2007-02-28 05:38:44 · 5 answers · asked by brock 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
because "Gum drops" was already in use
2007-02-28 05:41:57 · answer #1 · answered by wizjp 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Had you put your search engine to use, as I did, and typed in 'origin of word cancer' (no quotes) you could've found this:
"The origin of the word cancer is credited to the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.), considered the "Father of Medicine." Hippocrates used the terms carcinos and carcinoma to describe non-ulcer forming and ulcer-forming tumors. In Greek these words refer to a crab, most likely applied to the disease because the finger-like spreading projections from a cancer called to mind the shape of a crab. Carcinoma is the most common type of cancer."
Gotta luv the internet!
2007-02-28 13:44:07 · answer #2 · answered by . 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like the name of anything else, they call it a particular name, for the lack of something better to call it at the time it was named.
2007-02-28 13:42:43 · answer #3 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the same reason aids is called aids
2007-02-28 13:46:11 · answer #4 · answered by Carefree? Noway! I wish! 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://www.upd.edu.ph/~ismed/agham/archive/5th/extras/cathy/history.htm
2007-02-28 13:47:30 · answer #5 · answered by cmhurley64 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋