MALIGNANT & BENIGN

CONSUMER CHEMISTRY 9
What is Tumor?
• A tumor is an abnormal lump or
growth of cells. When the cells in
the tumor are normal, it is benign.
Something just went wrong, and
they overgrew and produced a
lump. When the cells are abnormal
and can grow uncontrollably, they
are cancerous cells, and the tumor
is malignant.
How to determine?
• To determine whether a tumor is
benign or cancerous, a doctor can
take a sample of the cells with a
biopsy procedure. Then the
biopsy is analyzed under a
microscope by a pathologist, a
doctor specializing in laboratory
science.
Definition of Benign Tumors:
Noncancerous

• If the cells are not cancerous, the

tumor is benign. It won't invade
nearby tissues or spread to other
areas of the body (metastasize). A
benign tumor is less worrisome
unless it is pressing on nearby
tissues, nerves, or blood vessels and
causing damage.
Definition of Benign Tumors:
Noncancerous
• Benign tumors may need to be
removed by surgery. They can grow
very large, sometimes weighing
pounds. They can be dangerous,
such as when they occur in the brain
and crowd the normal structures in
the enclosed space of the skull. They
can press on vital organs or block
channels.
Definition of Benign Tumors:
Noncancerous

• Also, some types of benign tumors

such as intestinal polyps are
considered precancerous and are
removed to prevent them becoming
malignant.
Definition of Malignant Tumors:
Cancerous

• Malignant means that the tumor is

made of cancer cells, and it can
invade nearby tissues. Some cancer
cells can move into the bloodstream
or lymph nodes, where they can
spread to other tissues within the
body.
Definition of Malignant Tumors:
Cancerous

• this is called metastasis. Cancer can

occur anywhere in the body
including the breast, intestines,
lungs, reproductive organs, blood,
and skin.
Definition of Malignant Tumors:
Cancerous

• For example, breast cancer begins in

the breast tissue and may spread to
lymph nodes in the armpit if it's not
caught early enough and treated.
Once breast cancer has spread to
the lymph nodes, the cancer cells
can travel to other areas of the body,
like the liver or bones.
Differences Between Benign and
Malignant Tumors
Benign Tumors Malignant Tumors
• Cells tend not to spread • Cells can spread

• Most grow slowly • Usually grow fairly rapidly

• Do not invade nearby • Often invade basal

tissue membrane that surrounds
nearby healthy tissue
• Do not metastasize
(spread) to other parts • Can spread via bloodstream
of the body or lymphatic system, or by
sending "fingers" into
• Tend to have clear nearby tissue
boundaries
 Can a Benign Tumor Turn
Malignant?

• Some types of benign tumors only

very rarely transform into malignant
tumors. But some types, such as
adenomatous polyps (adenomas) in
the colon have a greater risk of
transforming into cancer.
 GRAPH THAT REPRESENTS THE MOST CASE OF CANCER FROM 2010 UP TO PRESENT
YEAR

Category 4
LUNG 89%
PROSTATE 53%

BREAST 67%
Category 3

STOMACH 21%

NON-HODGSKIN LYMPHOMA 35%

Category 2
LEUKEMIA 79%

Category 1
PANCREAS 37%
BLADDER 45%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
 PREPARED BY:
JARICK RYAN R. DELA CRUZ