Where did the term cancer come from
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The Origin of the Term "Cancer"
Ancient Greek Roots: Karkinos and Karkinoma
The term "cancer" has its origins in ancient Greek medicine. The earliest known descriptions of cancer date back to around 1600 BC, as found in the Edwin Smith papyrus. However, it was the Hippocratic physicians who coined the terms "karkinos" and "karkinoma" to describe tumors. "Karkinos" was used for any non-healing swelling or ulcerous formation, while "karkinoma" was specifically reserved for non-healing malignant tumors .
Etymology: The Crab Connection
The word "karkinos" translates to "crab" in Greek. Hippocrates, often referred to as the father of medicine, used this term because the swollen veins around a malignant tumor resembled the shape of a crab's legs. This imagery was so compelling that the term was later adopted by the Romans, who translated "karkinos" to the Latin word "cancer," which also means crab .
Early Modern Interpretations
In early modern England, cancer was understood as a cruel and usually incurable disease. Medical practitioners of the time diagnosed it based on a well-defined set of symptoms that were thought to correspond to its etymological root, "karkinos." The disease was often described in quasi-sentient terms, likened to an eating worm or wolf, which influenced the radical and sometimes dangerous treatments employed, such as caustics and surgery.
Historical Misunderstandings
The term "cancer" has been subject to various interpretations and misunderstandings throughout history. Early medical literature often confused cancer with other ulcerative lesions due to the broad application of the term "karkinos." This confusion persisted until the 18th century when medical understanding began to differentiate between various types of lesions more clearly .
Conclusion
The term "cancer" has a rich historical background rooted in ancient Greek medicine. Coined by Hippocratic physicians, the term "karkinos" (crab) vividly described the appearance of malignant tumors. Over centuries, this term evolved and was adopted into Latin as "cancer," maintaining its original imagery. Despite early misunderstandings, the term has persisted and is now universally recognized in the medical field.
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