Does Unhealthy Lifestyle Cause Tumours And Cancers? Expert Weighs In

Not all tumours turn into cancer, but when they do, they can be a serious threat to the patient’s life. Dr. Sonal Gupta, senior director and HoD of neurosurgery at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, explained how tumours and cancer can affect one’s lifestyle.

In an interview with First Post, Dr Gupta explained the difference between a tumour and cancer. She explained that a tumour is a solid mass of tissue that develops through the abnormal growth of cells. On the other hand, cancer is a term for tumours that invade surrounding tissues. These tumours can grow rapidly with time and can spread to other parts of the body too.

She also explained that some of the most common symptoms to identify tumours include losing weight without trying, headaches, or changes in vision or movement. Healthcare professionals can identify the development of tumours in the brain through CT scans and MRIs.

Dr Gupta also explained tumours that can turn into cancerous cells. She added, “Most of the tumours that are benign or noncancerous remain benign. Some tumours, over time, can turn cancerous. So, timely diagnosis and treatment of tumours is necessary.”

Explaining the impact of lifestyle, Dr Gupta revealed that unhealthy lifestyles like poor diets, lack of exercise, and exposure to pollutants can increase the chances of cancer. She also added that “At the same time, advancements in technology mean that more tumours are being detected early. Microscopy brain surgery techniques allow for the removal of tumours with minimal impact on healthy tissues, thus maintaining good brain health.”