Benign vs. Malignant Tumor: Not All Abnormal Tissue Masses Are Cancerous

When one receives a tumor diagnosis, the first step healthcare providers take is to see if the mass is benign or malignant.

What Are Tumors?

Tumors are abnormal masses or tissue growths that do not serve any known specific purpose. These masses can develop when the cells are too quick to grow or divide.

These growths can be located in any body part. Their growth and behavior may differ on whether they are benign or malignant tumors.

Benign Tumors

Benign tumors consist of cells that do not threaten to invade other body tissues. The cells stay within the tumor and are not abnormal or different from the other cells that surround it. These tumors are also considered noncancerous tumors.

In most cases, benign tumors do not pose any harm. However, there are instances where they could be concerning. This could when they press on near blood vessels, nerves or tissues, take up space in the brain, lead to excess production of hormones, or cause damage.

Some of the most common benign tumors are hemangiomas, adenomas, lipomas, and fibroids.

Surgical procedures may need to be executed in order to remove these benign tumors. Though they are noncancerous masses, some of these could grow too large if they are not treated. They could even weigh up to several pounds.

When these tumors take up space and end up compressing vital structures like the airway or brain regions, they can become dangerous.

Malignant Tumors

Unlike benign tumors, malignant tumors consist of cancerous cells that can uncontrollably grow and invade tissues nearby. The malignant tumor's cancer cells are usually abnormal and different from the tissue that surrounds it.

These malignant tumors can surface on any body part. Across the world, the most frequently diagnosed cancerous tumors include lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer.

There are certain cancerous cells that can move through the lymph system or bloodstream to other body parts. Such a process is known as metastasis. For instance, breast cancer starts at the tissue at the breast, but it may spread to reach armpit lymph nodes if the cells are not initially caught or treated. When this happens, the cancer cells can metastasize further to the bones, liver, and other body parts. The cells of breast cancer then form masses in these areas. For instance, lung tumors could exhibit the features of the first breast cancer tumor.

Benign Tumors Can Become Malignant

While it is possible for benign tumors to transform into malignant ones, this is rare. However, there are certain tumors, such as colon polyps, that can become malignant as time passes.

In the case of colon polyps, it is possible to surgically remove these tumors in the middle of a colonoscopy before they become malignant. Having these polyps removed is one way to prevent colon cancer from resulting.

Aside from this, it is also possible that a tumor believed to be benign is actually malignant as it keeps on developing.

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