my brother has had a benign brain tumor for all his life and now it has grown. how can that happen and what does benign mean?
2007-01-05 09:23:52 · 14 answers · asked by PJ 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Benign can refer to any medical condition or anatomical malformation which, untreated or with symptomatic therapy, will not become life-threatening. It is used in particular in relation to tumors, which may be benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not invade surrounding tissues and do not metastasize to other parts of the body. The word is slightly imprecise, as some benign tumors can, due to mass effect, cause life-threatening complications. The term therefore applies mainly to their biological behaviour.
Tumors may be benign but at risk for degeneration into malignancy. These are termed "premalignant".
2007-01-05 09:30:25 · answer #1 · answered by ograndetyler 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You already got the definition of benign so I'll add this: even benign tumors can interfere with function. There may become a time that your brother will need to have his tumor removed, if it's in an operable location. In the meantime, it will be monitored.
2007-01-05 17:28:12 · answer #2 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
benign means that it is non-cancerous. Non-life threatening. If it has grown or changed at all it could mean several things. The best thing to do is not panic, and get to the Dr. soon! Good luck!
2007-01-05 17:32:09 · answer #3 · answered by stephanieann31882 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It basically means the tumor is non-life threatening and is not spreading to other parts of the body. I'm sure his physician will want to keep an eye on it to make sure nothing drastic changes. Some brain tumors are operable and others are not. The risks of removing this tumor may far outweigh the risk of it just remaining as it is. However he should consult his physician for answers to his questions for the MD will know much more about this than myself or others here in this forum.
2007-01-05 17:31:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Benign means non-cancerous, no cancer. Tumors can grow at any time, and only need to be removed if they start interfering with something.
2007-01-05 17:26:09 · answer #5 · answered by Icefire 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
benign=non cancerous
malignant=cancerous
2007-01-05 17:32:19 · answer #6 · answered by kath 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Benign means it is noncancerous. Malignant means it is cancerous.
2007-01-05 17:25:43 · answer #7 · answered by lalalola775 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
benign means it is not cancerous.
2007-01-05 17:26:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that it is not cancer. I have a friend that has one, and she's doing fine. He should go to the doctors, or a different one. There are medications to help them shrink.
2007-01-05 17:26:59 · answer #9 · answered by pebbles 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means it does not appear to have any cancerous cells present within it.
2007-01-05 17:31:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anna Hennings 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋