Tumours - All you need to know!

What are tumours?

Tumor can be called as a group of abnormal cells, which grow in order to form lumps. This would depend upon its kind, the various tumors grow and thus are seen behaving differently. This can be both cancerous and non-cancerous.

Benign tumours

These types of tumors are non-cancerous ones, which are rarely life threatening or simply lead to dreaded issues unless you find them growing over the vital organ and thus growing large enough to disrupt or press the tissues in the neighboring one.  The benign tumors are seen growing slowing, which do not spread over the other body parts. Once these are removed with the surgery these tumors are rarely seen growing back. Except for the rare cases, the benign tumors are also non-cancerous.

Precancerous conditions

The precancerous or the premalignant cells are the abnormal cells, which have the potential in order to develop over cancer. All these kinds of cells are seen growing and dividing and thus are seen becoming more and more abnormal till they are seen becoming into cancer. The precancerous changes could vary in their kinds of abnormality, which are as under: 

• Hyperplasia: These are the abnormal ones, which boost up the number of cells in it wherein some of the hyperplasias are seen precancerous and a majority are not.
  
• Atypia (atypical): These cells simply look very much abnormal under the microscope and often the result of certain changes that are seen causing due to healing and inflammation instead of the precancerous change. These can return to the normal once the inflammation is seen reducing or getting a complete the healing process.
  
• Metaplasia: Though these cells are seen appearing very much normal but they are not the usual kind of cells that are found over the area or tissues over the body.
  
• Dysplasia: These cells are often seen getting developed in an abnormal fashion and are among the abnormal ones in terms of organization and appearance. All these cells are almost very much precancerous.
  
• Malignant tumours: These tumors are cancerous in nature, which may develop from one abnormal cell inside the tissue. These are seen becoming large and behave in a very different fashion. The malignant tumors are seen growing over an uncontrolled way and thus can invade the surrounding tissues or lymphatic system that makes the life to have metastatic cancer.
  
• Naming of tumours: The tumors are often named as per their origin, for instance lung or breast cancer. The cancer of plasma cells is known as multiple myeloma and of white blood cells is known as leukaemia, while some cancers in any person are known as Hodgkin lymphoma.

What are the causes of the disorder?

In usual conditions, the cell growth and division can be found strictly managed. The new cells are created in order to replace the old ones. The tumor is seen developing when the cell starts diving in an abnormal fashion while it is seen growing excessively owing to the extra amount of growth receptors over the cell that are seen over the mutations found in DNA. Some of the common causes include excess alcohol, smoking, tobacco, radiation, genetics, viruses, chemicals and toxins. Some of the tumor is seen hampering one gender over the other whereas these are more common elders or kids.

What one needs to know about symptoms or signs?

The symptoms would depend upon the location and kind of tumor whereas some tumor may not cause any kind of symptoms that can have condition reaching to the advanced stages.

Which specialist should be consulted in case of signs and symptoms?

Once you experience these symptoms, discuss your family doctor who would then direct to any oncologist specializing in treating cancer.

What are the screening tests and investigations done to confirm or rule out the disorder?

Some of the tumors are not often visible while having the physical exams, hence the doctors would suggest a couple of tests, including biopsy, x ray, enzymes & function test, tumor markers, imaging tests like MRI or CT Scan, etc. 

What treatment modalities are available for management of the disorder?

The treatment would depend upon the kind of tumor you have and its location. Some of the common procedures for cancer treatment include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, combination of these procedures.