A Resume of the Cancer Problem Cancer is the Latin word for crab. Carcinoma is derived from the Greek word karkinos which means crab. The crab is a ten footed crustacean trhich can go in any direction without turning, and it holds relentlessly when it fixes itself upon an object. It is assumed that these characteristics of the crab explain why the framers of early medical nomenclature gave the nam© 'cancer" to the malignant disease which gives us so much concern and anxiety. Technically the terms "cancer" and "carcinoma" were formerly used synonomously to designate a new growth springing from epithelial tissue. The term "cancer" did not include m lign- nt dlse se not of epithelial origin, willlan 'epper writing in 1898 objected to the use of the term where the malignant growth originated in other tissue. In 1901 llliam B. Coley took the oosltion that it would be sensible and practically advantageous to call any malignant turmor "cancer". Others believed the same. So, by force of usage today it is understood that the term is no longer restricted to tumors of epithelial origin. Speaking very broadly, and using the term as a family nam©, cancer includes, on the one hand, all malignant new growths of epithelial origin, and, on the other hand, all malignant new
