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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

mecanismo de defensa

English translation:

defense mechanism

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2010-11-04 07:54:11 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Oct 31, 2010 23:26
13 yrs ago
9 viewers *
Spanish term

mecanismo de defensa

Non-PRO Spanish to English Medical Medical (general) Cancer Drugs
This appears in the description of how this cancer drug can be administered, and the advantages/disadvantages. The drug can be given intravenously or by means of the Isolation-Perfusion technique (where it is infused directly into the area of the tumor).

" Si el agente se limita a una parte aislada, no debería interferir con el *mecanismo de defensa* del paciente."

In this context, I don't understand "mecanismo de defensa" and I don't think I can just translate "defense mechanism" here (I could be wrong... I just don't know if it applies, and I don't find confirmation in a google search). What does this mean, and how would we say it in English?

Thank you for your comments and suggestions.
Proposed translations (English)
5 +11 defense mechanism
5 immunological defense mechanism
Change log

Nov 1, 2010 02:06: philgoddard changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Lydia De Jorge, eski, philgoddard

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Discussion

Muriel Vasconcellos Nov 1, 2010:
408,000 hits for ["defense mechanism"+body] I don't find it at all unusual. Implied is the body's defense mechanisms. Maybe you young people aren't as tuned in to awareness of whatever it takes to stay healthy.
Joseph Tein (asker) Nov 1, 2010:
defense mechanism One of my (psychological) defense mechanisms is procrastination ... but I won't do it this time! I've opted to use "defense mechanism" in my translation because that's what the writer used. Period. I have a slight suspicion, also, that I may have been given a back translation to do without being informed. I don't know what the author really means by the term, and I'm still not convinced of its use in a medical/physiological context ... but I have my answer. Thank you all for your contributions.
Robert Anderson Nov 1, 2010:
Google should give you medical examples.
David Hollywood Nov 1, 2010:
and I would add that a"defense mechanism" can be both physical and psychological
David Hollywood Nov 1, 2010:
not going to take a position on any of the answers and comments so far ... and woud suggest as a modification: host defense mechanism
Christine Walsh Nov 1, 2010:
Psychology is what I dropped out of 2 years along (babies started arriving) so 'defense mechanism' sounded familiar to me in that context too. Have you any way of finding out exactly what the author meant?
Joseph Tein (asker) Nov 1, 2010:
Christine: Thank you for your comments. There's no further mention or explanation of this "mecanismo de defensa" in the document. And to respond to ria's comment, I also (with my background in psychology) think of "defense mechanism" as something that Freud wrote about. I haven't yet found the term applied in a medical/physiological context.
riafontes Nov 1, 2010:
I think that "immune system" is a better choice. "defense mechanism" has more to do with unconscious psychological strategies as defined by Freud which it is not applicable in this case. Your call.
Christine Walsh Oct 31, 2010:
I think I mean 'immune response'! ;-p
Christine Walsh Oct 31, 2010:
Perhaps it's a particular type of defence mechanism, like 'immunitary response', for example. Can you tell from the context?

Proposed translations

+11
12 mins
Selected

defense mechanism

"the patient's defense mechanism" is fine.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days14 hrs (2010-11-04 14:12:37 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you, Joseph.
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : Yes, I think translating it as " immune response" would be reading too much into it.
8 mins
Thank you.
agree Yvonne Gallagher
11 mins
Thank you.
agree Lydia De Jorge
29 mins
Thank you.
agree Maria Kisic : Agree with Phil. Plus there is a Spanish equivalent for immune response.
33 mins
Thank you.
agree Christine Walsh : Actually, 'immune response' was an example. I also believe 'defense mechanism' is fine.
40 mins
Thank you.
agree eski : Sale y vale! eski
45 mins
Thank you.
agree Steven Huddleston
1 hr
Thank you.
agree Cecilia Gowar
7 hrs
Thank you.
agree liz askew : defense mechanism without a doubt.
7 hrs
Thank you.
agree Emma Goldsmith : no doubt at all
8 hrs
Thank you.
agree Jorge Arteaga M.D.
12 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you for your prompt help, Robert."
3 hrs

immunological defense mechanism

El mecanismo de defensa en estos casos de quimioterapia tiene mucho que ver con la puesta en marcha de las defensas inmunológicas que el organismo posee para combatir las agresiones externas (en este caso la quimio)
Something went wrong...
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