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)

Is a tonsillar herniation the same as the chiari malformation?

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My mother was diagnosed with tonsillar herniation after having reported vertigo and having undergone some studies. Some websites report dire outcomes for tonsillar herniation patients (death and brain death) but much more optimistic outcomes for people with the chiari malformation. Until now the vertigo has been the only symptom and my mother only feels it when she is already lying down, trying to sleep, and she bends over in any way. Should we be concerned about an imminent death threat or is there a chance it could be a case of the chiari malformation. The herniation is supposed to have a growth of 7 mm, but the symptoms remain the same and it has not been possible to see a neurosurgeon to determine the seriousness of my mother's case.
They are kind of the same in some instances.

Tonsillar herniation or Foramen magnum herniation occurs when the infratentorial brain is displaced through the foramen magnum secondary to mass effect. It can result in sudden death. Usually people present acutely with severe symptoms.

Chiari malformation (there are four types) is a birth defect that specifically dispalces the tonsils through the foramen magnum. It may not show up (symptomatically) until adolescence or adulthood. There are other defects that may also be associated with this defect as well. How long has your mom had symptoms?

You mention studies, does that include an MRI or a CT scan? Those are the two main options for diagnostic studies. Surgical intervention may or may not be recommended. Seeing a doctor is still the best thing to do if possible. The cause of the tonsillar herniation needs to be treated. Once nerve damage is done, it is not usually reversible. If vertigo is the only symptom so far, it seems like treatment sooner rather than later would be preferable, before more symptoms present, indicating possible worsening of the problem. There is not a direct correlation between symptoms and severity of herniation though. So it could be getting worse and no symptoms would be noticed. Until severe complications occured including death.

You also said "the herniation is supposed to have a growth of 7mm" does that mean there is a tumor causing the displacement, or is that how far the tonsils were seen to be going through. I would try to see a doc ASAP.  (+ 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 looking for a Homeopath doctor in Kolkata who can cure Tonsillar Herniation.?

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I am looking for a Homeopath doctor in Kolkata who can cure "Tonsillar Herniation" of my 8 year old boy child. Please suggest me a doctor if you know anyone.
search in telephone directory  (+ info)

Is tonsillectomy necessary in my healthy 5 yrs old son who has no tonsillar infective episodes till now?

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He has the problem of unilateral nasal obstruction and sometimes he snores and bet wets at nights.His daytime activities are good but sometimes i find him being sleepy.There have been no tonsilar infections till now.Does he need a adenotonsillectomy?Plz help.
I am an ear nose and throat surgeon. Obstructive sleep apnea has overtaken recurring tonsillitis as the most common reason for removing a child's tonsils and adenoids. OSA in children can cause symptoms of poor sleep, inattention in school, bed wetting, headaches, and can aggravate ADD/ADHD. You need to discuss this further with your pediatrician or an ENT if you can see one without a referral.  (+ info)

What are the harmful effects from small benign neoplasms arising from endocrine organs on the patient?

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Give positive answers...
Get to know them better. This is not a task only to be accomplished through dating. The more you get to know him or her, the more you can tell if you like them as a friend or something else. Just talk and do fun activities with the person.
Stop and consider why you like the person. There are many physically attractive and smart people out there. But if you see something beyond that really catches your attention, you've marked this person as unique and probably like them. Why else would they stand out from so many?
Consider how many times you think about the person. If you find yourself thinking about this person several times a day, and they are happy thoughts that possibly make your heart beat faster, then you probably like them.
Think how often you laugh at their jokes etc. When you like someone, you will find yourself laughing at things even if they aren't that funny. This is a natural attempt to make them feel appreciated.
If the one conversation between you and the person is stuck in you head and you cant stop telling people about it. this means it was important to you, and you probably like the person.
Consider how much you try to be near them. If you've planned your walking speed to catch a glimpse of them as many times of the day as possible, there is a good reason for that.
Think about how you feel if you touch him or her, by accident or on purpose. If you're still thinking about brushing shoulders several hours ago in school, then that is a special thought and you probably like them.
If you feel you're ready for a relationship, and are confident enough for a positive response, then just go ahead and ask them out. If you're unsure of their feelings for you, there are several wikihows on how to tell if someone likes you.  (+ info)

term used to describe benign neoplasms made up of neurons and nerve fibers is a?

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need some help with my h.w.
thanks!
Neuroma

In the foot, check out this site...
http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/mortons-neuroma.htm  (+ info)

When can a tumor be non-cellular or non-neoplastic? And how can some neoplasms be cell free?

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So basically, I've got a bio midterm tomorrow, and so in the process of studying, I realized I completely don't get that! Even my bio friends are like, what....? So if ANYONE can help us out here, that would be fantastic! Thanks!
The word tumor is defined (in Answers.com) as "An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled, progressive multiplication of cells and serving no physiological function; a neoplasm." So your teacher is playing with semantics here.

The only way a "mass" could be non-cellular would be if it were cystic - - a contained area of fluid. We see this with some ovarian tumors which may be benign or malignant. The benign ones are ovarian serous cystadenomas or mucinous cystadenomas which can be quite large tumor masses. These do contain cells however in the membranous sacs surrounding the fluid
http://www.mypacs.net/cases/MUCINOUS-CYSTADENOMA-OVARY-857115.html  (+ info)

What is adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy ?

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How does it relate to children with sleeping and feeding problems ?
Enlarged tonsils that can block the back of the palate and interfere with eating (not enough space) and be implicated in sleep apnea (stop breathing for periods during sleep). Sleep apnea happens when the posterior palate collapses blocking air.  (+ info)

What do you call a benign neoplasm arising from adipose tissue?

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What do you call a benign neoplasm arising from adipose tissue?
A fatty lipoma?  (+ info)

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