Biologists are taking samples from an Upstate lake after a picture of a fish with what appears to be a tumor on its head was posted on social media, according to the Department of Natural Resources.Troy Gilreath posted pictures of the fish from Lake Cherokee on DNR’s Take One Make One Facebook page.“Our fisheries biologists are going to take samples at the lake to gather more information,” a post on DNR’s Facebook page said. “Fishes develop tumors and cancers, much like humans and other animals. Sharks are the only type of fish which never develops cancers.”Dr. Ash Bullard, from the Auburn Univ. Cooperative Fish Disease Unit, told DNR officials that the tumor on the fish is a neoplasm, but without the specimen to dissect, there’s no way to be 100% sure. A neoplasm is a mutation resulting in abnormal growth (a tumor), which just like in humans, can be benign, pre-cancerous, or cancerous. Bullard said fish get tumors just like other animals. DNR officials said they will take samples from the lake this week. They said that will allow scientists to assess the health of other fish, and that they fully expect the fish to be an anomaly and not representative of most catfish in the lake.“It’s not uncommon to see a fish with this kind of problem every now and then,” SCDNR Chief of Freshwater Fisheries Ross Self said. “Tumors like this appears to be can be caused by viruses, environmental factors, and other things that may not be harmful to humans.”Gilreath told DNR officials that his friends and neighbors have continued eating the fish in the lake without any problems.The Facebook post ended with the DNR encouraging people to continue fishing at the lake.DNR officials said if anglers see a fish with a tumor they can contact the Clemson SCDNR Office at (864) 654-1671.