Tumor Cancer

A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells that serves no purpose. A benign tumor is not a malignant tumor, which is cancer. It does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body the way cancer can. In most cases, the outlook with benign tumors is very good. But benign tumors can be serious if they press on vital structures such as blood vessels or nerves. Therefore, sometimes they require treatment and other times they do not.

Causes of Benign Tumors

What causes a benign tumor to form? Often the cause is unknown. But the growth of a benign tumor might be linked to:

• Environmental toxins, such as exposure to radiation
• Genetics
• Diet
• Stress
• Local trauma or injury
• Inflammation or infection

Some Common Types of Benign Tumors

There are many different types of benign tumors arising from different structures in the body. These are some of the most common types of benign tumors:

Adenomas are benign tumors starting in the epithelial tissue of a gland or gland-like structure. The epithelial tissue is the thin layer of tissue covering organs, glands, and other structures. A common type of adenoma is a polyp in the colon. Adenomas might also grow in the liver or the adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid gland.

If needed, adenomas can often be removed with surgery. Although not common, this type of tumor can become malignant. In the colon, less than 1 out of every 10 adenomas become cancerous.

Fibromas (or fibroids) are tumors of fibrous or connective tissue that can grow in any organ. Fibroids commonly grow in the uterus. Although not cancerous, uterine fibroids can lead to heavy vaginal bleeding, bladderproblems, or pelvic pain or pressure.

Another type of fibrous tissue tumor is a desmoid tumor. These tumors can cause problems by growing into nearby tissues.

Because they can cause symptoms, fibrous tissue tumors may need to be removed with surgery.

• Hemangiomas are a buildup of blood vessel cells in the skin or internal organs. Hemangiomas are a common type of birthmark, often occurring in the head, neck, or trunk. They may appear red or bluish in color. Most go away on their own. Those that interfere with vision, hearing, or eating may require treatment with corticosteroids or other medication.
• Lipomas grow from fat cells. They are the most common benign tumor in adults, often found in the neck, shoulders, back, or arms. Lipomas are slow growing, usually round and movable, and soft to the touch. They may run in families and sometimes they result from an injury. Treatment may be needed if a lipoma is painful or growing quickly. This may include steroid shots or removal through liposuction or surgery.

Two other types of benign fat tumors are lipoblastomas, which occur in young children, and hibernomas.

• Meningiomas are tumors that develop from the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. About nine in 10 are benign. Many grow slowly. Others grow more quickly. Treatment varies depending on the location of the meningioma and the symptoms it causes. Symptoms may include headacheand weakness on one side, seizures, personality changes, and visual problems.

Sometimes the doctor will choose to watch the tumor for a time. If surgery is needed, its success depends on your age, the location of the tumor, and whether it is attached to anything. Radiation treatment may be used for tumors that can't be removed.

• Myomas are tumors that grow from muscle. Leiomyomas grow from smooth muscle, which is found in internal organs such as the stomach and uterus. They can start in the walls of blood vessels. In the wall of the uterus, leiomyomas are often called fibroids. A rare benign tumor of skeletal muscle is rhabdomyoma. These tumors may be simply watched. To address symptoms, they may be shrunk with medication or removed with surgery.

中医与恶性肿瘤

恶性肿瘤是一种细胞的异常增生，这种异常增生除了表现为肿瘤本身的持续生长外，还表现为对邻近正常组织的侵犯和经血管，淋巴管和体腔转移到身体其他部位，这种转移往往是肿瘤致死的原因。

中医能治恶性肿瘤吗？

恶性肿瘤的最佳治疗方案为中西医结合治疗。在被诊断为恶性肿瘤后，患者应积极采取适当西医治疗，包括手术、放化疗等，在整个过程中，配合中医药治疗，以达到最佳疗效。恶性肿瘤最好早发现，早治疗。所以，早期筛查很重要，高危人群应定期体检，预防胜于治疗。

中医药治疗恶性肿瘤的优势是什么？

中医在治疗恶性肿瘤方面扮演重要角色。

在癌前病变时期，中医药起到控制、预防、及逆转癌前病变的作用。

患者在手术和放化疗时期，中医药能够帮助患者提高自身免疫力以抗癌，减少西医治疗的副作用，并可提高西医治疗的疗效，我们称为“增效减毒”。

在患者完成所有西医治疗后，患者存在肿瘤复发转移的风险，这是正是中医药发挥作用的时候，中医药在抗癌的同时，增强患者自身免疫力，降低复发转移的几率。

对于中晚期已无法治愈的患者，中医药提高患者的生活质量，缓解癌痛，在生理与心理上给予支持，减少痛苦，帮助患者“带瘤生存”，“与癌共生”。