A tumor is any abnormal swelling that appears in or on a part of the body, and can originate in fat, muscle, bone, nerves, or glands. However, not all tumors are cancerous; they are classified as follows:
Benign : Non-cancerous and often not life-threatening, such as lipomas or hemangiomas. However, some benign tumors can cause problems depending on their location, such as uterine fibroids or benign pituitary tumors, which may sometimes require surgical intervention.
Malignant : cancerous and has the ability to grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer arises when normal cells acquire genetic mutations that cause them to grow uncontrollably, evade the immune system, and invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body (metastases).
Solid cancers often appear as lumps in organs such as the breast, skin, or lung, while some cancers, such as leukemia, do not form obvious lumps.
Patients may notice lumps or bumps, or they may be discovered during a medical examination for symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or bleeding.
The symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor or cancer and the type of cells affected.
The diagnosis usually includes:
Medical imaging : such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Tissue sampling : by needle or surgery, to be examined under a microscope to determine whether it is benign or malignant.
Treatment methods may sometimes be similar, such as the removal of a benign brain tumor or basal cell carcinoma. However, malignant tumors often require more complex treatment, which may include:
Surgery.
Systemic therapy, such as chemotherapy.
Using words like "tumor" instead of "cancer" can be confusing for patients, as less than half understand the true meaning when euphemisms are used. Therefore, choosing precise terminology helps clarify the diagnosis, the understanding of the disease, and treatment options.
