From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2004-07-06 18:54:10 UTC
Subject: What is NOT cancer: Golden Oldie Time
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <DDC64475-CF7D-11D8-B999-000A95CD182C@mac.com>
Re: use of the word "cancer" and confusing tumors or neoplasia with
malignancies:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG6502
----
Please, forgive me for using this shortcut but I am btwn fevers with a
bit of virus and these resources just get it across better than I could
now. Remember that most adrenal tumors are benign (but still need to
be corrected due to impacts on quality and quantitiy of life,
life-threatening complications, etc.
----
Dr. Williams wrote:
> The terminology of neoplasms can be confusing,
> and I'm sure even vets can be confused from time to time.
>
> The proper term for what you are talking about is neoplasm (or
> literally "new growth). For one reason or another, a clone of cells
> begins to grow uninhibited by normal substances or mechanisms. The
> word "tumor" may be technically correct, but it is actually non-
> specific - tumor is Latin for a swelling, but it could also be an
> abscess, or anything else that causes swelling - so I try to stay
> away from it.
>
> Now this neoplasm may be benign - without the ability for cells to
> detach into the bloodstream or lymph, move to another tissue, and set
> up shop - or malignant (where they can do this.) The process of
> microscopic piece of a tumor moving to another organ is called
> metastasis.
>
> Metastasis is the hallmark of malignancy. The worst tumors have the
> propensity to go anywhere and start growing (like lymphoma).
> However, we can recognize malignant tumors even before they
> metastasize, often by characteristic features seen under the
> microscope.
>
> Adrenal carcinomas (malignant adrenal tumors) are interesting
> neoplasms. Although they possess the ability to metastasize, only a
> small number do, and usually only late in the course of disease. It
> is likely that they do metastasize a lot, but have trouble gaining a
> foothold in distant tissues, so it takes a long time and many
> attempts if they ever truly metastasize.
>
> Insulinomas are generally not malignant tumors as they only very
> rarely metastasize. The presence of multiple tumors in the same
> organ over time is not metastasis. We do not understand the
> mechanism behind the generation of these tumors, and when we do
> surgery to remove them, we really are only treating the end point of
> this process, without address the cause. Thus it is really no
> surprise that the rate of recurrence is about 40% within 10 months.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce Williams, DVM
>
>
>
If the terminology is still confusing, please see the attached
veterinary medical definitions in:
http://listserv.cuny.edu/Scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0401&L=ferret-
search&P=R12970
and also in the FHL Archives
I didn't get any corrections from vets to the notes below any of the
time these have been posted so I guess they serve well enough.
> Treat this as an supporting document to Bruce William's excellent post
> above taken from FHL digest 348. I especially liked his providing the
> direct translation of "tumor" as "swelling", and his explanation that
> not all growths which can metastasize do so readily.
>
> These definitions are combined ones from medical, veterinary, and
> biology
> dictionaries, but emphases are mine and i am willing to be corrected
> if I
> blew it...
>
> Important Note: some more recent dictionaries don't even include the
> term
> cancer, and I have heard vets who won't use it due to the widespread
> confusion out there, and even some vets who won't use "tumor' due to
> too
> many assuming that any tumor is malignant.
>
> Tumor: ANY abnormal mass resulting from the excessive multiplication
> of cells; a swelling, especially that resulting from the growth of new
> tissue; a neoplasm
>
> cancer: Any MALIGNANT TUMOR; carcinoma; a carcinoma or sarcoma
>
> malignant: pertaining to or denoting progressive growth of CERTAIN
> tumors
> which if not checked by treatment spread to DISTANT sites, terminating
> in
> death; a tendency to progress in virulence, cancer is the best known
> example
>
> benign: not malignant, as in CERTAIN TUMORS; not recurrent, favorable
> for
> recovery
>
> neoplasm: a tumor; ANY new growth, specifically one in which cell
> multiplication is uncontrolled and progressive, neoplasms may be benign
> or malignant
>
> (Subsets from Saunders:
>
> neoplasm, benign: a neoplasm having none of the characteristics of a
> malignant neoplasm (see below), i.e.it grows SLOWLY, expands WITHOUT
> METASTASIS, and USUALLY does not reoccur [See the notes of Dr. Bruce
> Williams above in relation to why LOCAL reoccurance is NOT metastasis.]
>
> neoplasm, malignant: a neoplasm with the characteristics of anaplasia,
> invasiveness and metastasis
>
> There are several other subsets of neoplasia in this dictionary.
>
> metastasis: the transfer or disease from one organ or part to another
> NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH IT
>
> anaplasia: loss of differentiation of cells
>
> Those who have the _Saunder's Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary_ will
> find that this resource often provides details beyond these bare-bones
> descriptions, (though certainly there also will be nuances in practise
> that those of us who are not medical professionals simply won't
> understand). It is a marvelous resource; I love it. If I had a rating
> for refs around here it would be among the best buys. It's better than
> any of my other medical dictionaries, even for sorting through things
> too
> technical for me in the _PDR_ books on herbs and on supplements that i
> have at home. Marvelous book: clearly written and very inclusive; more
> than worth what it cost.
> [Posted in FML issue 4392]