Cancer refers to a group of diseases in which abnormal cells in the body begin to divide and grow uncontrollably, extend beyond their usual boundaries, and spread to other organs and parts of the body. This last process is called metastasis.
Humans and animals have always suffered from cancer. The oldest description was found in Egypt and dates back to approximately 3000 BCE. In a papyrus that can be considered a textbook on trauma care, there are accounts of eight cases of breast tumors or ulcers and their cauterization. However, the disease itself is not named there.
The first use of the term “cancer” is attributed to Hippocrates, but he used the terms carcinos and carcinoma. In Greek, these words relate to crabs, and were most likely applied to the disease because the finger-like spreading extensions of a tumor resemble the shape of a crab.
Much later, the Roman physician Celsus translated the term into Latin—cancer. In English, cancer can mean both “crab” and “cancer.” The first meaning would be more accurate, as visually, a tumor indeed resembles this creature.
Another ancient Greek physician, Galen, introduced the term ὄγκος (onkos), or “tumor.” His term is used as part of the name of the medical field—oncology. This word is also used to refer to the specialty of physicians—oncologists.
