Benign Cancer: How is it different from malignant cancer?

The moment you are diagnosed with a tumour, the first thing your doctor will do is find out whether the tumour is benign or malignant – this will determine the course of your treatment. In simple words, benign means non-cancerous while malignant means cancerous.

Benign Cancer

When tumour cells grow at a normal pace, it is known as benign or non-cancerous growth. In the case of benign cancer, the cells grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body or invade the adjacent tissues. Most often, these do not exhibit serious symptoms or pose a threat to your health. So, they are not a cause of concern. However, sometimes a benign tumour can press against nerves, tissues or the blood vessels, causing pain and discomfort.

Some common types of benign cancer are –

• Adenomas

• Fibromas or fibroids

• Hemangiomas

• Lipomas

Benign tumours, although tend to be harmless, may need to be operated. This is true for tumours that have grown to become large and weigh heavy. When these develop in the brain and cluster around to press against block channels or vital organs, the condition can be potentially dangerous. Moreover, certain types of non-cancerous tumours like intestinal polyps are precancerous – meaning they have the potential to turn cancerous. Surgery to remove this type of tumour can help prevent it from becoming malignant.

Malignant Cancer

Malignant cancer refers to cancerous tumours that can potentially be fatal. Unlike benign cancer, malignant cancer progresses quickly and metastasizes to invade other organs, tissues or parts of the body.

Here are a few examples of tumours that are cancerous in nature –

• Carcinoma

• Sarcoma

• Germ cell tumour

• Blastoma

A tumour that has turned malignant, or has spread through the lymphatic system or bloodstream, may require aggressive treatment. Based on the stage of cancer, your oncologist will devise a treatment plan that might include immunotherapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery.

Being diagnosed with a tumour can be hard to deal with. To find out if the tumour is benign or malignant, consult a specialist and discuss your concerns.