tenía cáncer

had cancer

→ tener
phrase Rare #36,411
had cancer Imperfect past tense: used to say someone had cancer or was diagnosed with cancer in the past.
SP: Mi abuelo tenía cáncer hace años.
EN: My grandfather had cancer years ago.

No tenía cáncer ni parásitos.

She had no cancer or parasites.

— El club de la lucha (1999)

Mi mujer tenía cáncer.

My wife had cancer.

— Mystic River (2003)

Si tenía cáncer, ¿por qué no nos lo dijo?

If he had cancer, why didn't he tell us?

— Vivir (1952)

El tenía cáncer..

He had cancer.

— Piku (2015)

Hace poco le dijeron a Tom que tenía cáncer.

Tom was recently told he had cancer.

Él tenía cáncer.

He had cancer.

— Queen (2014)

Tenía cáncer.

He had cancer.

— Academia Rushmore (1998)