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