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 exactly is a thoracic surgeon and what do they do?

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I have a mass located under my diaphram close to my heart my family doctor has made an appointment with this therastic or thoracic ( how ever it is spelled) surgeonbut i do not know what type of specalist he is. If anyone knows i would be so grateful.
A thoracic surgeon is one specialised in diseases iof organs inside the thoracic cavity.
There is a dome shaped muscle called the diaphragm between the chest and the tummy.This separates the organs in the chest from those inside the tummy. The organs in the chest are the Lungs and the heart and some major blood vessels.

Iam a medical doctor  (+ info)

What would a person with thoracic scoliosis look like if it occurs around the neck?

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Just wanted to know what it would look like to have thoracic scoliosis in a photo?
Thoracic Scoliosis is more in the upper back, cervical Scoliosis is more in the neck area. It could look like it is in the neck area since it is very close, or it could also be a high thoracic curve.

Here is a picture of all the sections of the spine including the thoracic Spine I hope it helps.
http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/spine/spine_general/adult_scoliosis/adult_scoliosis_anatomy02.jpg  (+ info)

What type of settlement amount can I expect from BWC in ohio for thoracic sprain and wrist sprain-?

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I have been injured for over two years now and they have decided that I had thoracic sprain,wrist sprain and nerve damage in my back. They are wanting to settle for the pain and suffering portion. Anyone have any idea about how much this should be?
GET a LAWYER!!! bwc is looking out for themselves. Dont sign or settle until you consult a legal professional. Ohio BWC is notorius for quick settlements that are usually in their favor.  (+ info)

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis What can I do to relieve the thoracic and rib contractions?

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My pain is so bad in my thoracic area I just can't bare the pain. The contractions won't stop. The doctors won't do anything. It is the weekend and I don't know what to do. Is this fusion? Please help
You may need to go to the ER and get some pain relief and make sure your condition hasn't gotten worse.  (+ info)

Anyone know the cost of surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome?

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I am trying to get an idea of the cost for surgery to fix thoracic outley syndrome. Any ideas from a patient that has had this surgery?
I am not looking for insurance...I do not have insurance and am trying to get an idea of the cost. Please do not send me sites to go to to get insured!
You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here - health-quotes.isgreat.org  (+ 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)

a barium swallow showed a narrowing in my thoracic cavity what does this mean?

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a barium swallow showed a narrowing in my thoracic cavity what does this mean? Could it be an enlarged heart vesicle? And if so what can this mean?
No. There's no such thing as a heart vesicle, I think you mean ventricle. It could be a hiatus hernia or alternatively an oesophageal stricture.

-- Go see your doctor for an explanation.  (+ info)

Has anyone ever heard of lumbar or thoracic spondylosis?

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I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my early 20s. I have had lower back pain on and off for years but last year it became severe and chronic. I am now 43. I have been on disabilty and on meds but nothing seems to help. Physical therapy seemed to make it worse. Yesterday I was told I have lumbar and thoracic spondylosis and bone spurs, and they have refered me for spinal injections. I'm wondering if anyone else has been thru this? Did it help at all? Will I ever be able to return to work or a normal lifestyle??? I try to stay active but I hurt so bad and often have numbness and weakness in my legs. I am so discouraged. If anyone knows anything about this please tell me what you know. Thanks.
OMG, I have something very very close.. I am in pain all the time, done the meds, the shots and therapy i am at my last resort which is FUSION..
I have had 3 shots in my back..What i have is a budgled disk and spongylostheis L4-L5, pain goes down my left leg , to my hip all the way to my foot.. horrible pain...
I don't know what kind of spinal injections you are gonna have but I had epidural, and nerve block shots down. They are both ONLY temporary , the first one I had done they never botherd to numb the area at all, i felt the needle go all the way in. Wanted to die. That one was a JOKE! I felt okay for a week, if that.. the second one was down a little better, but didn't really do much either, pain was gone for about maybe 2-3 wks.. that one didnt hurt as bad as the one before...
the last one... was what they called a nerve block shot and more was involved..I ended up with a migraine for a week.. i was miserable.. BUT it did make me feel alot better for longer time..... it was great... my leg didn't hurt, etc etc... BUT soon after a month maybe more, the pain came back and it was worse then B4!! Maybe its cuz when i start to feel better I start to do things i should not. I am only 31 been dealing with this for 2.5 years.. been in pain everyday... find out what kind of shot you are gonna have etc ..
after you have the shot you can not drive yourself home. you have to sit and try please try not to move around to much.. or you could make yourself very sick! best of luck to you!!!  (+ info)

Is having a 13th thoracic vertebrae extremely rare?

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I was told that I have a 13th thoracic vertebrae. I have searched everywhere and I cannot find any cases like this. Is it extremely rare and could it be causing lower back pain?
I have this problem..my chiropractor says it is not rare but many people do not know t hey have it...yes it does cause lower back pain and weakness....  (+ info)

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