Tumor
Tumor literally means "swelling" or "growth". Many people associate the word tumor with
cancer as if they are one and the same thing. This is not true. Tumors may be non-cancerous, or
benign. They can also be cancerous, or
malignant. In either case, a tumor is made up of an abnormal growth of tissue. Benign tumors generally do not come back if removed, nor do they spread to other parts of the body. Certain benign tumors should be monitored however, because some tumors can turn cancerous. Malignant tumors on the other hand are more opt to return when they are removed. They can also spread through the body by metastasizing.
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There are a lot of different types of tumors, and they can grow anywhere in the body. Some are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, others can be felt. Other tumors are too small to be seen, or are located deep within the body and can only be found with medical equipment. One method for finding certain small, otherwise invisible tumors is to do a blood test for tumor markers. These markers are substances the body makes when tumors are present. Some of the markers are made by the tumor itself, others are made by healthy tissue when a tumor is present (2). The presence of markers by itself does not guarantee the presence of a tumor, but it helps in the
diagnosis. Not all tumors are able to be detected with tumor markers.
Inhalation of asbestos over time can cause malignant tumors in the lungs. People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos over a prolonged period of time have an even greater chance of developing lung cancer, or a more rare type of cancer called mesothelioma (1). Mesothelioma is almost never seen in a person who has not been exposed to asbestos. Other types of cancer associated with asbestos exposure are gastrointestinal, esophageal, stomach, and intestines.