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Did I Hear You Say There's a "Mass"?
Earlier this week I received a worrisome inquiry on the WebMD Eye & Vision Disorder message board. A woman expressed grave concern because her ophthalmologist informed her that she had a mass - a retro-orbital mass.
Don't let words frighten you.
The best way to defuse retro-orbital mass is to break it down. Retro/orbital means "behind the eyeball" and inside the orbital cavity. Of course, it's the word "mass" that really got her attention.
Mass...tumor....growth...lesion....aren't they just pretty words for CANCER?
The simple answer is "No!"
There are all kinds of lumps that can appear in the orbit, including some that are present since birth.
Most of the time a newly discovered lump in the orbit is not cancerous. 70% of all acquired orbital masses are noncancerous cysts.
What about the other 30%? Most are treatable vascular growths or soft tissue inflammation. Truth be told, cancer originating behind the eyeball is quite rare and when it does occur it usually responds well to the prescribed treatment. One sad exception is metastatic cancer that began somewhere else (lung, breast, colon, etc.), but at that point the individual is already aware of their plight.
So it is worth repeating. Do not be intimidated by words - especially medical terminology. Probe your doctors for clear, precise answers and don't hesitate to check back with us afterwards. At WebMD we speak the language of accuracy and encouragement.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: eye, mass, tumor, cancer, health and wellness
Don't let words frighten you.
The best way to defuse retro-orbital mass is to break it down. Retro/orbital means "behind the eyeball" and inside the orbital cavity. Of course, it's the word "mass" that really got her attention.
Mass...tumor....growth...lesion....aren't they just pretty words for CANCER?
The simple answer is "No!"
There are all kinds of lumps that can appear in the orbit, including some that are present since birth.
- A mass is simply a collection of matter. It could be cells, blood vessels, even a chunk of calcium. Most masses are not cancerous.
- A growth is a mass that has enlarged. An inflamed zit qualifies as a growth.
- Tumor is Latin for swelling. Technically, a swollen, sprained ankle (like the one I'm nursing today) is a tumor. See? Not all tumors are cancerous.
- Lesion refers to abnormal looking tissue: infection, inflammation, trauma, many causes.
Most of the time a newly discovered lump in the orbit is not cancerous. 70% of all acquired orbital masses are noncancerous cysts.
What about the other 30%? Most are treatable vascular growths or soft tissue inflammation. Truth be told, cancer originating behind the eyeball is quite rare and when it does occur it usually responds well to the prescribed treatment. One sad exception is metastatic cancer that began somewhere else (lung, breast, colon, etc.), but at that point the individual is already aware of their plight.
So it is worth repeating. Do not be intimidated by words - especially medical terminology. Probe your doctors for clear, precise answers and don't hesitate to check back with us afterwards. At WebMD we speak the language of accuracy and encouragement.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: eye, mass, tumor, cancer, health and wellness
