The difference between cancer and tumors

Often we hear the term cancer and tumors, but only a few people who truly understand what difference the tumor and cancer. I will try to help give a little explanation of this problem in order to prevent misunderstandings and errors in word usage.

Tumor actually is swelling caused by inflammation and abnormal growth of tissue in the body. This type of tumor based growth can be divided into malignant tumors (malignant tumor) and benign tumors (benign tumor).

Well, this malignant tumor is often called a cancer. But the possibility of a benign tumor may be malignant but very rare, usually on a tumor that has been too long and large. For example Fam (fibroadenoma mamma), benign breast tumors if left many years nothing has changed so vicious, it is known as Progressi, a percentage likely only approximately 0.5% -1% only.

When a person gets older, they will accumulate a variety of mutations in its DNA. This means that the prevalence of the tumors increased with age. In cases where the older person suffering from a tumor, it is likely that it was a malignant tumor. For example, if a 20-year-old woman had a tumor in her breast, then the chances are that the tumor was benign. However, if the 70-year-old woman had a breast tumor, then the tumor is a malignant tumor that possibility.

The tumor is caused by mutations in the DNA in the cell. The accumulation of these mutations cause the appearance of tumors. Actually, our cells have a DNA repair mechanism (DNA repair) and other mechanisms that cause cell damage himself by apoptosis if DNA damage was too severe. Apoptosis is an active process of cell death characterized by chromosomal DNA cleavage, chromatin condensation and fragmentation of nuclei and cells themselves. Mutations that suppress the genes for these mechanisms usually can trigger cancer.

Cancer is actually a term for a class of diseases characterized by cell division that is uncontrolled and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue (invasion) or by migration of cells to distant sites (metastasis) , Uncontrolled growth is caused by damage to DNA, and even cause mutations in vital genes that control cell division. Some fruits mutations might be needed to transform normal cells into cancer cells. These mutations are often caused by chemical or physical agents called carcinogens. Mutations can occur spontaneously (obtained) or inherited (germline mutations).

This is very different from the benign tumor (benign tumor) which does not attack the surrounding tissue and forming metastases, but locally can grow to be large. Usually, benign tumors do not reappear after surgical removal of tumors.

Noteworthy here if untreated, most cancer causing death; Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in developing countries. Most cancers can be treated and cured, especially if treatment is started early. Many forms of cancer associated with environmental factors that could have been avoided. Smoking tobacco can cause cancers of many other environmental factors. Therefore it is best to avoid smoking! Is not good for health.