Definition

A substance that does not cause cancer on its own but can increase the risk of cancer when combined with other cancer-causing agents.

Example

Certain chemicals can act as cocarcinogens, enhancing the effects of more potent carcinogens.

Conversation

I read that some chemicals are considered cocarcinogens when combined with other substances.

Really? I didn’t know that. How does it work exactly?

Well, they don’t cause cancer on their own but can make other carcinogens much worse.

That’s pretty scary! It’s important to be aware of what we’re exposed to.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cocarcinogen → It is formed from "co-" (meaning together) and "carcinogen" (from Greek "karkinos", meaning crab, and "genes", meaning born of or produced by). The term refers to a substance that works together with another carcinogen to promote cancer development.

Memory Tip

Think of 'together' ('co-') working with a 'cancer-causing substance' ('carcinogen') — that's why cocarcinogen means a substance that acts together with another to cause cancer.

Visually Confused Words