In medical terminology, benign means not harmful or not cancerous. A benign tumour is an abnormal growth that does not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body, unlike malignant (cancerous) tumours. While benign tumours are generally not life-threatening, they may still require treatment if they cause symptoms by pressing on organs or nerves, or if there is concern they could become malignant. Receiving a 'benign' diagnosis after a biopsy is typically reassuring news, indicating that a concerning growth is not cancer. However, ongoing monitoring may still be recommended.