Origin of the term cancer in medicine
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Etymology and Historical Roots of the Term "Cancer" in Medicine
Greek Origins: Karkinos and Hippocrates
The term "cancer" in medicine originates from the ancient Greek word "karkinos," meaning "crab." Hippocrates, often called the father of medicine, used "karkinos" and "karkinoma" to describe tumors. He chose this term because the finger-like spreading projections of cancerous tumors reminded him of a crab's shape and legs. "Karkinos" was used for any non-healing swelling or ulcer, while "karkinoma" was reserved for malignant, non-healing cancers 34569. This terminology marked a shift from supernatural explanations of disease to more scientific observations, as seen in the writings of Hippocrates and later Galen .
Latin and Later Translations: Cancer
The Greek term "karkinos" was later translated into Latin as "cancer," which also means "crab." This translation helped the term spread throughout Roman and later European medical literature, solidifying its place in the medical vocabulary . The word "cancer" thus became the standard term for malignant tumors in Western medicine.
Early Descriptions and Evidence
Descriptions of cancer-like diseases date back to ancient Egypt, with the oldest known cases found in the Edwin Smith papyrus around 1600 BC. However, the specific term "cancer" was not used until the Greek period. The disease itself was recognized long before the term was coined, with evidence of cancer found in ancient mummies and early manuscripts 34689.
Spread to Other Languages and Cultures
The Greek and Latin terms influenced medical terminology in other cultures. For example, the Arabic medical literature adopted the term for cancer through translations and adaptations, with scholars like Ishaq ibn Hunayn playing a role in introducing the word and its connotations into Arabic medicine .
Oncology: The Study of Cancer
The term "oncology," derived from the Greek "onkos" (meaning mass or tumor) and "logia" (study), was first attested in the 17th century and became more widely used in the 19th century, especially after Rudolf Virchow's influential work on tumors . This term now refers to the branch of medicine dedicated to the study and treatment of cancer.
Conclusion
The medical term "cancer" has its roots in ancient Greek, where Hippocrates used "karkinos" to describe tumors that resembled crabs. This term was later translated into Latin as "cancer," which became the standard in Western medicine. The concept and terminology spread to other cultures and languages, shaping the way cancer is understood and discussed in medicine today 234568910.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic