Some irritants are mutagenic, and others enhance cell proliferation. Virchow suggested that the inflammatory processes that lead to tissue damage could also promote neoplastic risk. Inflammation also promotes tissue regeneration, but sustained cell proliferation could lead to cancer. It is not clear what exactly causes cancer. But the existence of chronic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of developing neoplasms.
Pain is usually the most common symptom of cancer, and it can be the most common symptom of a growing tumor. However, cancers can also irritate nearby tissues. Tumors may compress nearby tissues or push them. This irritation usually results in pain, and sometimes the compression of the surrounding tissues can prevent normal tissue function. A bladder cancer, for example, can press on the ureter, which connects the kidney and the bladder. A lung cancer, on the other hand, may obstruct airflow through a segment of the lung, resulting in partial collapse and infection.
A diagnosis of cancer without a tumor is difficult because doctors don’t know exactly why certain people get cancer, and there’s no way to tell if a person is sick if they don’t have a tumor. But, it’s important to remember that cancer is not contagious. You cannot catch cancer from another person. It’s not transmitted through germs, and interacting with cancer patients and their families is usually harmless.
After a period of time with no tumors, a cancer patient may be declared cancer-free. This change often coincides with a transition from active surveillance to survivorship, which requires less frequent checkups. The terms remission and cancer-free are often used interchangeably. Neither term is a positive diagnosis. If you’re unsure of the meaning of remission, consult with a medical oncologist.
Most types of cancer do not form a visible tumor. These include leukemia, most types of lymphomas, and myeloma. Cancerous tumors develop in tissues covering internal organs. Sarcomas, on the other hand, develop in tissues supporting the body, including muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and cartilage. Cancer without a tumor is rare, and many people have successfully treated it.
