Benign tumors remain local and cannot spread, while malignant tumors can distribute cancer cells to other parts of the body, making them more dangerous. Metastasis only occurs with malignant tumors. Both types can be serious, and treatment differs, with benign tumors usually treated with surgical removal and malignant tumors requiring more extensive treatment, often including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these.
Benign tumors and malignant tumors differ in how they grow, the risk they pose to people, and the treatments they require. All cancers represent the growth of abnormal cells. Benign types remain local and cannot spread to other areas, while malignant types can distribute cancer cells to other parts of the body. In general, malignant growths pose a much higher health risk, due to their ability to spread. Whenever possible, benign tumors should be treated with surgical removal, but malignant growths require more extensive treatment, often including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these.
Arguably the most important differentiation between benign and malignant tumors is metastasis. This is the ability of cancer cells from one place to move and invade a different place. As they move around, these cells corrupt and convert the body’s normal cells into cancer cells. Metastasis occurs only with malignant tumors. Benign growths can grow large, but they can’t invade other structures in the body and make them cancerous.
Malignant tumors are inherently more dangerous due to their tendency to damage all other structures in the body. They could spread toxic cells to your organs, bones, or even your bloodstream. When these tumors metastasize, other tissues in the body are changed and corrupted. Cancer staging is usually based on the extent of this spread, and the disease looks worse when a malignant tumor is accompanied by cancer cell invasion of organs or other major body systems.
It is not accurate to conclude that benign tumors and malignant tumors can be classified as safe and dangerous, respectively. Benign growths can still be medically serious because they can press on various parts of the body and create discomfort or dysfunction. A noncancerous brain tumor could make it impossible for the brain to function properly, and large growths around the heart, in the uterus, or in the gastrointestinal tract all pose a risk. Whenever possible, they should be removed.
There is usually a substantial difference in how benign and malignant tumors are treated. Surgical removal of an entire benign growth usually means it won’t come back. If the tumor is only partially removed, it can grow back in the same location.
With malignant tumors, surgery alone is not enough and regrowth is very likely unless further steps are taken. Doctors may use chemotherapy, radiation, or both along with surgery to try and kill the cancer completely. How well it works tends to depend on how aggressive the type of tumor is and the stage at which the cancer is discovered.
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