Our bodies contain many things that may or may not be useful for us. We have our different body systems which help maintain our internal bodily functions, and we also have the external organs like our hands and parts of our face. This constitutes to a variety of things and purposes. However, there are also parts of our body that we never actually pay attention too because they seem stagnant and does not have a purpose. Say for example the freckles littered in our body. We also have what we call moles scattered around the human skin. These moles are also known as benign melanoma. It’s the scientific term for moles which are a group of clustered pigment cells commonly called as melanocytes. These moles come in different size and color. For some people, these moles are black, brown or even pink. It would depend on the skin type. The sizes range from a tiny head of the pin to the scale of the fingertip, for some people, these moles are bigger.
Many people tend to get nervous when they hear the term benign melanoma, mistaking it to an acute disease or cancer. But it is not the case; this term is just another word for mole. However, there are times that these moles would create bigger problems that must be addressed. It is also a fact that benign is a term used for stagnant conditions and is not in anyway close to the definition of malignant.
What is the Difference: Benign and Malignant Tumors?
It could not be denied that many people confuse the term benign into something more severe than its original definition. It is imperative that we become aware of the difference between the words benign and malignant. Self-diagnoses is frowned upon because it would only create panic and hysteria about something that is not even confirmed by a professional in the first place.
- Non-cancerous
The word benign is also synonymous to non-cancerous. The enormous difference of it to malignant is its inability to spread to the other parts of your body. Say for example the benign melanoma, it is a clustered pigment cell that would form into a mark in your body but at one point it would stop from growing. It will become stagnant and inactive. It will not affect any tissue near it nor would it spread to other regions of your body.
The only threat for a benign melanoma or anything benign would be the actual location of it. If the site of it places a risk on primary nerves or a major artery, a problem may arise and should be addressed. But if you feel uncomfortable with having a benign tumor then you can always ask for surgery for it to be removed. It would not be hard to get approval as long as the location does not hit any major organs or tissues.
- Cancerous
Malignant tumors are much more severe cases that should be taken care of as early as possible. These type of tumors are the opposite of a benign condition. The cells formed in the body has an abnormal count that is harmful to the affected region. However, it also can spread and affect other tissues and may cause the health of a person to decline rapidly.
When these tumors are detected, and a person has diagnosed already, treatment is needed to control the abnormal growth of these malignant cells.
Prevention:
There are some ways to prevent the development of a benign melanoma to a malignant tumor. It is essential to know these to avoid further complications.
- Protect your skin
If you have sensitive skin and a lot of moles, it may be best to do preventive measures like the daily application of sunblock to prevent yourself from burning and irritating your tiny marks. It is important not always to expose yourself to the sun too much. It’s essential but very helpful.
- Avoid scratching and clawing your moles
It is never advised to force them out of your skin. Do not perform any procedures on your own like clipping it. If you would want to have it remove, surgery is the best thing to do.
- Consult your doctor
It is always imperative to ask your doctor. These professionals can help you identify the correct steps to do. They can always give you recommendations on things to improve your mole’s sensitivity and provide next steps for it to not develop into something more dangerous. The doctor can also provide you a peace of mind since their professional opinion would be able to tell if it’s benign or malignant.
Most of these moles are harmless and should not pose any threat to you. But as responsible human beings, we have to make sure that we take care of ourselves and perform preventive measures to maintain our healthy lifestyle.
