Are these lumps on your body cancerous? Don't be afraid, let's talk! (Benign Soft Tissue Tumors)

Have you ever been in the shower or while you were touching your body and suddenly felt something like a lump under your skin? It's normal to feel a little scared and shocked when that happens. "Oh my God, is this cancer?" is the first thing most people think. That fear is very reasonable. But did you know that the vast majority of these lumps that form on our bodies are actually not cancer . Today we're going to talk about these lumps that may scare you, but are actually harmless in most cases.

What are these non-cancerous soft tissue tumors?

Simply put, these are “benign” tumors that form in the soft tissues of our body, such as muscles , fatty tissue, and tendons , but are not cancerous. The English word “benign” means “benign” or “harmless.” These tumors do not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body like cancer cells . They stay where they are.

Imagine that our body is like a house made of bricks. Cancer is like a termite that breaks through a wall of this house, breaks through the foundation, jumps over the fence and goes to the next house. But, this innocent tumor is like a small explosion in the wall of one room of the house and stops there. It does not cause much damage to the house. Similarly, this tumor does not cause much damage to the body.

What are the most common types?

There are dozens of varieties of these innocent fruits. You don't need to know about every one. But it's good to know about a few of the main ones we see most often.

What are the symptoms of these?

The best part is, most of the time these tumors don't cause any symptoms . You can go for years without even knowing you have them. However, sometimes you may notice things like:

• A lump or mass under the skin: This is the main symptom. It usually feels soft and rubbery when you touch it. It may also move slightly under the skin.
• Pain: These tumors are usually painless. However, if the tumor gets large enough to press on a nearby nerve or organ, it can cause pain. For example, if a tumor like this develops near a nerve in your wrist , it can cause tingling and pain in your hand.

Why do tumors like this form?

This is the question that many people have. They think things like, “Did I do something wrong?” “Did something I ate cause this?”

To be honest, even doctors haven't been able to find the exact cause of this yet. But they think two main factors may be involved:

1. Genetics : Some people have a genetic predisposition to developing these tumors. This means that if your mother, father, or a close relative had the condition, you have a small chance of developing it too.

2. Gene Mutations : During our lifetime, small changes (mutations) in the genes in our body's cells can occur for no apparent reason. These changes can cause cells to grow uncontrollably and form a tumor.

The most important thing is to understand that this is not your fault, it's something else.

How does a doctor diagnose this exactly?

When you see a doctor after noticing a lump on your body, he will follow several steps to find out exactly what it is.

• Asking you for details: The doctor will first ask you a few questions. “When did you notice this lump?”, “Is it getting bigger?”, “Does it hurt?”, “Has anyone in your family had lumps like this?”, “Have you been injured anywhere?”, etc., to get a better understanding of your medical history .
• Physical examination: Next, the doctor will carefully examine the location of the lump. He will look at its size, its texture (hard or soft), and whether it moves under the skin.
• Imaging Tests: Most of the time, your doctor will not need any other tests if they are sure that the tumor is benign. However, sometimes, if the tumor is large, painful, or suspicious, they may recommend something like an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan. An MRI can clearly show what type of tissue the tumor is made of, its size, and whether it is affecting surrounding tissue.
• Biopsy: This is done very rarely. This test is only done if there is a strong suspicion that it could be cancer after an MRI. What is done here is to take a very small piece of tissue from the tumor and examine it under a microscope. It can confirm 100% whether it is a benign tumor or cancer.

After finding out it's not cancer, should I be even more scared?

Absolutely not. First of all, give yourself a big break. This is not cancer. Did you know, in fact, benign tumors like this are about ten times more common than cancerous soft tissue tumors? That means, if you have 11 tumors like this, there's a good chance that 10 of them are benign tumors.

However, it's not a good idea to completely ignore them. Sometimes, even these innocent fruits can cause problems. For example:

• If the tumor grows too large , it can press on a nearby organ or nerve, causing pain and numbness.
• Depending on where some tumors are located, they can interfere with daily activities . Imagine a tumor like this growing near a joint in your hand, making it difficult to bend or straighten your arm.
• Sometimes, some people feel uncomfortable about being seen outside .

Therefore, it's best to talk to your doctor and find out what you can expect from your tumor.

What are the treatments for this?

Most of the time, if you have a small tumor that is not causing you any problems, the doctor will say, "Let's just wait and see." That means just observing without treatment (watchful waiting).

However, in cases like this, treatment is necessary:

• If there is severe pain due to the tumor.
• If the tumor grows quickly .
• If the tumor interferes with daily activities .
• If the suspicion that the tumor is cancerous cannot be completely ruled out.

The main treatment in this case is to completely remove the tumor through surgery . This is usually not a major, complicated operation. Most of the time, the tumor is removed through a small incision.

Questions you should ask your doctor

When you go to see the doctor, you may be scared or nervous and forget what you want to ask. Therefore, it is very helpful to write down these questions on paper.

Finally, the most important thing is to pay attention to your body. If you notice something new, don't panic, but see a doctor and talk about it. Most of the time, it's not as serious as you think. By being properly informed and getting proper medical advice, you can live without unnecessary fear.

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