A Cancer Lesson: Benign v. Malignant

A tumor is any abnormal growth in or on the body that either produces too many cells or not enough of the cells within the growth die. Tumors, also called neoplasms, are categorized as either benign or malignant, terms many people have probably heard before, but not all may fully understand.

In the simplest of terms, benign means non-cancerous and malignant means cancerous. If someone has a benign tumor, that means it is not cancer. If someone has a malignant tumor, that means it is cancer.

Here are the most common characteristics of benign tumors:

·      Tend to grow slowly

·      Have distinct borders at their edges

·      Do not spread to other parts of the body

·      Do not always require treatment

·      Can become cancerous, or malignant, over time

·      Can grow anywhere on or in the body

And here are the most common characteristics of malignant tumors:

·      Tend to grow rapidly

·      If left untreated, will invade other nearby tissues or organs in the body

·      Have irregular borders at their edges

·      May spread to other distant parts of the body

·      Always require treatment for cure or management

·      Can grow anywhere on or in the body

With all of the above information, it may seem like being diagnosed with a benign tumor might not be so bad, as far as a diagnosis goes. For the most part, that is true, but having a benign tumor does not clear a patient from medical concern.

While benign tumors are, indeed, non-cancerous, and many cause no symptoms, they still need to be monitored by health care professionals for a few reasons. Benign tumors can and often do continue to grow, though slowly. The slow growth of a benign tumor, depending on where it is in or on the body, can become a serious health concern.

A benign tumor may press on other parts of the body or surrounding organs that can cause challenging symptoms including bleeding, headaches, seizures, vision changes, weight loss, pain, or trouble breathing. Some of the symptoms of benign tumors can be serious or greatly impact a patient’s quality of life, requiring treatment. If treatment is required for a benign tumor, surgery is the most common option.

Malignant tumors, on the other hand, always require treatment. If left untreated, malignant tumors will spread cancer cells through the body by either invading nearby tissue and organs or by using the body’s natural throughfares – the bloodstream and lymph nodes, to metastasize in other distant locations of the body.

The most common organs in the body impacted by metastatic cancer -- cancer that has spread and continues to grow, are the liver, lungs, brain, and bones. If detected early enough, malignant tumors are usually treated with surgery and possible chemotherapy and radiation. If the malignant tumor has metasticized and spread to other parts of the body, treatments are typically systemic and include chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Dr. Srilata Gundala, owner and founder of Hope & Healing Cancer Services in Hinsdale, Illinois, is adept at treating both benign and malignant tumors in her practice, “All tumors run along continuums of severity and threat. Benign tumors are generally less threatening, and their treatments tend to be less severe. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are much more threatening for a patient’s overall health, and their treatments tend to be more severe or disruptive in nature. While having a benign tumor may be preferred, those tumors still need to be closely monitored for any change in growth and appearance, and patients with benign tumors should be on the lookout for any new symptoms. Patients should reach out ASAP with news of any changes or concerns.”

Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD