In colloquial usage, the term tumor is often confused with cancer. A tumor can lead to cancer, but it does not have to. Cancer is a malignant growth that initially starts from the tumor.
What is a tumor?
Tumors are tissue changes that are not contagious in humans. However, they can be hereditary. A distinction is made between benign and malignant tumors. Click to enlarge. A tumor is characterized by a swelling, a palpable increase in tissue. A tumor is also called a cell neoplasm, cell growth or neoplasia. Tumors can occur in all tissues and can arise from all cells in the body. The term tumor can be used to designate signs of inflammation, water accumulation or cysts. In a narrower sense, however, a tumor means either a malignant or benign neoplasm of body tissues based on a malfunction and misregulation of the processes responsible for the healthy growth of cells. Tumors, if untreated, lead to a more or less severe impairment of the organism and can be a cause of death due to cancer and the associated formation of daughter cells to the tumor.
Causes
Graphic illustration and infogram of a typical cancer cell. Because tumors initially form in an organ-specific manner, unhealthy triggers and factors both for the body in general and specifically these organs can contribute to the formation of the tumor. For example, a person’s unhealthy lifestyle consisting of predominantly fatty, heavily fried foods, too little plant-based food, and excessive consumption of alcohol and nicotine can lead to the formation of tumors in some organs such as the stomach, nasopharynx, and respiratory organs. In addition, increased body weight and reduced cardiovascular activity favor the development of tumors, as the body’s immune system can be weakened. Furthermore, there are a variety of external influences. These can be various chemical and for tumor growth triggering substances, which are in the food, water or in the ambient air. Tumors in the stomach are mainly based on a nitrosamine-rich diet and the intake of nicotine. In addition, radioactive radiation and some drugs and hormones contribute to the promotion of tumors.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
The uncontrolled growth of cells can cause various symptoms in the body. If the malignant cells gradually multiply more and more, a mass of increasing size develops. This can, if it grows in the abdominal cavity, for example, displace other organs. This leads to pressure pain that increases in intensity. In organs where growth is not possible indefinitely due to bony structures, corresponding pressure signs occur very early. Symptoms of intracranial pressure due to a tumor in the brain may include, for example, severe headaches, dizziness and visual disturbances. A tumor in the lung can grow unnoticed for a relatively long time and, like many types of tumor, only causes symptoms when the organ is no longer able to perform its tasks due to the mass. A prolonged cough can be a sign of a tumor, as can mucus expectoration or shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest. However, some tumors show their typical symptoms rather unnoticed. For example, a tumor of the skin may go unnoticed for a long time, depending on its location, and initial signs such as bleeding from the tumor are mistakenly attributed to accidental scratching. Precisely because complaints that a tumor can cause are often not very clear, cancer screening is of particular importance.
Complications
Various complications can occur with a tumor. First, it must be distinguished whether the tumor is benign or malignant. It should be noted that benign tumors such as moles, lipomas, hemangiomas, or fibroids can also lead to complications. Myomas can burst. Hemangiomas can damage blood vessels. Benign tumors can put pressure on spinal cords or brain areas. This can cause severe additional symptoms of disease. A benign brain tumor is therefore just as dangerous as a malignant one. In the case of a malignant tumor, one of the most common complications is metastasis. The metastases often affect vital organs such as the liver, lungs or brain. They can also be found on the skeletal bones.In addition, depending on the location and degree of growth of a tumor, anemia or a life-threatening intestinal obstruction may develop. Compression of blood vessels or nerve cords can cause severe pain or paralysis. The tumor may proliferate through organs or render them nonfunctional. Tumor fever can further weaken the patient. The blood supply may be cut off. Open wounds can develop. Fistula formation is not uncommon. The treatment of a tumor can also lead to complications. In addition to nausea and vomiting as side effects of chemotherapy, severe weight loss and even life-threatening anorexia are possible. Radiation can cause burns, and surgery carries the risk that tumor cells may spread. Surgical scars can cause additional pain.
When should you see a doctor?
A doctor should be consulted as far as there is a sudden or gradual deterioration of the general health. If physical or mental performance declines, daily responsibilities can no longer be met, or well-being decreases for no apparent reason, a doctor is needed. Growths, swellings or changes in the appearance of the skin should be examined and checked by a doctor. If functional disturbances occur, or if there is an unexplained feeling of malaise or illness, the symptoms should be clarified. If existing irregularities increase in scope and intensity, consultation with a physician is advisable as soon as possible. Sleep disturbances or an increased need for sleep are considered warning signals of the human organism. They should be investigated if the complaints persist. If changes in personality, disturbances in locomotion or pain are noticed, a doctor should be informed of the irregularities. Mood swings are as much a part of the formation of a possible tumor as an increased susceptibility to infection or fatigue. If a tumor forms in the human organism, a continuous increase in complaints and changes can be seen, regardless of its structure. These can last for years or become apparent within a few days or weeks. A physician should be informed of the abnormalities as early as possible, since without timely treatment, premature death may occur.
Treatment and therapy
Tumors are treated directly at the site of their development and depending on their type, whether benign or malignant, and the extent of their expression. Different forms of therapy are considered, which are not always carried out independently of each other. In principle, surgical removal is usually performed immediately upon detection of the tumor. Subsequently, depending on various factors, irradiation with ion beams or so-called poly- or chemotherapy are helpful. Often, for safety reasons, the measures are coordinated and combined. Some tumors have very specific characteristics, so immunotherapy has proven successful in this context.
Prevention
In the context of prevention against the development of a tumor, numerous herbal medicines are recommended as extremely effective. In addition, a healthy lifestyle is beneficial in the vast majority of cases to prevent tumor formation. In order to prevent the growth of tumors as far as possible or to detect even the smallest changes as early as possible, both the patient’s own observation of the body and preliminary tumor examinations are quite helpful. This includes palpation of the female breast, early detection examinations from the appropriate age at risk, and visits to the doctor in the event of atypical symptoms or pain. Screening examinations are advisable to a greater extent if there is a family history of tumors. Regular exercise is also considered to be effective in preventing tumors. In addition, exercise and exposure to fresh air strengthens the immune system, which can be achieved, as it were, through a healthy diet.
Aftercare
The actual cancer treatment is followed by aftercare. In this process, patients receive individualized care. Thus, tumor aftercare represents an important component of cancer therapy. One of the most important goals of tumor aftercare is the timely detection of a new tumor or metastases (daughter tumors) in other parts of the body.Through early diagnosis, appropriate treatment measures can be initiated immediately, even before symptoms set in. The quality of life of patients also plays an important role in cancer aftercare. For example, it is important to clarify what consequences the disease or its therapy has on the everyday life of the person affected. The therapists also support the patients in coming to terms with the serious illness. If necessary, they can establish contact with various contacts. These include psychooncologists, cancer counseling, nutritionists, social services, self-help groups or sports groups. The doctor also draws up an individual aftercare plan based on the type, extent and treatment of the tumor. It is not uncommon for there to be a smooth transition between tumor therapy, progress monitoring and aftercare. The duration of aftercare depends on how long the patient suffers from the effects of the tumor disease and when the risk of relapse has decreased. As a rule, five years are estimated for this. In addition to the type of tumor, the side effects and late effects of the disease and treatment, as well as the individual course of the cancer, are also important for aftercare.
What you can do yourself
The measures that can be taken during tumor treatment itself depend on the type of tumor and the patient’s state of health, as well as the chosen therapy. For classic tumors, which are usually removed surgically, rest and bed rest apply after the procedure. If necessary, the patient must change his diet and support the body with sports and physiotherapy. It is also important to get plenty of sleep and to take the prescribed medication regularly. Accompanying this, the doctor should be consulted regularly so that the course of the disease can be monitored. Due to the relatively high risk of recurrence, attention must also be paid to any warning signs the body may show. After chemotherapy, the body is usually severely weakened and also requires rest. Accompanying psychological complaints sometimes occur, which must be treated in discussion with a therapist. Anxiety disorders or depression can develop, especially in the case of long illnesses, and these should be treated with the help of a specialist and, if necessary, also with drug therapy. In any case, in the case of tumor disease, patients should follow the treatment plan recommended by the doctor.