In most cases, doctors need to do a biopsy to be certain that you have cancer. A biopsy is a procedure in which the doctor removes a sample of abnormal tissue. A pathologist looks at the tissue under a microscope and runs other tests on the cells in the sample.
You may be able to see a growth. Certain things about the image might even suggest that it's likely to be cancerous. But there are many benign (noncancerous) tumors that look very much like cancerous growths. That's why, if your doctor suspects cancer from imaging, they will almost always follow up with a biopsy.
It's not usually possible to tell whether a lump or growth on your skin or inside your body is cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign) by clinical examination alone, which is why a biopsy is often required.
The results, called a pathology report, may be ready as soon as 2 or it may take as long as 10 days. How long it takes to get your biopsy results depends on how many tests are needed on the sample. Based on these tests, the laboratory processing your sample can learn if cancer is present and, if so, what type it is.
It's important to talk with your doctor about any lumps that are larger than two inches (about the size of a golf ball), grow larger, or are painful regardless of their location. “Tell your doctor about new lumps or other symptoms that cannot be explained or that don't go away in a few weeks,” Dr. Shepard says.
Know when to call your doctor by using the 2-week rule: If you notice a subtle change in your normal health and it lasts 2 weeks or more, it's time to explore what is causing the change. Your doctor wants to hear from you before a small problem becomes a bigger, more complex one.
Many benign neoplasms don't cause any symptoms at all. But if they grow large enough to press on bodily structures, they may cause: Bleeding (for example, with a fibroid in the uterus). Headaches, seizures or trouble seeing (for example, with a brain tumor).
Sometimes, a cancer diagnosis comes out of the blue, with no symptoms at all. But more often, there are various symptoms that may be warning signs of the disease. Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist Anne Marie Lennon, M.D., Ph. D. , wants you to pay attention to your body.
2 cm is about the size of a peanut. 3 cm is about the size of a grape. 4 cm is about the size of a walnut. 5 cm is about the size of a lime.
An infection or abscess is perhaps the most common cause behind a mass that is mistaken for a tumor. In addition, cysts may arise from inflamed joints or tendons as a result of injury or degeneration. Inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also result in soft tissue masses.
What can you do? “Unfortunately, a CT scan is unable to show whether a nodule is benign or not,” says Dr. Wong. “It is important to be proactive about a nodule because earlier detection of lung cancer can make a huge difference in the outcome.”
Another important factor is whether there are cancer cells at the margins, or edges, of the biopsy sample. A “positive” or “involved” margin means there are cancer cells in the margin. This means that it is likely that cancerous cells are still in the body.
An X-ray can detect broken bones, tumors, and even an object that is lodged inside the body. (Radiologists and technicians have found the strangest objects inside human bodies.)
They can feel firm or soft. Benign masses are more likely to be painful to the touch, such as with an abscess. Benign tumors also tend to grow more slowly, and many are smaller than 5 cm (2 inches) at their longest point. Sarcomas (cancerous growths) more often are painless.
A tumor may feel more like a rock than a grape. A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr. Comander says.
Mass – A quantity of material, such as cells, that unite or adhere to each other. Tumor – 1. A swelling or enlargement (tumor is Latin for swelling).
Emergency Appointments
If you need to see a Doctor urgently on the day (Urgent meaning it is not regarding regular medication, on-going problems), please phone up or come in and book an emergency appointment. These are run every day and are only bookable on the day.
WHAT IS AN URGENT REFERRAL? Your GP has arranged for you to see a hospital doctor (specialist) within two weeks – a process also known as the two-week referral. This is to investigate your symptoms further.
Malignant tumors are cancerous. They develop when cells grow uncontrollably. If the cells continue to grow and spread, the disease can become life threatening. Malignant tumors can grow quickly and spread to other parts of the body in a process called metastasis.
Cancer Cases by Age Groups
You can get cancer at any age, including as infants and toddlers. But cancer is mostly a disease of middle age and beyond. The median age at diagnosis is 66, meaning that half of all new cases are found before then and half are diagnosed later.
To learn the stage of your disease, your doctor may order x-rays, lab tests, and other tests or procedures. A cancer is always referred to by the stage it was given at diagnosis, even if it gets worse or spreads. New information about how a cancer has changed over time is added to the original stage.
Benign tumors are those that stay in their primary location without invading other sites of the body. They do not spread to local structures or to distant parts of the body. Benign tumors tend to grow slowly and have distinct borders. Benign tumors are not usually problematic.