Anyone can get cancer. Although it mainly occurs in adults, young people and children, even babies can get cancer too.
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Dr. Simeon Jaggernauth, DO , Oncology, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 4 AnswersA benign tumor is a collection of cells which demonstrate no transformation into a disease-causing structure. A malignant tumor is one that contains cells which are rapidly transforming and tends to affect its surrounding structures. Some malignant tumors may be slow growing in nature, but most tend to be relatively fast growing when compared to benign tumors. Malignant tumors most likely require some form of treatment with either chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Benign tumors (for example, meningiomas) tend to be watched over time.
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Dr. Daniel A. Nader, DO , Pulmonary Disease, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 6 AnswersA benign tumor is a mass or lump in an organ that does not have malignant or metastatic potential. This would be like a benign fatty tumor that typically is found in limbs or on the body. These are usually composed of fat tissue, and they have no possibility of becoming malignant or metastasizing to other parts of the body.
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Dr. Simeon Jaggernauth, DO , Oncology, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 4 Answers
A tumor is a "ball" (collection) of cancer cells large enough to see on a scan or by examination. There are tumors that are very bad called malignant tumors and there are tumors that are not harmful called benign tumors. Tumors can occur anywhere in the body; and depending where they start, they can create problems for the surrounding organs. Tumors that start in the breast are called breast cancer; tumors that start in the lungs are called lung cancer etc... Another name for a tumors is a "Mass." So if you ever see "Tumor" or "Mass" mentioned, then these are referring to the same object. To tell whether a tumor is bad or good depends on what is found from obtaining a biopsy of the abnormality.
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Dr. Simeon Jaggernauth, DO , Oncology, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 9 Answers
The human body possesses numerous forms of checks and balances. The immune system plays a major role in maintaining that equilibrium. One of its roles is to evaluate human cells’ surfaces by tasting cell surfaces by way of antigens exposed on the outside of cells. The immune system is then able to identify these tastes as “family” or “foreign." Cells can be identified as foreign to regions of the body, or to the human body altogether. Further checks and balances can communicate with cells to regulate cellular growth and division. When human cells significantly deviate from protocol, a signal is communicated to the cell to initiate cell death.
But, when mutations occur, certain cells may possess unique abilities to evade the immune system. Three specific traits a cancer cell will likely possess are:
- The ability to be viewed by the immune system as non-foreign.
- The ability to grow and divide regardless of inhibitory signals from the immune system.
- The ability to defy messages from the immune system that signal cell death.
Cancers are not all equally aggressive in nature. Some may have other unique mutations allowing for slow or more aggressive growth, and other mutations permitting them to spread to other regions of the human body.
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Dr. William D. Knopf, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered on behalf of Piedmont Heart InstituteCancer spreads in following ways:
Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue. Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body. Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.
This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute. -
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Dr. Shayma M. Kazmi, MD , Oncology, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 6 Answers'Primary' tumors are tumors that originate from that organ, for instance a cancer in the breast is primary if it originated there. But 'metastatic' implies it came from another place, another organ. For instance, a cancer in the liver may be a 'metastatic' breast cancer, i.e. it started in the breast and traveled the blood stream or lymph channels and lodged in the liver to grow there. -
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Dr. Robert A. Wascher, MD , Surgery, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 9 AnswersIt has been estimated that between 2 and 5 percent of all new cancer cases involve metastatic tumors for which no primary tumor can be identified. In some of these cases, a primary tumor is actually present, but is too small to be detected. In other cases, elimination of the primary tumor is thought to have occurred, either by the patient's own immune system or by a previous biopsy that is either unrecalled by the patient or that was misdiagnosed as a benign lesion.
Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
Author, "A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race"
www.doctorwascher.com
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Dr. Robert A. Wascher, MD , Surgery, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)By definition, most benign tumors are not serious health problems. However, some rare types of benign tumors, such as desmoid tumors, for example, can invade into surrounding normal tissues (although they do not spread to other areas of the body, or metastasize, like true cancers). These unusual types of benign tumors often also have a tendency to recur. Finally, even benign tumors can cause significant health problems if their size or location cause pressure on vital organs in the body. However, once again, the majority of truly benign tumors rarely cause serious health problems.
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Dr. Shauna M. Birdsall, ND , Naturopathic Medicine, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)See All 3 AnswersIt is important for caregivers to take care of themselves as well as their loved ones with cancer. Here are a few tips to help:- Plan time for yourself: arrange for a friend or family to relieve you for a period of time to give you a break.
- Maintain a healthy diet. This will keep you strong and feeling your best.
- Get enough sleep: at least 8 hours per night.
- Exercise: Even a 20 minute walk around the block will help you relax
- Don’t use tobacco and limit alcohol intake
- Make time for doing something you enjoy-every day if possible.
- Ask for help from friends and family. Reach out to mental health professionals if you need additional support.
- Don’t neglect your health-keep up with regular doctor visits. Don’t neglect your own cancer screening tests.
- Be kind and forgiving to yourself and others.