It's normal to feel a little scared and worried when you find a new lump or growth somewhere on your body. When most people hear the word "tumor," they immediately think of "cancer." But are all lumps and tumors really cancer? No. Most of the time, they're harmless. So let's talk about this in a way that's clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Simply put, what is a tumor?
It's very simple. Our bodies are made up of billions of tiny cells. These cells are constantly dividing to make new cells, and old, damaged cells are dying. This is a normal process. But sometimes this process goes awry.
What happens then is that either old cells don't die and start to grow, or new cells grow too quickly. This abnormal growth of cells is what we call a tumor, or in medical terms, a neoplasm. These can form anywhere in our body - in the skin, bones, glands, organs. They can be small or large.
The most important thing is, don't panic when you hear the word "tumor." There are types of it. Let's look at that now.
There are three main types of tumors:
What a tumor is like and whether it affects us or not depends on its type. Let's understand these types clearly. To make this easier to understand, I will show it in a table like this.
| Tumor type | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Non-cancerous (Benign) tumors | These are the most common type. They are not cancerous. They stay where they are and do not spread to other parts of the body. Therefore, they are rarely life-threatening. Most of the time, they do not need treatment. However, sometimes they can become large and press on a nearby organ or nerve, and may need to be removed surgically. |
| Malignant tumor | These are what we call "cancer." The cells in these tumors can invade surrounding tissue. Also, cells can break off from the original tumor, travel through the blood or lymphatic system, and form new tumors in other parts of the body (e.g., lungs, liver). We call this metastasis. These can be life-threatening. But if detected early and treated properly, many cancers can be cured. |
| Precancerous tumors | These are not currently cancerous, but if left untreated, they may become cancerous in the future. The cells in these are abnormal and divide rapidly. Doctors use terms like hyperplasia or dysplasia to describe these conditions. Doctors keep an eye on these growths and treat them if necessary. |
Are a tumor and a cyst two different things?
Yes, don't confuse the two.
- A tumor is a lump of solid tissue.
- A cyst is a sac filled with fluid, air, or other material.
Most of the time, cysts are not cancerous. But you can't decide for yourself whether a lump you find is a tumor or a cyst. To know for sure, you should definitely see a doctor.
What are the symptoms of a tumor?
The symptoms that can tell if you have a tumor vary depending on where it is, its size, and whether it is cancerous. Sometimes, you can feel it, like a lump in your breast. Sometimes, if it is close to the surface of the skin, it may look like a lump.
But not all tumors can be felt or seen. We may not know that they are there inside the body. In some cases, these common symptoms may appear:
- Excessive fatigue for no reason
- Feeling feverish or cold
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
- Some lumps can be painful (but not all are painful).
How does a tumor feel in the hand?
If a lump that is usually hard to touch and feels stuck in one place and cannot be moved easily, it is more likely to be cancerous. However, this is not a rule. Some benign lumps can also be hard.
Therefore, the best and safest thing to do is to see a doctor immediately and get checked out if you notice any new lump, swelling, or change in your body, without trying to figure it out yourself.
Why do these tumors form? What are the risk factors?
As I mentioned earlier, tumors develop due to a problem in the process of our cells dividing. It's hard to pinpoint a single cause, but several factors have been identified that increase the risk.
- Gene mutations: Some genes, such as the breast cancer gene (BRCA), can be mutated, increasing the risk of developing cancerous tumors.
- Hereditary conditions: Some conditions, such as Lynch syndrome, are inherited and can cause tumors to develop.
- Family history of cancer: If one of your close relatives (mother, father, siblings) has had a certain type of cancer (e.g. breast, prostate cancer), you are also at slightly higher risk.
- Smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Exposure to certain toxic chemicals: things like benzene and asbestos.
- Exposure to radioactive substances.
- Some types of viruses: For example, HPV (Human Papillomavirus) can cause cervical cancer.
- Obesity.
How is a tumor accurately diagnosed?
When you go to a doctor, he or she will examine you and ask you about the lump. Then, they may do some tests to determine for sure whether it is cancerous or not.
| Test type | What does this do? |
|---|---|
| Biopsy | This is the most important and definitive test. It involves taking a very small piece of tissue from the lump and examining it under a microscope to determine exactly whether the cells in it are cancerous or not. |
| Blood tests | In some types of cancer, special proteins in the blood (called tumor markers) are elevated. Measuring these can confirm a suspicion of cancer. |
| Imaging scans | These help to see a tumor inside the body. They can determine its size, location, and whether it has spread to nearby organs. This is done using X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, or PET scans. |
What are the treatments for tumors?
The treatment method depends on many factors, such as the type of tumor (cancerous or not), its size, location, and your overall health.
For non-cancerous (benign) tumors:
Most of the time, this doesn't require any treatment . The doctor will just say to keep an eye on it. However, as I said before, if it gets big and presses on a vital organ like the brain or lungs, or if it causes pain, it can be removed with surgery.
For malignant tumors:
There are many treatments for cancer. Sometimes one treatment or a combination of treatments may be used.
- Surgery: Removal of the tumor and a small area of tissue around it.
- Radiation therapy: The use of radiation, such as high-energy X-rays, to destroy cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. These are used to shrink tumors before surgery or to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery.
- Hormone therapy: Some types of cancer (e.g. breast, prostate) are hormone-dependent. This treatment works by blocking the action of those hormones.
- Immunotherapy: Stimulating our body's own immune system to fight cancer cells.
- Targeted therapy: Giving drugs that target specific molecules that help cancer cells grow and spread, stopping their activity.
Can a tumor be prevented from forming?
Since many tumors develop for no apparent reason, they cannot be prevented 100%. However, we can reduce our risk by making lifestyle changes.
- Avoid smoking completely.
- Limit or stop drinking alcohol completely.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and legumes.
- Stay active, exercise daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight that suits you.
- Reduce your risk of contracting HPV by getting vaccinated, such as the HPV vaccine, and practicing safe sex.
Additionally, it is very important to detect cancerous tumors at an early stage . Regular age-appropriate screenings are very helpful in this regard.
- Mammograms: For women between 40-50 years of age, if the risk is average.
- Prostate exams: For men between 45-50 years of age, depending on risk.
- Colonoscopies: For colon cancer, after age 45 if risk is average.
Talk to your doctor about this and get advice on what tests are right for you and when to have them done.
Take-Home Message
- Don't be afraid when you hear the word "tumor." Not all tumors are cancer. Most are benign.
- If you notice a new lump, swelling, or change anywhere on your body, don't ignore it, but show it to a doctor immediately.
- The only way to know for sure whether a lump is cancerous or not is to have a biopsy.
- Even if a cancerous tumor is detected early, it can be successfully cured or controlled with today's advanced treatments.
- The risk of developing tumors can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and undergoing age-appropriate screenings.
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