# Slightly gross question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-gross-question/184125>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 24, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-gross-question/184125 "2003-06-24T20:40:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-gross-question/184125/1 "2003-06-24T20:40:22Z")

</div>

Are tumours edible?

I mean, if I were butchering a cow, for example, and I discovered that it had cancer, would the tumorous bits be edible? Would there be any ill effects to the eater (apart from the temptation to throw up at the thought of it)?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BellaVoce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@BellaVoce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellaVoce)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-gross-question/184125/2 "2003-06-24T21:45:39Z")

</div>

I was wondering the exact same thing earlier today. Weird.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-gross-question/184125/3 "2003-06-24T21:49:20Z")

</div>

Have you never been to KFC? I heard they serve up a great chicken tumour burger and you dont even need mayo!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-gross-question/184125/4 "2003-06-24T21:52:05Z")

</div>

Well, it depends on what type of tumors. Some tumors grow hair and teeth (not kind to look at). Those tumors one should avoid due to choking hazards and hairballs.

Other tumors should be fine to consume, except for bone tumors, but as research in cancer continues, they are tying more cancers with viral infections. In other words, make sure you enjoy your tumors well done.