Lesion or tumor

[mariak]

Is there a difference between a lesion and a tumor? I am currently being treated for two, 2cm lesions that have gotten smaller since I started Doxil but I'm wondering why they can't be removed. When I get my internal exams the dr. always says everything feels very soft and is very hapyy with that, so what are these lesions?

[coogeegirl]

A lesion and a tumour are basically the same thing (as ireneo said in the post above), the terminology is different because as lesion is anything under 3 cm if I remember correctly once it gets bigger than that it is termed tumour.

[ireneo]

According to the dictionary a tumor is "a mass of abnormal tissue that resembles normal tissues in structure, but which fulfills no useful function."  A lesion is a "pathological change in a bodily tissue." (Concise Medical Dictionary). Sounds pretty similar to me. When I use the terms at work I use lesion when it's a flat area of damage and tumor when it's more of a bump/lump. Not sure if that's accurate but that's what I think of.