Noncancerous
What it means
Not cancerous and not able to spread like cancer.
Reach for it when reporting that a growth or condition has been determined not to be cancer
Tests confirmed that the small growth was noncancerous.
Words to choose between 5
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal |
-
everyday
not cancer
Fits when a patient needs the clearest direct wording
Careful The phrase may oversimplify an uncertain pathology result.
-
warm
Fits when reassurance about likely effects is justified
Careful A noncancerous growth can still cause serious problems.
-
professional
Fits when a tumor is nonmalignant and typically less invasive
Careful Benign can still describe a condition requiring treatment.
-
professional
Fits when absence of malignant behavior is the precise finding
Careful A nonmalignant finding can still require treatment.
-
formal
Fits when a generally harmless feature is meant outside diagnosis
Careful Innocuous must not replace a medical classification.
Opposites 3
- cancerous
- malignant
- neoplastic
Common phrases 3
-
noncancerous growth
Testing confirmed that the noncancerous growth could be monitored.
-
noncancerous cells
The sample contained only noncancerous cells.
-
likely noncancerous
Imaging suggested the small cyst was likely noncancerous.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Noncancerous is not synonymous with harmless; diagnosis and clinical significance belong to qualified medical assessment.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated