Cancer: Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body.

Q: How do I revise Cancer: Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body. for GCSE?

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Q: Is this Cancer: Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body. guide aligned to the AQA specification?

Yes. This guide is linked to the Cancer: Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body. topic in the AQA GCSE specification.

A benign tumour is a localised growth of abnormal cells.

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

A benign tumour is a localised growth of abnormal cells. Cell division has gone wrong, so cells multiply when they should not, but the mass stays in one place. It is usually enclosed by a membrane, which helps keep it contained. Because it does not invade neighbouring tissues, it cannot travel in the blood to start new growths elsewhere. A common example is a mole or a fatty lump under the skin; these are usually harmless, though a benign tumour in the brain can still cause problems by pressing on tissue. The key idea is containment: one area, usually a membrane, no invasion.

What earns the marks

Benign tumours form when cell division is uncontrolled, producing a mass of abnormal cells.
The growth remains contained in one area and is usually enclosed within a membrane.
Benign tumour cells do not invade neighbouring tissues.
Because they do not spread in the blood, benign tumours do not form secondary tumours elsewhere in the body.
Benign tumours may still cause harm by pressing on nearby organs or tissues, even though they do not invade.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Saying benign tumours are harmless in every case.
Put it right: They do not invade or spread, but pressure on nearby tissue can still cause problems.
Confusing benign with malignant by stating that benign tumours spread in the blood.
Put it right: Benign tumours stay in one area and do not form secondary tumours.
Describing benign tumours as normal cells.
Put it right: They are growths of abnormal cells, even though they remain contained.

Exam tips

Use the phrase 'contained in one area' and mention the membrane when describing a benign tumour.
Contrast benign and malignant directly: contained and non-invasive versus invasive and spreading.
If asked to explain why a benign tumour is not cancer, state that it does not invade neighbouring tissues or spread in the blood.

Try the lesson

The start of the Cancer: Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

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