Cancer (June 22 - July 22)

In ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle represented Cancer and symbolized the immortal life of the soul. Later, the crab became associated with Cancer. Both symbols have hard shells that provide security for their interiors, just as the body is a vehicle for the soul.

is from Greek which literally means "crab". Karkinoma is Greek for crab. This is the source of the English word carcinoma. According to ancient Greek physicians the tumors had a crab like pattern formed by the distended blood vessels around the affected area. Until the 17th century the term was generally used only for the astrological sign.

Source: Dictionary of Word Origins, John Ayto

Source: Excite Horoscopes, Sandra Fidler