Geeta Patel Geeta Patel Asked 7 months ago

Where did the word cancer come from?

My father is undergoing treatment for cancer, and it's made me very aware of the disease. I was looking up information and became curious about the word itself. Does anyone know where did the word 'cancer' come from, its etymology?

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7 answers

Rajeshwari Devi Rajeshwari Devi Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago
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Hello! I remember reading somewhere that Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, used the word 'carcinos' which means crab, to describe tumours with finger-like projections. It's quite interesting how these old terms still stick, no? It's good to be informed, always.

Anjali Sharma Anjali Sharma Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

Honestly, for such serious topics like cancer, I always prefer to ask my doctor directly. They explain everything so clearly, even the origin of terms. Maybe you can schedule an appointment and ask them, they'd be the best resource.

Leela Prasad Leela Prasad Joined Feb 2026 7 months ago

Beta, many of these medical words come from old languages like Greek and Latin. The important thing is not where the word came from, but how we live our lives now. Eat well, stay active, and don't take stress. Our elders always said prevention is better.

Suresh Rao Suresh Rao Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

I think it has Greek roots, like many medical terms. Knowing the origin is fine, but more importantly, focus on prevention and early detection. Those regular health check-ups can get pricey, so planning for them is key. Better safe than sorry, and bankrupt!

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Priya Kapoor Priya Kapoor Joined Feb 2026 7 months ago

Hmm, this is one of those words that sounds so heavy, you know? Like, it's definitely not a word you want associated with your favorite biryani! I wonder if there are any ancient food-related terms that stuck around like this. Interesting thought!

Amit Singh Amit Singh Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

Bhai, it's from Greek, 'karkinos' for crab. Because earlier they thought the veins looked like crab legs. Simple funda hai. Just good to know general knowledge.

Rohan Das Rohan Das Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

Actually, it's from the Greek word 'karkinos', referring to a crab. It's good to know such facts. But more important is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, maybe some walking or jogging. It all helps, doc bhi yahi bolte hain.

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