|
A tumour fights with
normal cells for nutrients and destroys the healthy cells
and tissues the body needs. The tumour continues to grow in
size and press onto nearby tissues, organs, or nerves causing
pain. As the tumour grows it attacks tissues and organs directly
making them prone to infection, and finally destroying their
ability to carry out their work properly. There are two kinds
of tumours:
A
benign (say: bee-NINE) tumour is not cancerous. The cells
of a benign tumour can destroy healthy cells, but they cannot
spread to other parts of the body.
A
malignant (say: ma-LIG-nant) tumour is cancerous. A malignant
tumour not only destroys normal cells around it but also spread
to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Doctors
call this process of spreading metastasis
(say: me-TAS-ta-sis). Once cancer cells attack another
organ, they divide and grow new malignant tumours that destroy
that organ. This may eventually lead to the patient's death
if untreated.
ABCs
of Cancer Home
|