What is the difference between a benign and malignant tumour?

Benign tumors aren’t cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant tumors are cancerous and are made up of cells that grow out of control. Cells in these tumours can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Sometimes cells move away from the original (primary) cancer site and spread to other organs and bones where they can continue to grow and form another tumour at that site. This is known as metastasis or secondary cancer. Metastases keep the name of the original cancer location. e.g. pancreatic cancer that has spread to the liver is still called pancreatic cancer.

They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells inbenign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors arecancerous and are made up of cells that grow out of control. Cells in these tumourscan invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.