What is the connection between malignant neoplasms and crabs?

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The more common term for malignant neoplasms, cancer, is Latin for crab, and the word "carcinogen," meaning a cancer-causing agent, comes from the Greek word for crab, "karkinos." What is the connection between these two seemingly unrelated things?
Cancer, both the disease and the astronomical constellation, derive from the Latin cancer or cancrum, meaning crab. The astrological sign, of course, is said to resemble a crab and the disease was so named by the ancient Greek physician Galen (129-200 A.D.) who noted the similarity between a certain type of tumor with a crab as well—the swollen veins around the tumor resembling the legs of a crab.

Old English adopted cancer directly from Latin and used it for a variety of spreading sores and ulcers. This early sense survives in the modern word canker. From c.1000 in a manuscript called Læce Boc (Leech Book), collected in Oswald Cockayne’s Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England, Vol. II, 1865:

Gemeng wið þam dustum, clæm on ðone cancer.
(Mix with the dust, smear on the cancer.)

And from Wyclif’s 2 Timothy, 1382:

The word of hem crepith as a kankir

The word was being applied specifically to the disease we today call cancer by the beginning of the 17th century. From Philemon Holland’s translation of Pliny’s Historie of the World:

Cancer is a swelling or sore comming of melancholy bloud, about which the veins appeare of a blacke or swert colour, spread in manner of a Creifish clees.

The astronomical sense of cancer is from the Latin name for the constellation of the crab. The name was known to the Anglo-Saxons, but only as a Latin name and was not assimilated into English until the Middle English period. It appears in Ælfric’s De Temporibus Anni, written c.993, in a list of the constellations of the Zodiac:

Feorða • Cancer • þæt is Crabba
(Fourth, Cancer, that is the crab.)

The Anglicized name appears c.1391 in Chaucer’s Treatise on the Astrolabe:

In this heved of cancer is the grettist declinacioun northward of the sonne...this signe of cancre is clepid the tropik of Somer.
(At this first point (head) of cancer is the greatest declination northward of the sun…this sign of cancer is named the tropic of summer.)

(Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition)  (+ info)

Has anyone every had their baby diagnosed with an isolated bilateral choroid plexus cyst?

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My baby (I'm currently still pregnant with; 20 weeks gestation) was recently diagnosed with an isolated bilateral choroid plexus cyst with no structural abnormalities. I was wondering if anyone has gone through the same thing and if their child was eventually diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome or if their child was born healthy.

P.S. I have two other children, both boys, that were never diagnosed with this. I'm also pregnant with a boy.
First: the majority of cysts detected while pregnant resolve themselves before birth or shortly there after with no long term effects.

Second: The appearance of these cysts has only co-related it's appearance with a T-18 syndrome in one out of every 3 cases, so you're chances are very slim because in almost every case that had cysts and a t-18 disorder there were other issues that were apparent in the ultrasound.

So basically if that's all they saw were cysts and no other developmental issues I would relax. You can ask for an amnio test if you want but only if you would consider terminating the pregnancy, if not they'll do another ultrasound when you are farther along to check on the cysts and you'll have a baby boy to love no matter what challenges he presents.  (+ info)

Choroid plexus cyst on baby seen on second trimester ultrasound?

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During my second trimester ultrasound the doctor said that my baby has a small cyst called choroid plexus cyst. He said that in most cases they resolve on their own before birth, but in rare cases it could be an indicator of something really bad: trisomy 18, which is incompatible with life. I was told to go back in 5 weeks for another ultrasound. I would like to know of other cases where they found this type of cyst and what was the baby's outcome. I am very sad and I would like to hear other stories.
I was once a genetic counselor and talked to people about this fairly frequently. As I am sure they told you 99 times out of 100 this turns out to be fine. these cysts are pretty common. If they did an amniocentesis you would know for sure more quickly, but obviously that choice is up to you. I did this about 10 years ago. I remember lots of happy outcomes. If they do see something else concerning on the ultrasound that can make the riskf or problems go up. I guess that might be why they are having you come back. we didnt do that unless we didn't see something well enough the first time.
Good luck and I can think of plenty of families I spoke to who now are probably worrying about which soccer team to join or finishing math work and have forgotten this ever happened.  (+ info)

What is the basis of differing actions of antineoplastic agents on different tissue/neoplasms?

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What is the basis for differing tissue- and neoplasm-specificites of antieoplastic chemotherapeutic agents? This doubt arose because considering what the pharmacokinetics of these drugs are it remains to be answered as to why a certain agent would act only in a particular tissue or neoplasm when the mechanisms they employ are so similar, e.g., various alkylating agents in spite having same action act of different tumors with differing degrees of effectiveness. Hope someone answers the question specifically. Useful links to free-text articles would also be highly appreciated. Bye. TC.
If you have thoughts on this subject, you ought to have the initiative to research it yourself.  (+ info)

I am 19 weeks and ultrasound showed a choroid plexus cyst on babies brain?

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I have done a lot of reading on this and know that the chances are more than good for a normal baby but I was wondering what the processis after finding this cyst. I have had my inital ultrasound, what comes next and so on? Do they monitor it closely for the duration of my pregnancy? Any help would be great. Thanks.
I am a labor and delivery nurse but that doesn't mean I know all there is to know about abnormalities so I looked this one up. According to what I read, the Choroid plexus cyst should be gone by your 32nd week. I imagine that your physician will keep an eye on this possible problem but according to what I read, a lot of adults have it and don't even know it. This is the web site I went to. (see below) I hope it will be of some help to you. I also hope all goes well with your pregnancy and delivery. Don't be afraid to ask your physician questions about this. This is your baby and it is your right to know everything that they know about this. Always feel free to ask questions. If your physician is reluctant or too busy to answer your questions then get another physician that will listen to your concerns. God bless.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choroid_plexus_cyst




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Does anyone know anything about choroid plexus cyst?

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I just had a routine ultrasound (19 weeks pregnant). During the ultrasound my husband and I were informed that our baby has a choroid plexus cyst. The news of this choroid plexus cyst has put us under complete stress and concern.
CPC's are a soft marker for a gene abnormality called Edward's syndrome.

The actual cysts themselves do not cause brain damage or other problems - ever.

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/topic100586745  (+ info)

Can anyone tell me about choroid plexus cysts?

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My sister-in-law is 18 weeks pregnant, and the doctors discovered a cyst yesterday. Is it life threatening? Do they go away? Is there really a whole lot to worry about? Thanks for any info you guys could give me!
Not much to worry about. These CPCs are more common than most people realize. Most resolve (go away) on their own. My radiologist never gets excited about a CPC in a second trimester ultrasound scan.

"CPCs, which occur in as many as one in 40 normal pregnancies, are small cystic areas often found on routine second-trimester ultrasounds. Half the time, CPCs occur on one side of the brain only (unilateral), and the other half they're on both sides (bilateral). Well over 90% of CPCs disappear on their own by the 26th week of pregnancy without ever affecting the fetus."

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/43/3608_1148.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

"Small fluid-filled spaces, called cysts, are seen during obstetrical ultrasound examinations in the choroid plexus in up to 2% of normal pregnancies. These cysts disappear spontaneously during pregnancy and are, in themselves, of no concern before or after birth. There is no need to re-scan during pregnancy. Children with choroid plexus cysts are developmentally normal and indistinguishable from those in whom no cysts were seen on ultrasound examination during pregnancy."

http://www.wcox.com.au/choroid.htm  (+ info)

Can anyone tell me about a dangling choroid in an unborn child?

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The parents have been told that there is a possibility of down's syndrome.
The choroid lies between the retina and sclera. It is composed of layers of blood vessels that nourish the back of the eye. The choroid connects with the ciliary body toward the front of the eye and is attached to edges of the optic nerve at the back of the eye. If its dangling...could very possibly be DS  (+ info)

Has anyone had a baby diagnosed with choroid plexus cysts on the brian?

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I just went for my 20 week ultrasound yesterday and found out it's a baby boy :) I was so glad and then they told me he had "choroid plexus cysts" on his brain and they should subside because it's very common. I had all the AFP testing done and it came back negative. But I can't help but to worry because it's my child...has anyone else had similar problems? Please let me know.
I had this also-if the AFP test was negative it is almost certain that the cyst will disappear-ours did within 2 weeks at the next ultrasound.  (+ info)

is it possible for a Choroid Plexus Cysts on fetus brain to disappear in 2 weeks?

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had ultrasound at 19 weeks and the tech said there was a small cyst on one side of babys brain went back yesterday had another ultrasound tech at 21 weeks and there was no cyst. she showed us there was nothing just wondering if it is possible to disappear that quick .
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