为什么癌症的英文和巨蟹座的英文一样？都是cancer
cancer
英 [ˈkænsə(r)] 美 [ˈkænsɚ] 癌症，恶性肿瘤；弊病，社会恶习；迅速蔓延的恶劣的或危险的事物；[天]巨蟹座，巨蟹宫cancer 一词出了有癌症之意，还有巨蟹座的意思。
为什么巨蟹座的英文是cancer？ 出生在6.22-7.22之间的小伙伴就可以被称之为Cancerian，这个词首次使用是在1911年，Cancer也可以直接表示是巨蟹座的人。
在古时候，巨蟹座被看作是黑暗的象征，因为它暗淡细小，是十二星座中最暗的一个，在夜空中几乎看不清。
不过cancer与癌症的关联不在于此。cancer是中世纪英语，首次使用是在14世纪，源于拉丁语，本意是螃蟹。古希腊名医希波克拉底曾将处于发展期和恶性溃疡的肿瘤命名为karkinos，即希腊语中的“螃蟹”，因为恶性肿瘤的表面形状形似螃蟹。
后来karkinos演变为拉丁语中的cancer，又进入英语，沿用至今。
在星空条件非常好的时候，天空中可以看到一片星云，因为其形状诡异，常让人感到恐惧和惊悚，故被称为“鬼星团”（第一张图），古埃及人认为那是人死后灵魂聚集之处，也是冥界的入口，称之为“积尸气”。这个星团就位于巨蟹座，而巨蟹座的英文就是Cancer。
你是否记得《圣斗士星矢》？里面的巨蟹座黄金圣斗士---迪斯马斯克的绝招叫什么？对了，“积尸气冥界波”！中招后会被打入“黄泉”，车田正美他老人家可不是拍拍脑袋就想出来的哦！人家可是做了充分的学术准备，可惜当年我们这些小屁孩都不会深究这些，想想人家画漫画都这么学术，自己还真有点小惭愧。
古希腊的医神希波克拉底认为，癌症是顽固的不治之症，是引向死亡的必经之路，所以用cancer来表示癌症。肿瘤，叫做carcinoma，其中carcin-来源于cancer，表示“肿胀”，-oma表示“外生物”，就是“瘤”了。也就是说，cancer本身仅仅表示巨蟹座，是因为“鬼星团”的缘故，才和肿瘤拉上了关系。
所以，当你以后听到有人对你说：“癌症之所以用螃蟹表示，是因为螃蟹横行霸道，就像肿瘤一样”，或者“肿瘤的形态就像蟹足一样浸润生长”这种话时，就可以笑一笑，然后转身离开了。
英文版：癌症的十大真相
「 关于 癌症 的真相你知道多少？」
「 Fact 1 」
Everyone is a potential cancer patient, the primary cancer cells were with us ever since the day we’re born, but they are in standby mode. Canceration can be activated by many elements, such as radiation, virus, germs and chemicals, these are all good activists.
「 Fact 2 」
Most of the anticarcinogens are quite effective at the beginning of the treatment, but after a while, it’s getting weak, that’s because cancer cells are drug-resistant and variable.
「 Fact 3 」
Cancer is also the name of a horoscope, the only distinction is the capital C. It is said that the malignant tumor areas are as tough as crab’s shells, so Cancer take the blames.
「 Fact 4 」
Elephants never get cancer, cuz they have 20 copies of TP53 in their genes, we humans and other mammals only have 1. This specific gene can capture DNA-damaged cells, they either fix it or kill it, making them officially nemesis for cancer cells, talking about gene privileges.
「 Fact 5 」
Although non-smokers may also get lung cancer, but they can be fixed easily than those heavy smokers.
「 Fact 6 」
HBV carriers are 100 times more likely to get liver cancer.
「 Fact 7 」
Taking a walk half an hour everyday, you get 43% lower chances to have colon cancer than those who don’t. Now the girls have great excuses for their window shopping activities.
「 Fact 8 」
You never heard of heart cancer, that’s because myocardial cells are permanent, when there’s no fission or regeneration, there’s no chaos or abnormity. Cancer cells can’t survive in such condition.
「 Fact 9 」
Cervical cancer and anal cancer are mainly caused by HPV which can be sexually transmitted to others. So if you never get laid, you never get this kind of cancer.
「 Fact 10 」
Scientists in Boston University have studied the cancer diagnosis reports of 7252 females and 3690 males, they have discovered gay’s cancer rate is 8% , 1.9 times than those who are straight and bisexuals.
cancer一词的应用参考例句：
Although Connie was in the final stages of her fight against cancer, she was alert and cheerful.
虽然康尼处于和癌症搏斗的晚期，但她仍然神智清醒，精神愉快。
Exposure to low-level radiation for a long time may accelerate aging and cause cancer.
长期暴露在低水平辐射下可能会加速人的老化并引起癌症。
It is artificially induced (usually with ice baths) for certain surgical procedures and cancer treatments.
在进行某些外科手术时，在控制某些癌症时，均可人工降低体温(常采用冰浴)以降低对氧的需要。
He is suffering from terminal cancer.
他患晚期癌症。
☑Nowadays many people die of cancer.
现在很多人死于癌症。
pioneer in cancer research
癌症研究的倡导者
She's doing cancer research.
她在从事癌症研究。
It wasn't cancer, only a benign tumour.
这不是癌症，只是良性肿瘤。
fight cancer;fight temptation.
与癌症作斗争;抵制诱惑
an ineffectual treatment for cancer.
对癌症的无效治疗
★《布宫号》提醒您：民俗信仰仅供参考，请勿过度迷信！