| Understanding cancer is not difficult if we | | | | body and continue developing unlimitedly. |
| start looking at cancer from the inside. The | | | | |
| cancer starts in the cells, and Cells can | | | | In the other hand Benign tumors can often be |
| break off from a malignant tumour and start | | | | removed by surgery, and they are not likely |
| to grow in another part of the body, this is | | | | to return. Some tumors of the testicle are |
| known as a secondary tumour. Cells in these | | | | benign, but most are not. Benign tumors are |
| tumors are abnormal and divide without | | | | not usually life threatening. Benign tumors, |
| control or order. They can invade and damage | | | | although they may cause some health problems |
| nearby tissues and organs. Cells grow by | | | | depending on their size and location, are not |
| dividing in half, such that one cell will | | | | life-threatening. |
| become two, and two become four (these new | | | | |
| cells are called daughter cells), etc . | | | | Benign (noncancerous) tumors can also grow |
| Normally, there are very strict rules as to | | | | anywhere in your mouth. Benign tumors are |
| when a cell can grow or not. | | | | well-differentiated, in other words, they |
| | | | differ only slightly in appearance and |
| Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other | | | | behavior from their tissue of origin. These |
| parts of the body. Most important, benign | | | | tumors are slow growing and noninvasive, do |
| tumors are rarely a threat to life. Cells | | | | not spread throughout the body, and will |
| deprived of oxygen die and decay, which is | | | | often have a fibrous tissue capsule around |
| why some cancers have an odor. The term for | | | | them. |
| this new blood vessel growth is angiogenesis. | | | | |
| | | | Treatments are related to a particular cancer |
| Obviously as you may know already, malignant | | | | usual behavior. For a cancer that is |
| tumors are cancerous. These tumors contain | | | | aggressive locally (where it is first |
| cells that divide and grow without order. | | | | detected), local treatments such as surgery, |
| Malignant tumors (cancers) can spread to | | | | radiation therapy, and photodynamic therapy |
| other tissues or organs nearby or to other | | | | may be used. Treatment depends on the kind of |
| parts of the body. This is called metastasis | | | | treatment the patient had when first treated. |
| . Malignant tumors are tumors that are | | | | If the patient had surgery alone, the patient |
| capable of spreading by invasion and | | | | may have surgery again or radiation therapy. |
| metastasis. By definition, the term "cancer" | | | | |
| applies only to malignant tumors. Malignant | | | | Radiation therapy destroys or damages cancer |
| means that the disease, if not treated, can | | | | cells by targeting high energy x-rays to the |
| progress and lead to death. Malignant tumors | | | | tissues. Radiation therapy is usually |
| are cancer. Cancer cells can invade and | | | | painless and is provided in an out patient |
| damage tissues and organs near the tumor. | | | | setting. Radiation is a special kind of |
| Malignant tissues can invade and damage other | | | | energy carried by waves or a stream of |
| tissues and organs. Cancer cells can then | | | | particles originating from radioactive |
| break away from the tumour and enter the | | | | substances and delivered by special machines. |
| bloodstream or lymphatic system, spreading | | | | These radioactive x-rays or gamma rays can |
| the cancer to other parts of the body. | | | | penetrate the cell wall and damage the |
| | | | nucleus of the cell which prevents growth and |
| The serious part of this is that malignant | | | | division of cells. |
| tumours metastasize to other organs of the | | | | |