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You have probably heard about benign and malignant tumors, especially when the subject of cancer is brought up. Malignant tumors are usually associated with cancer, and benign tumors are thought of as “safe”. However, the difference between benign and malignant tumors is not strictly limited to those two things.
Before we talk about the difference between benign and malignant tumors however, we need to first define what tumors are.
Tumors are a group or a mass of cells in the body with no specific function. These can be the result of excessive cell reproduction, and can either be benign or malignant.
Tumors can grow almost anywhere inside the body, as well as outside the body, such as on the skin. They are mainly classified into two distinct types, which are benign and malignant tumors.
Benign tumors are tumors that are usually non life-threatening. What this means is that a benign tumor does not metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.
Benign tumors do not serve any function in the body, and can either be left alone, or be removed through a surgical procedure.
Another big difference between benign and malignant tumors is that the structure of benign tumors are normal, or relatively close to the original cell. Benign tumors also grow much slower compared to malignant tumors.
However, benign tumors are not always harmless. If a benign tumor grows too close to an important organ such as the brain, or presses against blood vessels or nerves, then it can become a genuine concern.
Some types of benign tumors can also grow too large and cause serious problems if left alone. This is why it is important to get in touch with your doctor if you feel anything unusual in your body.
Malignant tumors are tumors that are life-threatening, and are formed by masses of cancer cells.
Compared to benign tumors, the structure of the cells in malignant tumors seem abnormal compared to the original cell, and they can multiply faster and spread throughout the body. For example, you’ve probably heard about cases of breast cancer spreading to the brain or to the bones.
Malignant tumors also disrupt or impede the function of the organs they infect, which can eventually cause organs to eventually fail if the cancer is not treated.
Another important difference between benign and malignant tumors is that while benign tumors can easily be removed, malignant tumors are more resistant to treatment. This means that while doctors can perform surgery to remove malignant tumors, there is still the possibility of the tumor coming back if there are no follow up treatments.
Malignant tumors are significantly more dangerous when compared to benign tumors, and it is important to seek treatment as early as possible, before the tumor can spread throughout the body.
Another key difference between benign and malignant tumors is how they develop in the body.
For the most part, the cause of benign tumors are usually unknown. Some cells in the body just start reproducing abnormally, which causes a benign tumor to develop.
Malignant tumors on the other hand, can be caused by a number of things, such as the following:
It is also possible for malignant tumors to simply develop in the body, without any identifiable cause.
The symptoms of benign tumors can vary depending on where the tumor is located, but here are some common symptoms:
Some tumors, such as adenomas occur inside the body and might not have any noticeable symptoms. Other times they may secrete substances like hormones that affect bodily functions.
In the case of benign brain tumors, you might experience the following symptoms that are often related to the part of the body where they grow:
For malignant tumors, the symptoms are usually more noticeable. These include the following:
Here are some ways to lower the risk of developing tumors:
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