cancer - English dictionary definition

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Cancer A genus of decapod Crustacea, including some of the most common shore crabs of Europe and North America, as the rock crab, Jonah crab, etc. See Crab.
Cancer The fourth of the twelve signs of the zodiac. The first point is the northern limit of the sun's course in summer; hence, the sign of the summer solstice. See Tropic.
Cancer A northern constellation between Gemini and Leo.
Cancer Formerly, any malignant growth, esp. one attended with great pain and ulceration, with cachexia and progressive emaciation. It was so called, perhaps, from the great veins which surround it, compared by the ancients to the claws of a crab. The term is now restricted to such a growth made up of aggregations of epithelial cells, either without support or embedded in the meshes of a trabecular framework.
Cancer type genus of the family Cancridae
cancer body an inclusion body found in plasma cells in cases of cancer
Cancer borealis large red deep-water crab of the eastern coast of North America
cancer cell a cell that is part of a malignant tumor
cancer drug any of several drugs that control or kill neoplastic cells; used in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells; all have unpleasant side effects that may include nausea and vomiting and hair loss and suppression of bone marrow function
Cancer irroratus crab of eastern coast of North America

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