Symbolically Cancer represents the Moon, the Eternal Mother and the astrological sign of Cancer. Intellectually we may have worked through our fears but still be left with attitudes and beliefs that cannot be cleared away. Very often this appears as cancer or illness in dreams and equally can represent something 'eating away' at us - usually a negative idea or concept. Cancer is one of the prime fears that a human being has to deal with, so to dream of a cancer indicates we are out of harmony with our body. It also indicates fear of illness. Since the astrological sign of Cancer represents a feminine attribute, in a womans dream she may be considering her ability to nurture. In a mans dream his focus may be on his attitude to his mother or mothering.