Most of us are familiar with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous line in the 1990 comedy Kindergarten Cop. In reality, tumors are no laughing matter. They can be downright deadly in some cases. But before you dive headfirst into a state of panic, it’s important to know the facts.
A tumor is a swelling in the body, generally without inflammation, caused by abnormal tissue growth. The good news is that most tumors are benign, including those found in the breast. While this means it’s likely you don’t have cancer, it’s important to be proactive and follow up on anything suspicious. A trip to the doctor is in order for further exploration and diagnosis.
Probably Not a Tumor
Is it or isn’t it? One of the first steps is determining if you even have a tumor. Another reason not to worry unnecessarily, prior to seeking medical help, is that you may be confusing an abnormality in your body with a tumor when it is really something else.
For example, what you self-diagnose as a tumor may be a cyst, a fluid-filled sac that feels like a soft grape. Commonly found in the breasts, a cyst may wax and wane, according to a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. But if it lasts more than a month, consult a doctor for an ultrasound or fine-needle aspiration.
A cyst found in the genital area may be the result of a blocked oil duct. Or a cyst may arise from inflamed joints or tendons as a result of injury or degeneration or a metabolic condition like high blood fat levels (hyperlipidemia) that can causes masses resembling tumors.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an infection or abscess may be the most common cause behind a mass mistaken as a tumor.
It is easy to assume the worst when you feel something in your body that wasn’t there yesterday. What you think is a tumor in the lower half of the neck may be thyroid nodules. If diagnosed by a doctor as benign, monitoring of the nodules may be recommended. If more symptoms are present, they may be treated with medication or radioactive iodine.
Or you may wrongly confuse swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, neck or genital area with tumors. Swollen lymph nodes are usually the result of a bacterial or viral infection that resolves itself in a few weeks. However, if the situation persists, seek medical help.
According to the website for Johns Hopkins Medicine, benign tumors are non-malignant and non-cancerous. They are usually localized and don’t spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous, often resistant to treatment and may spread to other parts of the body. Even after being removed surgically, they sometimes recur.
Symptoms of a Tumor
Symptoms change depending on where the tumor is located, as cited by Healthline.com. Possible symptoms of a benign tumor include chills, discomfort, fatigue, fever, appetite loss, night sweats, weight loss and other symptoms not explained by other conditions.
A benign brain tumor may be indicated by headaches, seizures (involuntary changes in behavior, muscle control, consciousness and/or sensation), nausea and vomiting, vision or hearing problems, weakness in the arms, legs or face muscles, strange sensations in the head or hands, and behavioral and cognitive problems. These were the symptoms mentioned most frequently in a survey of 1,400 brain tumor patients, based on a website devoted to clinical trials.
But Gene Barnett, director of the Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center which treats adults at Cleveland Clinic, tells CNN that 50 to 60 percent of all people with brain tumors experienced no headaches.
If an undiagnosed lump is hard and immovable, if a bump in the breast or genital area lasts longer than a few weeks, or if the suspected tumor grows rapidly, do not hesitate to seek medical attention, advises Self.com.
Back pain may or may not indicate the presence of a tumor. But make a medical appointment to find out what is going on if your back pain is severe with direct manipulation or compression, the pain is not alleviated with rest, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as appetite loss, weight loss, nausea, vomiting or fever, chills and shakes. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website states that tumors can develop in the vertebrae, nerves and other tissue throughout the spine.
Diagnostic Procedures
A doctor can diagnose a suspected tumor as benign or malignant. This requires laboratory tests following a physical exam, interview and medical history. The tests may include an ultrasound to see if the mass is solid or liquid, computer tomography, or CT scan, which uses a series of X-rays from different angles, an X-ray (though disallowed for pregnant women) and magnetic resonance imaging, which employs high-powered magnets to create detailed images of the body’s soft tissue. After a review of the laboratory tests, the doctor often orders a biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue. Microscopic examination of the tissue determines the diagnosis.
Another area of the body where tumors can occur is the heart, according to the Merck Manual. The patient may have no symptoms, minor symptoms or life-threatening symptoms. Don’t hesitate if you suspect you have a heart tumor because it may degenerate, causing pieces to break off and travel through the bloodstream, becoming emboli. They can lodge in the small arteries and impede blood flow. If one is suspected, an echocardiogram and other ultrasound procedures are recommended.
For many benign tumors, especially those that are small and asymptomatic, a doctor may recommend taking a wait-and-see approach. Treatment may depend on the tumor’s location. If on the face or neck, it may be removed for cosmetic reasons. Or if the tumor has an effect on the organs, nerves or blood vessels, its removal may be necessary in order to prevent further problems. If a tumor cannot be removed safely with surgery, radiation therapy may be recommended to reduce the tumor’s size and prevent it from growing bigger.
Schwarzenegger may or may not have been right. Regardless, if you’re concerned that you may have a tumor, leave it to the experts to find out. Consult your physician.