What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that occurs when some of the body’s cells grow and multiply without control. These abnormal cells form a mass of tissue called a tumour and can invade other parts of the body.
Cancer can develop from any type of cell in the body, although it often starts in cells that line organs or cover internal and external surfaces. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Some are more common than others. The most common cancers are lung, breast and colorectal cancer. Cancer can also start in blood cells. When this happens, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body and stop them from working properly. These secondary cancers are known as metastatic cancers.
Each type of cancer has its own characteristics and behaviour. For example, some cancers grow faster than others. Some cancers form a tumour or lump, and others do not. Some cancers can be cured by treatment, and some cannot. Sometimes, the cancer cells change (mutate) and grow out of control again. This can happen if the cancer cells are resistant to the drugs used in treatment or if the person’s immune system fails to kill the cancer cells.
Normally, the body’s cells grow and divide to produce more cells as needed. When these cells become old or damaged, they die and new cells replace them. But sometimes this process goes wrong and the old or damaged cells continue to grow and multiply. Cancerous cells may also break away from the area where they formed and travel through the blood or lymph system to other parts of the body, where they can grow and settle in more tissues. This is called spreading or metastasis.
Scientists are still learning about what causes cancer. But they agree that genes, the blueprints that contain instructions for cellular growth and division, play a key role in most cases. Mutations (changes) in the genes can cause the cells to become cancerous and may affect a person’s risk of developing cancer.
Some cancers can be caused by viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes viruses B and C, and the hepatitis viruses A and B. Other cancers are caused by environmental and lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive sun exposure and obesity.
Being diagnosed with cancer can be a very challenging time for anyone. The language around cancer can be confronting and may stigmatise people living with it. The Cancer Institute NSW is changing the way it uses certain words to be more respectful of people affected by cancer. It is also encouraging other organisations and individuals to do the same. We have developed a range of resources to help explain the impact of the language we use around cancer. They can be downloaded below.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when some of the body’s cells grow and multiply without control. These abnormal cells form a mass of tissue called a tumour and can invade other parts of the body. Cancer can develop from any type of cell in the body, although it often starts in cells that line organs or cover internal and external surfaces. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Some are more common than others. The most common cancers are lung, breast and colorectal cancer. Cancer can also start in blood cells. When this happens, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body and stop them from working properly. These secondary cancers are known as metastatic cancers. Each type of cancer has its own characteristics and behaviour. For example, some cancers grow faster than others. Some cancers form a tumour or lump, and others do not. Some cancers can be cured by treatment, and some cannot. Sometimes, the cancer cells change (mutate) and grow out of control again. This can happen if the cancer cells are resistant to the drugs used in treatment or if the person’s immune system fails to kill the cancer cells. Normally, the body’s cells grow and divide to produce more cells as needed. When these cells become old or damaged, they die and new cells replace them. But sometimes this process goes wrong and the old or damaged cells continue to grow and multiply. Cancerous cells may also break away from the area where they formed and travel through the blood or lymph system to other parts of the body, where they can grow and settle in more tissues. This is called spreading or metastasis. Scientists are still learning about what causes cancer. But they agree that genes, the blueprints that contain instructions for cellular growth and division, play a key role in most cases. Mutations (changes) in the genes can cause the cells to become cancerous and may affect a person’s risk of developing cancer. Some cancers can be caused by viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes viruses B and C, and the hepatitis viruses A and B. Other cancers are caused by environmental and lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive sun exposure and obesity. Being diagnosed with cancer can be a very challenging time for anyone. The language around cancer can be confronting and may stigmatise people living with it. The Cancer Institute NSW is changing the way it uses certain words to be more respectful of people affected by cancer. It is also encouraging other organisations and individuals to do the same. We have developed a range of resources to help explain the impact of the language we use around cancer. They can be downloaded below.