For English native speakers. What is “breast of cancer”?
February 6, 2012 Categories: Breast Health
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Question by : For English native speakers. What is “breast of cancer”?
Hi, I would like to ask regarding this expression “breast of cancer” in the following sentence.
“Dr. Sterns stated researchers need to find out how much of the drug is needed and how often it should be administered to rid the breast of cancer.”
I’m tiny confused because I think “cancer of breast” is the right way to describe cancer in breast.
Do you have any intent on this ? Please advise.
*I found this expression in the article from VOA news.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/health/New-Breast-Cancer-Treatment-Shows-Great-Promise-135778523.html
Thank you in advance.
The ideal answer :
Answer by Jack
saying “rid the breast of cancer” is the same as saying “remove cancer from the breast”
Add your own answer in the comments!
I agree with the last answer, and also its called ‘breast cancer’. No ‘of’ in there
“…TO RID the breast of cancer” (to get rid of the cancer in the breast)
…TO RID the face of pimples….(to get rid of pimples on the face)
…TO RID the hair of lice… (to get rid of lice on the hair)
breast cancer= cancer of the breast
The answer to your question lies in understanding the use of the verb “to rid”. It means to clear or liberate something (of/from something else).
Saint Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. There were snakes in Ireland, and Saint Patrick drove them out. He liberated Ireland from the snakes.
The drug will force cancer out of the breast, thus liberating the breast from the cancer.
[débarasser, liberar, befreien]