What is the difference between benign and malignant tumour?
A tumor, is an abnormal mass of solid tissues which forms when cells divide too rapidly, or fail to die through programmed cell death (apoptosis). Tumors vary in sizes and will cause swelling or lump as they grow bigger. A tumor can be classified as benign or malignant. A benign tumor is non-cancerous, does spread to other body parts, can be completely removed, it’s not likely to recur and it’s not life threatening. A malignant tumor however is cancerous, can invade other body parts, if removed it can still return and it poses a life threatening condition. Unlike most malignant tumors, blood cancers such as leukemia does not usually take a solid form. Also, benign tumors can become cancerous if left untreated. Read more
How do we call someone who treats or deal with cancer patients?
He or she is called an oncologist.
What is genetic counseling?
Cancer is not inherited but you can be genetically predisposed to cancer from birth. By genetic predisposition, we mean you have a certain genetic makeup/feature/characteristic that can increase your risk of having cancer. Genetic counseling will help you determine your genetic risk of having cancer and advice on what to do.
What is the difference between a primary and a secondary tumour?
A primary tumour is cancer that is still localized at its primary site (the site where it started). Cancer that has moved away from its primary site to other parts of the body is called a metastasis or a secondary tumour
What is the difference between a radiation oncologist and a radiation therapist?
A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in using radiation therapy to treat cancer. He or she orders treatment by radiotherapy develops the treatment plan and oversees the treatment. A radiation therapist on the order hand is not a doctor but rather a highly trained healthcare professional that setup and operates radiation machines and delivers your daily treatment as prescribed by the radiation oncologist.
What is the difference between a radiographer and a radiologist?
A radiographer is a healthcare professional that set up and performs diagnostic imaging tests such as CT-scans and MRIs. A radiologist is a doctor specialized in interpreting imaging scans performed by a radiographer. Interpretation of such scans helps in diagnosis of a disease or injury.
