cancer, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

cancer n.

(US) severe rust on an automobile.

1978		P. Hamill Dirty Laundry 112: Well, shit, I’ll loan you my car. It’s got cancer, but it still goes.
1983		S. King Christine 358: The Fury’s bod, which had an advanced case of cancer when the kid brought it in, now looks cherry.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

cancer alley (n.) [the polluting factories may well issue carcinogens into the atmosphere]

(US) the industrial area of a city.

1981		N.J. State Health Commissioner Joan Finley 7 Aug. [WINS radio] It was discovered that we no longer need to be dubbed ‘Cancer Alley’ and that we’re no worse — and no better — than the rest of the country in regard to the cancer rate [HDAS].
1996		Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 🌐 At night, the petrochemical plants lining miles of the lower Mississippi River take on an almost fairy tale look from all their bright lights. But it’s become known as ‘Cancer Alley’ among the people who live along the Big Muddy from Baton Rouge south to New Orleans and depend on these chemical plants and petroleum refineries for their livelihoods.
2002		Rachel Carson Instit. at Chatham College (Pittsburgh) 🌐 Its called Cancer Alley, the 80 mile toxic stretch along the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where the air, ground and water are full of carcinogens, mutagens, and embryo toxins emitted by over 100 oil refineries and petrochemical plants.

cancer case (n.)

(Aus.) an annoying old person.

1969

J. Hibberd Dimboola (2000) 77: What’s wrong with that, you old cancer case?

cancer shop (n.)

(Aus.) a tobacconist.

2021

Betoota-isms 182: Cancer Shop [...] 1. A dodgy tobacconist 2. A cigarette store that sells a variety of vapes, smoking paraphernalia and assorted NRL memorabilia.

cancer stick (n.) (also cancer pill) [the proven link between tobacco and lung cancer; note Jap. use of cancer stick, a mobile telephone, referring to the belief that the phones can irradiate the user]

a cigarette.

1959		J. Braine Vodi 242: There was a packet of cigarettes on the locker. She took one out and lit it. ‘First cancer stick today,’ she said. ‘I keep trying to stop’ .
1967–8		Baker et al. CUSS 94: Cancer pill [...] Cancer stick Cigarette.
1970		New Scientist 2 Apr. 23: We recover a useful chunk of this money by exporting manufactured cancer sticks, principally to the natives of Kuwait, Aden and Hong Kong.
1980		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 2: cancer stick – cigarette.
1989		M. Walker How to Kiss a Crocodile 81: No explanation, just a sheepish grin and another comfort stop to complete the cancer stick.
1999		Dr Dre ‘Fuck You’ 🎵 I know he be knowin that your pussy’s been tampered with / Then you show him the new trick of how you can lick it, smoke a cancer stick.
2006		D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 80: This isn’t just about smoking a humble cancer stick.
2012		M. McBride Frank Sinatra in a Blender [ebook] I told Amish Ron not to light up that cancer stick.
2017		T. Spicer Good Girl Stripped Bare 8: We walk to the corner store for bread, milk and cancer sticks [...] Smoking is glamorous! Sexy!
2023		F. Bill Back to the Dirt 11: [H]e raised his cigarette to his lips, pulling a final draw of nicotine from his cancer stick.