countable and uncountable diseases

[atabitaraf]

Would you please tell me how can I distinguish countable and uncountable diseases?
Is there any help or hint in there? Or at least for some of them?
Thanks,

 

[Matthew Wai]

The dictionary will tell you the answer, see the examples below.
asthma - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online
cold - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online

Not a teacher.

 

[Tdol]

I think it's a question of using a dictionary when unsure, I'm afraid. I can't see much reason for having a cold but having flu or the flu, much less frostbite or chilblains. Most are uncountable, though.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Cancer is countable. For example, the pathetic man has three different cancers simultaneously.

Not a teacher.

 

[bhaisahab]

Cancer is countable. For example, the pathetic man has three different cancers simultaneously.

Not a teacher.

"pathetic" is a bad choice of word there.

 

[Matthew Wai]

What word should be used instead?

 

[bhaisahab]

What word should be used instead?

No adjective is really necessary but "poor" would be more natural if you want to use one.

 

[Tdol]

Cancer is countable. For example, the pathetic man has three different cancers simultaneously.

It can be uncountable- many nouns can be both. If you say He has liver cancer, it's uncountable.