Finding and Surviving Ovarian Cancer

Malignant Tumors

Why is a malignant tumor so dangerous?

Cells from a malignant tumor can break away from the original tumor and move to other parts of the body. There they begin to grow into other tumors. The more tumors there are in the body, the harder it is for the body's normal cells to function.

Eventually there aren't enough normal cells to keep the body functioning properly. This process is called metastasis. There are two ways malignant tumors can spread. Cells can break away from the original tumor, or the tumor itself can grow larger.

When this process of tumor cells spreading has already occurred, it is called metastatic cancer.