Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : June 11, 2014 3:51 PM IST
As you wait patiently for the doctor to tell you and your loved ones about your illness, hoping against hope that everything is alright, the doctor speaks, but you don't understand a single word! Packed with medical mumbo-jumbo doctors usually speak a language that nobody but their own peers can understand. A patient is usually left absolutelyblank after a consultation, and walks out with the blind belief that the doctor knows what he is talking about. We at Health.india.com are going to attempt to explain one term at a time, so that your next visit to the doctor is much smoother. Last week we explained what the term 'convalescence' and 'prognosis' means, this week are are going to talk about the word 'benign'.
The word 'Benign', is most often heard in cases where the patient is diagnosed with cancer. 'Benign' refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is non cancerous in nature. This means that it is usually confined to one organ and does not spread to other organs in the body. It is usually considered as good news in the case of cancer patients as it does not change or destroy neighboring tissue.Sometimes, this condition may also be considered not to be a very serious or dangerous condition.
Specifically in the case of tumors, a benign tumor grows slowly and is not harmful. They are the result of the overproduction of a particular kind of cell. While this might be true, it is best not to ignore the condition as there are always exceptions. In some cases a benign tumour might be found near a blood vessel, in the brain, near a nerve or an organ. When this happens it might affect the functioning of that organ causing problems.
A benign tumor may be formed because of the following factors:
Whatever the reason for a benign condition it is important to get it checked by your doctor, for further evaluation and a good treatment plan
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
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