Info
Benign tumor
Basics
What it means
A growth that does not invade the surrounding tissues and does not produce metastases. Although it may sometimes need treatment or monitoring, a benign tumor is not considered cancer.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Malignant tumor
- A growth made up of cancer cells that can invade the surrounding structures and spread to other parts of the body. This is the medical meaning of a confirmed cancer.
- Adenocarcinoma
- A subtype of carcinoma that arises in glandular cells, that is, cells that produce or secrete certain substances. It can appear in organs such as the lung, colon, pancreas or prostate.
- Bladder cancer
- Cancer that develops in the lining of the bladder. The most common sign is blood in the urine (hematuria), often painless. Smoking is the main risk factor.
Other terms in “Basics”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.