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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BENIGN TUMOR AND MALIGNANT TUMOR
Malignant tumors are spread by metastasis and invasion while benign tumors cannot be spread by either metastasis or invasion. Metastasis (also called metastatic disease or mets) is the ability of cancerous cells to spill, leak or break away from their site of origin (pancreas, prostate, kidney, breast, lung or colon), or primary tumor, and enter the blood and lymphatic vessels. These cancerous cells are deposited within healthy tissues of the body, where they multiply and grow--affecting vital organs. Most malignant cancers are capable of metastasizing.

Benign tumors are significantly less dangerous than malignant tumors. For instance, melanoma is a type of malignant cancer that is born in the skin and spreads through the bloodstream to other organs, such as the brain or the liver. Benign tumors by themselves are not life threatening, but may result in complications if they press on vital body organs, such as the brain.


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