What Are the Symptoms of Malignant Tumors?

Malignant tumors are diverse in type and can grow in various locations. However, they share several common characteristics, including unclear boundaries, rapid growth, and a tendency to spread, which can ultimately lead to patient death. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the primary methods used to control the progression of these tumors. Symptoms of malignant tumors can be observed using medical techniques such as CT scans and ultrasound, and it's important to note that there is a significant difference between malignant and benign tumors.

Here are some of the key symptoms and manifestations of malignant tumors:

1. Local Manifestations: Tumors can be palpable on the surface of the body or deeper within tissues. Swelling may also be observed in organs such as the liver, thyroid, or lymph nodes. Malignant tumors tend to grow quickly, have irregular surfaces, and are difficult to move.

2. Compression: Tumors can compress surrounding structures, leading to various symptoms. For example, intracranial tumors can compress brain tissue, increasing intracranial pressure and causing headaches, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Thyroid tumors can compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve, resulting in hoarseness. Compression of the trachea or esophagus can lead to respiratory or swallowing difficulties. Compression of the superior vena cava by mediastinal tumors can cause head and neck swelling, shortness of breath, and superficial venous dilation.

3. Obstruction: Obstructive symptoms often occur in hollow organs. For instance, bronchial tumors can cause respiratory difficulty, esophageal tumors can lead to swallowing difficulties, and tumors in the large and small intestines can cause intestinal obstruction. Tumors in the bile duct or pancreatic head can cause jaundice.

4. Pain: The causes of pain associated with tumors vary, leading to differences in the timing and nature of the pain. Some tumors, particularly those that originate from nerves or grow rapidly, such as osteosarcomas, may cause early pain. In contrast, pain associated with late-stage tumors may arise due to tension on the capsule, organ rupture, tumor metastasis, or compression of nerves, and may manifest later in the disease process. Tumor-related pain often starts as dull or aching and becomes more severe over time, often accompanied by tenderness in the affected area.

5. Ulceration: Ulcers, which are formed by the necrosis of tumor tissue, can have a crater-like or cauliflower-like appearance. They may or may not be painful and can sometimes have a foul-smelling, bloody discharge due to infection. This can be accompanied by pain in the ulcerated area.

6. Bleeding: Bleeding can occur when a tumor ruptures or invades a blood vessel. If the tumor is located on the surface of the body, bleeding may be visible. Internal bleeding can manifest as bloody sputum, mucus-filled blood in the stool, or bloody discharge. Heavy bleeding can manifest as coughing up blood, vomiting blood, or rectal bleeding, and may be persistent.

7. Systemic Symptoms: Fatigue and weight loss are common due to the rapid growth of the tumor, which consumes a large amount of energy, combined with decreased appetite and poor absorption in patients. Fever can occur due to insufficient blood supply to the tumor, resulting in necrosis or infection.

8. System Dysfunction: Tumor tissue can cause dysfunction in the organs and systems where they are located. For example, intracranial tumors can cause not only headaches but also visual impairments, facial paralysis, and hemiplegia. Liver cancer, besides causing liver enlargement or pain in the liver area, can also lead to loss of appetite and gastrointestinal dysfunction such as bloating. Functional endocrine tumors, such as islet cell tumors, pheochromocytomas, and parathyroid tumors, can cause corresponding endocrine abnormalities.

It's important to note that not all of these symptoms may manifest in a single patient, and the timing and severity of symptoms can vary from person to person.