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Understanding Cancer
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up
tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new
cells as the body needs them. When
cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need
them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Not
all tumors are cancer.
Tumors can be benign or
malignant:
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Glossary Terms
benign (beh-NINE)
Not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.
lymphatic system (lim-FA-tik SIS-tem)
The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infections and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels (a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells). Lymphatic vessels branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body.
malignant (muh-LIG-nunt)
Cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
metastasis (meh-TAS-tuh-sis)
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a “metastatic tumor” or a “metastasis.” The metastatic tumor contains cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor. The plural form of metastasis is metastases (meh-TAS-tuh-SEEZ).
primary tumor
The original tumor.
tumor (TOO-mer)
An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.
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