tumor

In colloquial usage the term tumor often confused with cancer. A tumor can, but doesn't have to lead to cancer. Cancer is a malignant growth that initially originates from the tumor.

What is a tumor?

Tumors are tissue changes that are not contagious in humans. However, they can be hereditary. A distinction is made between benign and malignant tumors. Click to enlarge.

One tumor indicates swelling, a palpable increase in tissue. A tumor is also referred to as a new cell formation, cell growth or neoplasia. Tumors can occur in all tissues and arise from all of the body's own cells.

The term tumor can be used to describe signs of inflammation, water retention or cysts. In a narrower sense, however, a tumor means an either malignant or benign new formation of body tissue based on a dysregulation and dysregulation of the processes that are responsible for the healthy growth of cells.

Untreated tumors lead to a more or less severe impairment of the organism and can represent a cause of death through cancer and the associated formation of daughter cells to form the tumor.

causes

Graphic illustration and infogram of a typical cancer cell.

That I Tumors first train organ-specific, can both for the body in general and especially for these organs unhealthy triggers and factors contribute to the formation of the tumor. The unhealthy lifestyle of a person, which consists of predominantly fatty, heavily fried food, too little vegetable food and excessive consumption of alcohol and nicotine can, for example, lead to the formation of tumors in some organs such as the stomach, nasopharynx and respiratory organs to lead.

In addition, an increased body weight and a reduction in cardiovascular activity favor the development of tumors, as the body's immune system can be weakened. There are also a number of external influences. These can be various chemical substances that trigger tumor growth and are found in food, water or the ambient air.

Tumors in the stomach are mainly based on a nitrosamine-rich food and the intake of nicotine. In addition, radioactive rays and some drugs and hormones contribute to the favor of tumors.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

The uncontrolled growth of cells can trigger various ailments in the body. If the malignant cells gradually multiply more and more, a mass of increasing size arises. If it grows in the abdomen, for example, it can displace other organs. This leads to pressure pain, which increases in intensity.

Corresponding pressure marks appear very early in organs in which growth is not unlimited due to bony structures. Symptoms of intracranial pressure due to a tumor in the brain can include severe headache, dizziness, and visual disturbances. A tumor in the lungs can grow unnoticed for a relatively long time and, like many tumor types, only causes symptoms when the organ can no longer fulfill its tasks due to the mass.

Persistent coughing, as well as expectoration of mucus or shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, can be signs of a tumor. However, some tumors tend to show their typical symptoms rather unnoticed. Depending on the location, a skin tumor can go unnoticed for a long time and the first signs such as bleeding from the tumor are mistakenly attributed to accidental scratching. Precisely because the symptoms that a tumor can cause are often not clear-cut, cancer prevention is of particular importance.

Complications

Various complications can arise with a tumor. First, a distinction must be made as to whether the tumor is benign or malignant. It should be noted that benign tumors such as birthmarks, lipomas, hemangiomas or myomas can lead to complications. Fibroids can burst. Hemangiomas can damage the blood vessels. Benign tumors can put pressure on the spinal cord or areas of the brain. This can lead to severe additional symptoms. A benign brain tumor is therefore just as dangerous as a malignant one.

One of the most common complications in a malignant tumor is metastasis. The metastases often affect vital organs such as the liver, lungs or brain. They can also be found on the skeletal bones. In addition, depending on the location and degree of growth of a tumor, anemia or a life-threatening intestinal obstruction can develop. Compression of blood vessels or nerve cords can cause severe pain or paralysis. The tumor can grow through organs or render them inoperable.

Tumor fever can also weaken the patient. The blood supply can be cut off. Open wounds can arise. Fistula formation is not uncommon. Treating a tumor can also have complications. In addition to nausea and vomiting as side effects of chemotherapy, severe weight loss and even life-threatening anorexia are possible. Radiation can cause burns, operations carry the risk that tumor cells can spread. The surgical scars can cause additional pain.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor should be consulted if there is a sudden or gradual deterioration in general health. If the physical or mental performance drops, the daily obligations can no longer be fulfilled or the well-being decreases for no apparent reason, a doctor is required. Any growths, swellings or changes in the appearance of the skin should be examined and checked by a doctor. If there are functional disorders, if there is an inexplicable malaise and a feeling of illness, the complaints should be clarified. If existing irregularities increase in scope and intensity, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Sleep disturbances or an increased need for sleep are warning signals of the human organism. You should be followed up if the complaints persist. If personality changes, locomotion disorders or pain are noticed, a doctor must be informed of the irregularities. Mood swings are just as much a part of the development of a possible tumor as an increased susceptibility to infections or fatigue. If a tumor forms in the human organism, a continuous increase in complaints and changes can be seen regardless of its structure. These can last for years or show up within a few days or weeks. A doctor should be informed of the abnormalities as early as possible, as premature death can occur without timely treatment.

Treatment & Therapy

Tumors are treated directly at the place of their origin and depending on their type, whether they are benign or malignant, and according to the extent of the manifestation. Different forms of therapy come into question, which are not always carried out independently of one another. In principle, surgical removal is usually carried out immediately upon detection of the tumor.

Afterwards, depending on various factors, radiation with ion beams or so-called poly- or chemotherapy are helpful. Often the measures are coordinated and combined for safety. Some tumors have very specific peculiarities, so that immunotherapy has proven to be successful in this context.

prevention

As part of the prevention of the development of a tumor Numerous herbal medicines are recommended as being extremely effective. In addition, a healthy lifestyle is beneficial in the majority of cases in order to prevent tumor formation. In order to prevent the growth of tumors as much as possible or to detect even the smallest changes as early as possible, both your own observation of the body and the preliminary tumor examinations are quite helpful.

This includes palpation of the female breast, early detection examinations from the appropriate risk age and visits to the doctor in the event of atypical impairments and pain. More extensive preventive examinations are advisable if familial clusters of tumors have been shown.

Regular exercise of physical activity is also described as prophylactically effective against a tumor. In addition, exercise and staying in the fresh air strengthens the immune system, which can be achieved through a healthy diet.

Aftercare

The actual cancer treatment is followed by aftercare. The patients are cared for individually. Tumor follow-up care is an important part of cancer therapy. One of the most important goals of tumor follow-up care is the timely detection of a new tumor or metastases (daughter tumors) in other parts of the body.

With an early diagnosis, appropriate treatment measures can be initiated immediately before symptoms set in. The patient's quality of life also plays an important role in cancer follow-up care. It is important to clarify what consequences the disease or its therapy has on the everyday life of the person concerned. The therapists also support the patients in coping with the serious illness.

If necessary, they can establish contact with various contact persons. These include psycho-oncologists, cancer counseling, nutritionists, social agencies, self-help groups and sports groups. The doctor also creates an individual aftercare plan based on the type, extent and treatment of the tumor.

It is not uncommon for there to be a smooth transition between tumor therapy, follow-up and follow-up care. The duration of the follow-up treatment depends on how long the patient has been suffering from the effects of the tumor disease and when the risk of relapse has decreased. Usually five years are estimated for this.

In addition to the type of tumor, the side effects and long-term effects of illness and treatment as well as the individual course of the cancer are important for follow-up care.

You can do that yourself

Which measures can be taken in the tumor treatment itself depends on the type of tumor and the patient's state of health, as well as the therapy chosen.

For classic tumors, which are usually removed surgically, rest and bed rest after the procedure. If necessary, the patient has to change his diet and support the body through sport and physiotherapy. It is also important to get a lot of sleep and to take the prescribed medication regularly. In addition, the doctor should be consulted regularly so that the course of the disease can be monitored. Due to the relatively high risk of a relapse, attention must also be paid to any warning signs on the body.

After chemotherapy, the body is usually very weak and also needs rest. At the same time, there are sometimes psychological complaints that need to be treated in conversation with a therapist. Anxiety disorders or depression can develop, especially with long illnesses, which can be treated with the help of a specialist and, if necessary, drug therapy. In the case of a tumor disease, patients should always adhere to the treatment plan recommended by the doctor.