What is the difference between a tumor and cancer?
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well it is a very technical difference, tumor refers to an overgrowth of tissue due to incurred mutations. Cancer means that the tumor has the ability to metastisize outside of its tissue boundries so a tumor can be cancerous or non-cancerous this is also refered to as benign or malignant (cancer) when classifying tumors. If you need more info depending on you education level (this is writen at a medschool level) go to www.pathguy.com his stuff is very good.
an individual can have a tumor without it being cancerous. Only a biopsy of the tumor can determine whether its cancerous.
There isn't much difference. Tumors, nodules, cysts all refer to growths in or on the body. There are benign tumors and malignant tumors. A benign tumor just means that the growth stays in one place. Benign does not mean it is not dangerous and can't become malignant. To me a benign tumor is one that has not yet turned cancerous, but given enough time it will eventually progress into cancer. Some tumors are just slower growing than others.
Cancer means a malignancy . . cancer means that the tumor or lesion is now able to replicate and send copies of itself all over the body using the blood stream. Cancer cells can be microscopic allowing them easy access to disperse via the blood or lymphatic system. Micrscopic cells than lodge in a distant location and start growing a whole new batch of tumors . . . sprouting and spreading like weeds everywhere.
So . . . a tumor can be benign or malignant, or it can be both at the same time . . it is possible for a tumor to have characteristics of being benign but still be cancer. Only a biopsy can tell for sure.
Cancer on the other hand means malignancy . . it means the tumor has the capabilities of seeding and spreading and growing new tumors far away from the original source.
A tumor can be benign (negative) or cancerous (positive) Now, here's where it gets tricky. Even if a tumor is benign there are reasons under which it should be removed. Say you have a operable tumor in your head, and if it keeps growing it will cause blindness, you need the surgery.
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