1560s, "afflicted with cancer," from cancer + -ous. Figurative sense, "like a cancer, virulent" is from 1660s.
a cancerous growth
remorse was cancerous within him
pornography is cancerous to the moral development of our children
Canberra
cancan
cancel
cancellation
cancer
cancerous
cancrivorous
candela
candelabrum
candescent
candid