Tumour Definition
Tumors are lumps that appear as a result of excessively multiplying cells, or as a result of old cells that are supposed to die still survive, while the formation of new cells continues to occur.
Tumour Types
Tumors can occur in any part of the body, such as in the bones, jaw, mouth, and skin, and some are benign or malignant. What is meant by a benign tumor is a tumor that does not attack the surrounding normal cells and does not spread to other parts of the body. While malignant tumors are the opposite, and are called cancer.
In addition, among benign tumors and malignant tumors, there is a type of tumor called precancerous tumors. Precancerous tumors are not cancerous, but can become cancerous if left untreated.
Benign
This type of tumor cannot spread or grow, or it can be very slow. If the doctor gets rid of it, this lump generally does not return.
Most benign lumps are harmless and do not affect other parts of the body. Even so, these lumps can cause pain or other problems if they suppress nerves or blood vessels or if they trigger excessive hormone production. Examples of these conditions are:
Adenoma
This lump develops in the epithelial tissue of the gland, which is a thin membrane covering the glands, organs and other structures in the body.
Fibroids
Fibroids or fibromas are benign tumors that can grow on fibrous tissues.
Some fibroma can cause symptoms and may require surgery. In rare cases, fibroids can turn and become fibrosarcoma, which is cancer.
Hemangioma
It is a benign tumor that forms when the blood vessels are excessive. The condition appears with a red “strawberry mark” on the skin or develops in the body, the condition appears at birth and disappears with childhood.
Lipoma
Lipoma is a form of soft tissue tumor and consists of fat cells. Most lipoma are small, painless, soft to the touch, and able to move. Usually these lumps appear on the back, shoulders, arms, buttocks, the top of the legs.
Semi malignant (pre-cancerous)
In this condition, the cells have not become cancerous, but have the potential to become malignant. Examples of these conditions are:
Actinic keratosis
This condition is also known as solar keratosis, which is a growth that involves patches of crusty, scaly, and thick skin. Actinic keratosis tends to occur in white people. Exposure to sunlight can increase the risk.
Cervical dysplasia
In this condition, changes occur in the cells lining the cervix. Doctors may find these cells during a Pap smear. Cervical dysplasia often comes from the human papillomavirus (HPV), an infection that generally affects young people.
Lung metaplasia
This growth occurs in the bronchi, which is a tube that carries air to the lungs. The bronchial lining contains glandular cells. In some people, including smo**kers, this can turn into squamous cells or cancer.
Malignant
Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells can grow and develop into other parts of your body. If that’s the case, it could be life-threatening.
Malignant tumors can grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the body. This process is called metastasis.
Cancer cells can move to other parts of the body is the same as the original cells, but they have the ability to attack other organs. If lung cancer spreads to the liver, for example, cancer cells in the liver are still lung cancer cells. Examples of these conditions include:
Carcinoma
It is formed from epithelial cells, which are in the skin and tissues that cover or coat the organs of the body. The condition can occur in the stomach, pros**tate, pancreas, lungs, liver, colon, or breast.
Sarcoma
The condition appears in connective tissue, such as cartilage, bone, fat, and nerves. Sarcoma comes from cells outside the bone marrow. Most sarcoma is malignant.
Germ cell tumors
The condition develops in cells that produce spe**rm and ovum. These lumps appear on the ovaries or tes**ticles. However, it can also appear in the brain, abdomen, or chest.
Blastoma
It is formed from embryonic tissue or developing cells. Blastoma is much more common in children than in older persons. They can cause tumors in the brain, eyes, or nervous system.
Tumour Causes and Risk Factors
Until now, the cause of tumor growth is still unknown.
Some of the triggering factors for tumors are:
Smo**king
Smo**king is often associated with various types of cancers such as white blood cell cancer (leukemia), as well as cancer in various other organs such as the esophagus, lungs, mouth, pancreas, kidneys, and stomach. In the United States it is recorded that smo**king is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths.
Infection
There are a number of viruses and bacteria have the ability to cause cancer, among others:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) which increases the risk of cancer of the uterine mouth (cervix), pe**nis, va**gina, anus, and oropharynx.
- Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses that increase the risk of liver cancer.
- Epstein-Barr virus that increases the risk of Burkitt’s lymphoma.
- Helicobacter pylori, which increases the risk of stomach cancer.
Other causes
- Hereditary factors and genetic abnormalities.
- Excessive consumption of liqu**or.
- Abnormalities in the immune system.
- Overweight or obesity.
- Exposure to air pollution.
- Excessive exposure to sunlight.
- Radiation exposure.
Tumour Symptoms
Symptoms arising from the tumor may vary depending on the location of the growth and also the type of tumor. For example, brain cancer that can cause symptoms of unbearable headaches, sudden vomiting, as well as convulsions.
While the symptoms of lung cancer can be a persistent cough and get worse, until it eventually becomes coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue.
Meanwhile, there are types of malignant tumors that do not even cause symptoms until they reach an advanced stage, such as cervical cancer and liver cancer.
In general, the symptoms that can indicate a tumor, including:
- Often feel unwell.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Fever and chills.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss for no apparent reason.
- Sweating at night.
Conclusion
The tumour definition is a general term used to describe the presence of a lump on the body that comes from the growth of normal tissue that should die, excessively.
Tumors can occur in any part of the body, and can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors don’t mean ‘harmless’. If you get excessive stimulation or stimuli, benign tumors can turn malignant or cancerous.
A benign tumor can still develop, and usually only causes damage to nearby tissues or organs. While malignant tumors (cancer), usually have spread elsewhere.
