A cancerous tumor is a tumor that is considered malignant, meaning that it has the potential to spread to neighboring organs, cutting off the supply of nutrients to these areas and eventually causing severe symptoms. Cancerous tumors require medical intervention to prevent the spread of the cancer, and ideally to remove it completely so that the patient returns to normal health. Treating a cancerous tumor may involve a team of people, including a cancer specialist or oncologist and a surgeon.
Tumors are masses caused by uncontrolled cell growth. They are also called neoplasms. Tumors occur when cells begin to replicate with no controls in place, causing cells to proliferate. Normally, the body carefully regulates cell production, ensuring that cells replicate as needed, but are not allowed to grow unchecked. However, when a cell mutates, it rapidly replicates, cloning copies of the damaged cell and creating a neoplasm.
Neoplasms can sometimes be identified by palpation, and in other cases are diagnosed after a patient develops symptoms caused by the tumors. Depending on the location of a tumor, it can cause neurological symptoms, organ damage, hormonal imbalances, and other problems. Tumors are diagnosed using medical imaging to identify the site and follow-up with a biopsy of the cells that includes a determination of whether or not the tumor is malignant.
If a neoplasm is malignant, it is classified as a cancerous tumor. A cancerous tumor is a cause for concern because it will continue to grow rapidly and spread freely to neighboring organs. If left untreated, it can also spread to remote regions of the body. Cancerous tumors cut off blood supply to organs, interfere with hormone production, and cause tissue death. Therefore, when a cancerous tumor is discovered, a treatment plan must be developed to address it.
Ideally, a cancerous tumor is removed in a surgical procedure and the patient is given a drug designed to prevent recurrence of the tumor. In some cases, a tumor may be in an inoperable location, in which case medications may be used to try to shrink the tumor so it cannot grow any further. Because cancer tends to come back, even if the tumor is successfully killed or removed, the patient will need lifelong medical appointments to check for recurrence so that the cancer can be caught early if it comes back.