The term “cancer without tumors” conjures up images of a cancer-free body. It conveys a profound sense of relief, but what does it really mean? Medical oncologist Phat Le explores the meaning of these terms. The main difference between cancer-free status is the absence of disease. While both terms are used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings. Read on to learn more.
Cancer occurs when cells multiply uncontrollably. Normal cells grow normally and know when to stop growing. Over time, these cells die. But cancer cells do not die when they should. They gather together to form tumors, which then begin to affect other organs in the body. As the tumors grow, they can destroy healthy tissues and normal cells in the area. Therefore, cancer-free people are in remission, and should be cautious.
While a tumor is a lump, a cancer-free body can still have other symptoms. The presence of other symptoms does not necessarily mean a person has cancer. If the tumors are not cancerous, the condition is called “hyperplasia.” A tumor is defined as a mass of non-structural cells that is not essential to the normal physiological function of the body. Cancer without tumors means that the tumor has not yet developed a visible growth.
A biopsy and CT scan can determine the cancer’s stage. The lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. Stage four means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This is also known as metastatic cancer. It has spread to distant organs, such as the bones, lungs, or liver. In this case, treatment will be aimed at killing as many cancerous cells as possible without harming healthy tissue.
Most types of cancers can be cured. The majority of patients are cured successfully. With proper diagnosis and treatment, cancer-free lives can be restored. The good news is that many types of cancer are curable. In fact, most people will live a long and healthy life despite the appearance of tumors. The treatment options for cancer are many and varied. You may need to undergo several treatments before finding a cure. If you don’t have any symptoms, you may have a benign tumor that has spread to another part of your body.
Treatment options for cancer without tumors will depend on the type of cancer you have. There are three main types of cancer, including breast cancer, and a number of subtypes. Each one requires a specific type of doctor. There are hundreds of different subspecialties in oncology. However, you’re probably familiar with several of these doctors. Your doctor may have multiple oncologists involved in your care, depending on your specific case.
Unknown primary or CUP is also known as carcinoma of unknown origin (CPU). It is a type of metastatic cancer that cannot be diagnosed through a traditional pathology procedure. Often, the primary tumour is too small to be detected by scans, hidden by a cluster of secondary tumours, or has been destroyed by the immune system. Either way, knowing the origin of the cancer is crucial to making an appropriate treatment plan. Your doctor may ask you to undergo several tests to determine the cause.
