What is a benign tumor

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancers. Benign tumors tend to grow slowly and grow only in one place and don’t spread. Benign tumors cannot spread or invade other parts of your body and are not life threatening. However, despite the word benign, some benign tumors can become dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain.

Tumors are made up of extra cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as your body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when your body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form tumor.

Benign tumor symptoms

Symptoms of a benign tumor depends on its location in your body.

Benign tumor treatment

Treatment of benign tumor often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don’t grow back if all of the tumor can be safely removed during surgery. If the benign tumor can’t be completely removed, there’s a risk it could grow back. In this case the benign tumor be closely monitored by your doctor.

Benign vs malignant tumor

Malignant tumors are commonly known as cancers and most malignant tumors grow fast. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells. Malignant tumor (cancer) is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Malignant tumors grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body.

Cancer appears to occur when the genetic material of a cell becomes changed. This results in cells growing out of control. Cells divide too quickly and do not die in a normal way.

There are many kinds of cancer. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.

There are many risk factors for developing cancer, including:

• Benzene and other chemicals
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Smoking
• Environmental toxins, such as certain poisonous mushrooms and a type of mold that can grow on peanut plants and produce a toxin called aflatoxin
• Genetic problems
• Obesity
• Radiation exposure
• Too much sunlight exposure
• Viruses

The cause of many cancers remains unknown.

The most common cause of cancer-related death is lung cancer.

In the United States, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer.

In US men, other than skin cancer the three most common cancers are:

• Prostate cancer
• Lung cancer
• Colorectal cancer

In US women, other than skin cancer the three most common cancers are:

• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Colorectal cancer

Some cancers are more common in certain parts of the world. For example, in Japan, there are many cases of stomach cancer. But in the United States, this type of cancer is less common. Differences in diet or environmental factors may play a role.

Some other types of cancer include:

• Brain cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Uterine cancer

The outlook of cancer depends on the type of cancer and the stage of the cancer when diagnosed.

Some cancers can be cured. Other cancers that are not curable can still be treated effectively. Some people can live for many years with cancer. Other tumors are quickly life threatening.

Complications depend on the type and stage of cancer. The cancer may spread.

Cancer prevention

You can reduce the risk of getting a cancerous (malignant) tumor by:

• Eating healthy foods
• Exercising regularly
• Limiting alcohol
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Minimizing your exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals
• Not smoking or chewing tobacco
• Reducing sun exposure, especially if you burn easily and use SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen when you’re outdoor

Cancer screenings, such as mammography and breast examination for breast cancer and colonoscopy for colon cancer, may help catch these cancers at their early stages when they are most treatable. Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medicines to reduce their risk.

Malignant tumor symptoms

Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the cancer. For example, lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Colon cancer often causes diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool.

Some cancers may not have any symptoms. In certain cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, symptoms often do not start until the disease has reached an advanced stage.

The following symptoms may occur with cancer:

• Chills
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise
• Night sweats
• Pain
• Weight loss
• Blood in stool
• Coughing up blood

Exams and Tests

Like symptoms, the signs of cancer vary based on the type and location of the tumor. Common tests include the following:

• Biopsy of the tumor
• Blood tests (which look for chemicals such as tumor markers)
• Bone marrow biopsy (for lymphoma or leukemia)
• Chest x-ray
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• CT scan
• Liver function tests
• MRI scan
• PET scan

Most cancers are diagnosed by biopsy. Depending on the location of the tumor, the biopsy may be a simple procedure or a serious operation. Most people with cancer have CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the tumor or tumors.

A cancer diagnosis is often difficult to cope with. It is important that you discuss the type, size, and location of the cancer with your health care provider when you are diagnosed. You also will want to ask about treatment options, along with the benefits and risks.

It’s a good idea to have someone with you at the provider’s office to help you get through the diagnosis. If you have trouble asking questions after hearing about your diagnosis, the person you bring with you can ask them for you.

Malignant tumor treatment

Treatment varies, based on the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer refers to how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location.

• If the cancer is in one location and has not spread, the most common treatment approach is surgery to cure the cancer. This is often the case with skin cancers, as well as cancers of the lung, breast, and colon.
• If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can be removed.
• If surgery cannot remove all of the cancer, the options for treatment may include radiation, chemotherapy, immunotheraphy, targeted cancer therapies, or other types of treatment. Some cancers require a combination of treatments. Lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph glands, is rarely treated with surgery.
• Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and other nonsurgical therapies are often used.

Although treatment for cancer can be difficult, there are many ways to keep up your strength.

If you have radiation treatment:

• Treatment is usually scheduled every weekday.
• You should allow 30 minutes for each treatment session, although the treatment itself usually takes only a few minutes.
• You should get plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet during the course of your radiation therapy.
• Skin in the treated area may become sensitive and easily irritated.
• Some side effects of radiation treatment are temporary. They vary, depending on the area of the body that is being treated.

If you have chemotherapy:

• Eat right.
• Get plenty of rest, and don’t feel like you have to accomplish tasks all at once.
• Avoid people with colds or the flu. Chemotherapy can cause your immune system to weaken.

Talk with family, friends, or a support group about your feelings. Work with your providers throughout your treatment. Helping yourself can make you feel more in control.