or society.
  • Corruption is a cancer on our political institutions.

Variants and Related Words

• Carcinogen (noun): A substance capable of causing cancer.
  • Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens.
• Carcinogenic (adjective): Having the potential to cause cancer.
  • The chemical was found to be carcinogenic.
• Cancerous (adjective): Relating to or affected by cancer.
  • The biopsy confirmed the tissue was cancerous.

Synonyms

• Malignancy: (Medical) A cancerous tumor or disease.
• Carcinoma: (Medical) A type of cancer that begins in the skin or tissues lining organs.
• Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. (Note: Not all tumors are cancerous; benign tumors are not cancer.)

Related Phrases

• Battle/fight cancer: To undergo treatment for the disease.
  • She is bravely battling cancer.
• Cancer survivor: A person who remains alive after being diagnosed with cancer.
  • The event was organized by cancer survivors.

Related Idioms

• "A crab mentality": This idiom is sometimes associated with the Cancer zodiac sign (the Crab) and describes a way of thinking where one tries to pull down anyone who is more successful or ambitious.
  • The team failed due to a crab mentality; no one wanted others to succeed.

Noun

1. type genus of the family Cancridae
2. the fourth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about June 21 to July 22
3. a small zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Leo and Gemini
4. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Cancer
5. any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream