However, benign tumors are not always harmless. If a benign tumor grows too close to an important organ such as the brain, or presses against blood vessels or nerves, then it can become a genuine concern.
Some types of benign tumors can also grow too large and cause serious problems if left alone. This is why it is important to get in touch with your doctor if you feel anything unusual in your body.
What Are Malignant Tumors?
Malignant tumors are tumors that are life-threatening, and are formed by masses of cancer cells.
Compared to benign tumors, the structure of the cells in malignant tumors seem abnormal compared to the original cell, and they can multiply faster and spread throughout the body. For example, you’ve probably heard about cases of breast cancer spreading to the brain or to the bones.
Malignant tumors also disrupt or impede the function of the organs they infect, which can eventually cause organs to eventually fail if the cancer is not treated.
Another important difference between benign and malignant tumors is that while benign tumors can easily be removed, malignant tumors are more resistant to treatment. This means that while doctors can perform surgery to remove malignant tumors, there is still the possibility of the tumor coming back if there are no follow up treatments.
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