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Cancer

Last Updated: Tuesday March 17 2009 16:51 GMT

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What is 'malignant' and 'benign'?

Skin cancer cells
Cancer cells multiply much more quickly than healthy cells. When this happens, they can stick together to form lumps.

These are known as tumours. Cells from tumours can spread to other parts of the body and cause other tumours to grow.

When people find out they have a tumour, they have to go to the doctor to find out if it is what's known as benign or malignant .

Benign tumours:

These are not cancers
Can often be removed and mostly don't come back
Cells from these tumours don't spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant tumours:

A malignant skin cancer A malignant skin cancer

These are cancers
Cells in these tumours have gone wrong and start to multiply
Can damage other tissue or organs in your body
Cells from these tumours can seep into your blood and so spread the cancer
These tumours should be removed.

Guide to Cancer

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