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)

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 pregant with my 3 child and dr is wanting to ultrasound for parathyroid?

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I have 2 other children-8 yrs and 11/2 years-never any problems with pregancy. Now I am pregant with 3rd child heading into my third trimester, dr stated something about Parathyroid. I do not understand. Please help me understand what this can about, if something with me or baby. Help me
Parathyroid glands are small glands of the endocrine system which are located behind the thyroid. There are four parathyroid glands which are normally about the size and shape of a grain of rice. They are shown in this picture as the mustard yellow glands behind the pink thyroid gland. This is their normal color. The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands are to regulate the calcium level in our bodies within a very narrow range so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly. Although they are neighbors and both part of the endocrine system, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are otherwise unrelated. The single major disease of parathyroid glands is overactivity of one or more of the parathyroids which make too much parathyroid hormone causing a potentially serious calcium imbalance. This is called hyperparathyroidism.

Good luck  (+ info)

can any one tell us about an experienced doc for parathyroid problems?

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Please anyone tell us about a an experienced doctor in treating
parathyroid problems in delhi as soon as possible. thanks.
Dr kumar at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, he is the head of endocrinology.
or
Dr Ajmani HOD Endocrinology at Dr RML Hospital.  (+ info)

What diseases can develope from a tumor in the parathyroid gland?

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From the list below.

1. Osteoarthritis
2. Achondroplasia
3. Osteoporosis
4. Hypocalcemia
5. Hyperthyroidism
6. Hypercalcemia

Please explain.
Parathyroid is a gland in neck whih produces a hormone called PTH (parathyroid hormone). Its oversecretion will cause:
Hypercalcemia
PTH causes increase absorption of calicium from Gut/ kidney and bone and increased excretion of phosphate from kidney thus it will lead to Hypercalcemia (increased caliun level in blood) and hypophosphatemia.
Most common cause of hyperparathyroidism is adenoma (85%)  (+ info)

What body systems or organs are dependent on the thyroid of parathyroid gland?

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I have science homework and this is a question that's IMPOSSIBLE to answer. I can't find it on the Internet. Anyone know?!?!
I think you will find this link helpful: http://www.parathyroid.com/parathyroid.htm  (+ info)

I have post thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. How long before my parathyroid glands come back to life?

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That is, if they aren't already completely gone (I understand it's a possibility). I also don't seem to be absorbing the calcium they are giving me, even though I'm on calcitrol, magnesium and a vitamin d supplement. What are other ways I can help myself heal?
How long has it been?  (+ info)

When blood calcium level drops, what change on the level of parathyroid hormone to the parathyroid gland?

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What kind of bone cells does this stimulate and how.
When the level of Calcium in the blood drops, the parathyroid releases parathyroid hormone (PTH). This elevates the level of blood calcium by stimulating the resorption of calcium and excretion of phosphate from the bones. It also enhances absorption of calcium from the GI tract by stimulating the conversion of vitamin D to its' active form, which in turn aides in the absorption of Calcium, further increasing blood calcium levels.  (+ info)

Is it easy to feel for a parathyroid tumour?

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I have to wait for an ultra sound I would have thought something the size of a grape in your neck would be easy to find.
  (+ info)

How risky is parathyroid surgery?

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A relative is having this done. Her and her kids are quite frightened. She has been under anesthesia before. She is in her mid 50's and is a diabetic and suffers from hypertension. Does this make surgery more dangerous for her?
I think that this site would be a definite read.

It should address your concerns quite adequately.

http://www.parathyroid.com/  (+ info)

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