Cancer (n)

3. a. Pathol. A malignant growth or tumour in different parts of the body, that tends to spread indefinitely and to reproduce itself, as also to return after removal; it eats away or corrodes the part in which it is situated, and generally ends in death.

1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. Gloss., Cancer is a swelling or sore comming of melancholy bloud, about which the veins appeare of a blacke or swert colour, spread in manner of a Creifish clees. 1671 SALMON Syn. Med. I. xlviii. 114 {Kappa}{alpha}{rho}{kappa}{iota}{nu}{omicron}{fsigma}, Cancer is a hard round Tumour blew or blackish having pain and beating. 1747 HERVEY Medit. & Contempl. (1818) 254 On some a relentless cancer has fastened its envenomed teeth. 1877 ROBERTS Handbk. Med. I. (ed. 3) 274 Cancer is decidedly a hereditary disease.