This type of cancer is less common than the one that is visible with tumors. The symptoms of cancer without a tumor vary based on the size and location of the cancer. The exact treatments vary, depending on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. Generally, chemotherapy involves the use of cytostatic drugs that kill cancer cells and slow down the growth of new ones. Other drugs can interfere with the body’s natural defenses against the cancer cells, such as the production of enzymes and proteins that promote the growth of new cells.
Leukemia is another type of cancer that does not form a solid tumor. It develops in the bone marrow, and the abnormal white blood cells crowd out the normal blood cells. This makes it harder for the body to deliver oxygen to tissues, control bleeding, and fight infections. As a result, cancer cells are usually found in areas with low levels of the body’s immune system. While some people will develop cancer without tumors, most cancers do not have a tumor at all.
A type of cancer that does not have a tumor is called dysplasia. Dysplasia means that the cells are abnormal. The cells may be larger than usual, growing faster than normal, or have abnormal cell arrangements. Both are precancerous conditions. The most serious type is called carcinoma in situ, and it has not yet invaded surrounding tissues. It is treated because of the risk of it turning into cancer. People with dysplasia are checked regularly for changes, and they are treated if the cells get more advanced or change.
Treatment of cancer is possible even if there are no tumors. The cells of cancer do not always adhere to one another like normal cells, and can break away and spread through the body’s lymphatic system or blood vessels. They can also spread to distant parts of the body. The best treatment for cancer without tumors is chemotherapy. Its growth may be slow, but it does not mean that it will not need to be treated.
Most patients with cancer that has no tumors may not need treatment. In the majority of cases, tumors that are benign do not require treatment. Surgery can be performed to remove the tumor without affecting surrounding tissue. Other types of treatment may involve the use of medications or radiation. Some tumors may turn malignant after removal. Adenomas, for example, are a type of benign tumors that start in epithelial tissues and can grow to form tumors in the liver, pituitary gland, thyroid, or adrenal gland.
