Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Oncology

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Oncology 1. Benign vs. Malignant One of the fundamental distinctions in oncology is between benign and malignant. While both refer to abnormal growths, benign tumors are non-cancerous and tend to grow slowly. On the other hand, malignant tumors are cancerous and have the potential to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. 2. Metastasis vs. Migration Metastasis and migration are often used interchangeably, but they have different implications. Metastasis specifically refers to the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body. Migration, on the other hand, is a broader term that can refer to the movement of cells, including cancer cells, within an organ or tissue. 3. Remission vs. Cure When discussing cancer, remission and cure are two terms that can be easily confused. Remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer have reduced or disappeared, but it doesn't guarantee a permanent cure. Cure, on the other hand, implies the complete eradication of cancer from the body. 4. Palliative vs. Curative Palliative and curative are two approaches to cancer treatment. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life, especially in advanced stages of cancer. Curative treatment, on the other hand, aims to eliminate the cancer completely. 5. Carcinoma vs. Sarcoma