What is cancer?

How does cancer develop and spread? How cancer starts | Cancer Council Australia. As mutant cells (those with mistakes in their genetic blueprint) grow and ... MediaShopOnlineContactUsCancerinformationWhatiscancer?CommoncancersymptomsFactsandfiguresExploreWhatiscancer?CausesandpreventionEarlydetectionandscreeningSunsafetyCheckforsignsofskincancerDietandexerciseSmokingandtobaccoFamilyhistoryandcancerEnvironmentalcausesWorkplacecancerExploreCausesandpreventionTypesofcancerAdenocarcinomaAnalcancerBraincancerBreastcancerBreastcancerinmenBladdercancerBonecancerBowelcancerCancerofunknownprimaryCervicalcancerChildren,teens,andyoungadultcancersHeadandneckcancersHodgkinlymphomaKidneycancerLeukaemiaLivercancerLungcancerLymphomaMelanomaMesotheliomaMouthcancerMyelomaNon-HodgkinlymphomaNon-melanomaskincancerOesophagealcancerOvariancancerPancreaticcancerProstatecancerRarecancersSecondarybonecancerSkincancerStomachcancerTesticularcancerThroatcancerThyroidcancerUterinecancerVaginalcancerVulvarcancerExploreTypesofcancerTestsandscansAfteradiagnosisCopingwithacancerdiagnosisYourguidestobestcancercareTellingfriendsandfamilyFindaspecialistQuestionstoaskyourdoctorHospitalvisitsforcancerpatientsandcarersTelehealthforcancerpatientsandcarersLivingwithcancerAftercancertreatmentExploreAfteradiagnosisTreatmentChemotherapyRadiationtherapy(radiotherapy)SurgeryComplementarytherapiesHormonetherapyImmunotherapyClinicaltrialsPalliativecareTargetedtherapyAdvancedcancertreatmentExploreTreatmentCancersideeffectsBreastprosthesesandreconstructionCancer-relatedcognitiveimpairmentFatigueFertilityHairlossMouthhealthNeutropeniaPeripheralneuropathySexualityandintimacyTasteandsmellchangesExploreCancersideeffectsOncologyDownloadableresourcesSeeallCancerinformationSupportandServicesSupportandServicesCancerCouncil131120StatebasedservicefinderSupportgroupsTransportservicesWigserviceCancersupportandinformationcentresChildren,adolescentsandyoungadultsCancerandCOVID-19InformationforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleMultilingualresourcesCancer,workandyouPracticalandfinancialassistanceWorkshopsandforumsOstomyServiceCancerNursesExploreSupportandServicesOnlineresourcesCancerCouncilOnlineCommunityiHeardPodcastseLearningTrustedresourcesExploreOnlineresourcesPersonalcancerstoriesSeeallSupportandServicesGetinvolvedDonateOnetimedonationRegulargivingInmemoriamIncelebrationWhereyourmoneygoesWorkplaceGivingExploreDonateFundraisingandeventsUpcomingEventsandProgramsAustralia'sBiggestMorningTeaDaffodilDayAppealRelayForLifeGirls'NightInPinkRibbonDryJulyTheMarchChargeTheLongestDayPonytailProjectCommunityfundraisingGalaEventsEntertainmentbooksDonationtinsHealthyfundraisingMen’sHealthPitstopCancerCruiseExploreFundraisingandeventsBequestsWordingforyourwillExploreBequestsVolunteerShopwithusShoponlineFindastockistClothes4CancerOpShopExploreShopwithusSeeallGetinvolvedHealthprofessionalsClinicalPracticeGuidelinesBarrett'soesophagusclinicalguidelinesCervicalcancerclinicalguidelinesColorectalcancerclinicalguidelinesEndometrialcancerclinicalguidelinesLungcancerclinicalguidelinesProstatecancerclinicalguidelinesSarcomaclinicalguidelinesSkincancerclinicalguidelinesExploreClinicalPracticeGuidelinesClinicalGuidelinesNetworkCancerCouncilresearchprogramsNationalSecondaryStudents'DietandActivity(NaSSDA)surveyResearchOpportunities,GrantsandScholarshipsExploreCancerCouncilresearchprogramsOptimalcarepathwaysPatientresourcesResourcesforhealthprofessionalsScreeninginformationforGPsInformedfinancialconsentInequalitiesincanceroutcomesCaringforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleWarningsignsofcancerinchildrenOnlinelearningAustralianCancerAtlasCancerForumDiverseLanguagesandCulturesExploreResourcesforhealthprofessionalsConferencesandeventsSeeallHealthprofessionalsAboutusHowwehelpResearchPreventionSupportLookingAheadExploreHowwehelpPolicyandAdvocacyPreventionpolicyEarlydetectionpolicyClinicalpracticepolicySupportivecarepolicyPositionstatementsSubmissionstogovernmentConsumerengagementExplorePolicyandAdvocacyNewsandMediaMediareleasesNewsBlogOurspokespeopleMediacontactsExploreNewsandMediaAboutCancerCouncilCancerCouncilAustraliaCancerCouncilACTCancerCouncilNSWCancerCouncilNTCancerCouncilQueenslandCancerCouncilSACancerCouncilTasmaniaCancerCouncilVictoriaCancerCouncilWAExploreAboutCancerCouncilNationalcommitteesPartnershipsAffiliationsCorporatepartnershipsExplorePartnershipsContactusWorkwithusJobsExploreWorkwithusSeeallAboutusCancerCouncilrecommendsconsumersdiscontinueusingCancerCouncilSensitiveSunscreenSPF50+110mlbatchnumber1103178andCancerCouncilSensitiveSunscreenSPF50+200mlbatchnumber1099751.Clickhereformoreinformationortoapplyforarefund.LearnMore/.../Cancerinformation/Whatiscancer?Whatiscancer?AnsweringyourfrequentlyaskedquestionsCancer isadiseaseofthebody'scells.Normallycellsgrowandmultiplyinacontrolledway,however,sometimescellsbecomeabnormalandkeepgrowing.Abnormalcellscanformamasscalledatumour. Canceristhetermusedtodescribecollectionsofthesecells,growingandpotentiallyspreadingwithinthebody.Ascancerouscellscanarisefromalmostanytypeoftissuecell,canceractuallyreferstoabout100differentdiseases. Howdoescancerdevelopandspread? Asmutantcells(thosewithmistakesintheirgeneticblueprint)growanddivide,amassofabnormalcells,oratumour,isformed.Insomecases,thesecellswillformadiscretelump,inothercasessuchasleukaemia,abnormalbloodcellsareinthebody. Cancercellscanbreakawayfromthemass(ortumour)andtravelviathebloodstreamorlymphaticsystemtodifferentpartsofthebody.Thesecellscansettleinotherpartsofthebodytoformasecondarycancerormetastasis. Cancercancauseprematuredeathbecausethesesecondarycancersstoppartsofthebodyfromworkingproperly. FAQ Whatcausescancer? Wedonotknowalloftherisksand causesofcancer.However,thereareanumberofchemical,physicalandbiologicalagentsthathavebeenshowntotriggerthemistakesinthecellblueprintthatcausecancer.Thesearecalledcarcinogensandincludetobacco,ultraviolet(UV)radiationandasbestos. Anumberofcancersshareriskfactors: Oneinninecancers,andoneinfivecancerdeaths,areduetosmoking. Astudyin2010foundthatabout2.8%ofcancersarerelatedtoalcoholconsumption. Manycancersoccurasadirectresultofdietaryinfluences. Infectiousagentsorexposuretoradiationcancausecancer(especiallyskincancersfromUVradiation).  Somecancersresultfrominherited‘faulty’genes.  CancerisNOTcausedbyinjuryorstress. HowmanyAustraliansgetcancer? CancerisacommondiseaseandamajorhealthprobleminAustraliatoday.Atcurrentrates,itisexpectedoneintwoAustralianswillbediagnosedwithcancerbytheageof85. Anestimated145,000newcasesofcancerwillbediagnosedinAustraliathisyear. CancerisaleadingcauseofdeathinAustralia–almost55,000deathsfromcancerwereestimatedfor2019. Comparedto1982,around25,000morepeopledieeachyearfromcancer.Thisisduemainlytopopulationgrowthandageing.However,thedeathrate(numberofdeathsper100,000people)hasfallenbymorethan24%. Morethan66%ofpeoplediagnosedwithcancerinAustraliawillsurvivemorethanfiveyearsafterdiagnosis. Whatarethemostcommoncancers? Themostcommonlydiagnosedcancer(excludingnon-melanomaskincancer)was prostatecancer,followedby breast, colorectalorbowelcancer, melanoma and lungcancer.Therearemorethan100differenttypesofcancer,butthesefivemostcommontypesaccountfor60%ofallcases. Themostcommoncancersformenandwomenarelistedinorderbelow: Men Prostate Bowel(colorectal) Melanoma Lung Headandneck Women Breast Bowel(colorectal) Melanoma Lung Uterine Whichcancerscausethemostdeaths? CancerisaleadingcauseofdeathinAustralia.Themostcommoncausesofcancerdeathsarenotnecessarilythemostfrequentlyoccurringcancers.While lungcancer isthefifthmostcommontypeofcanceroverall,itistheleadingcauseofcancerdeathinAustralians. Themostcommoncausesofcancer-relateddeathinmenandwomenarelistedinorderbelow: Men Lung Prostate Bowel(colorectal) Women Lung Breast Bowel(colorectal) Whogetscancer? Anybodycandevelopcancer.OneintwoAustralianswillbediagnosedwithcancerbytheageof85. Theriskofcancerincreaseswithage –morethanfourtimesasmanycancersarediagnosedinpeopleover60years,asinthoseunder60.However,increasedawarenessaboutcancer,screeningprogramsandearlydetectionmeansthatcancerisincreasinglydiagnosedinyoungerpeople –whichmeansitisoftenfoundatanearlierstageandcanbetreatedmoreeffectively. Cancancerbeprevented? Withourcurrentknowledge,webelievethatatleastoneinthreecancercasescanbeprevented.Smoking,sunexposure,poordiet,alcoholconsumptionandinadequatephysicalactivityaresignificantriskfactors,whichcanbemodified. Notsmoking,orgivingup,isthesinglemosteffectivestrategytopreventcancer.Oneinninecancercases,andmorethanoneinfivecancerdeaths(over7700everyyear)arecausedbycigarettesmoking. Protectingyourskinfromexposuretothesun'sultraviolet(UV)radiationisasimpleandveryeffectivestrategyforpreventingskincancer.Around12,000Australianmenandwomenarediagnosedwitha melanoma eachyear,andanestimated434,000peoplearetreatedforoneormore non-melanoma skincancers.In2016therewerenearly2000deathsfrom skincancerinAustralia,1281frommelanomaand679fromnon-melanoma.Relativefive-yearsurvivalratesformelanomaare89%formenand94%forwomen. Itisestimatedthatmorethan4000cancerdeathsannuallyareduetopoordiet,alcoholconsumption,physicalinactivityandbeingoverweight.Again,thesearedeathsthatcanbeprevented.See our preventingcancer section formoreinformation onhowyoucan reduceyourcancerrisk. Iscancercontagious? Cancerisnotcontagious.Thereisnoreasontoavoidpeoplewithcancer;infacttheywillneedyoursupportandunderstanding. Wenowknowthatsomecancergenesarehereditaryandsoseveralfamilymembersmayhavethesameorarelatedtypeofcancer.Thisisduetoaninheritedgeneticdisorder,notspendingtimetogether. Humanpapillomavirus(HPV),avirusthatcauses70%of cervicalcancers,iscontagiousandistransmittedviasexualactivity.However,cervicalcanceritselfisnotcontagious. Doescanceralwayscausepain? Somecancerscausepain,othersdonot.Somepeopleexperiencepainastheresultoftumourgrowthoradvancedcancer,orasasideeffectoftreatment. Painreliefisalwaysmadeavailabletocancerpatientssufferingpain.Yourdoctorcanadviseyouaboutwhattoexpectandhowthepaincanbemanaged. Iscanceralwaysfatal? Absolutelynot.Advancesinourknowledgeabout prevention, earlydetection and treatment meanthatover66%ofpeoplediagnosedwithcancertodaycanbeeffectivelytreated.Almostnineoutof10childrenwithcancerareeffectivelytreatedandgoontolivenormallives. Aswefurtherourknowledgeaboutthedisease,survivalratesarelikelytoincrease.YourstateorterritoryCancerCouncilcanprovidefurtherinformationandsupportforcancersurvivorsandpeoplelivingwithcancer. Whydowehavescreeningprogramsforsomecancers? Screening involvestestingpeoplewhohavenosymptomsforthepresenceofearly,potentiallycurabledisease.Atpresentnationalscreeningprogramsexistfor breastcancer, cervicalcancer and bowelcancer. Thereisnonationalscreeningprogramfrom prostatecancer.Currentevidenceshowsthattheharmsofpopulationscreeningwiththeprostatespecificantigen(PSA)testoutweighthebenefits.Therefore,thePSAtestdoesnotformthebasisofapopulation-basedscreeningprogram(eitheraloneorcombinedwithdigitalrectalexamination). WhattestsshouldIhave? Womenwhoare25to74yearsofageshouldhaveacervicalscreeningtesttwoyearsaftertheirlastPaptesttocheckforcervicalcancer.Ifyourresultsarenormal,youwillthenhavethetesteveryfiveyears. Alsobeonthelookoutforanychangestoyourbreasts;ifyounoticeanylumpsorotherchanges,talktoyourdoctorassoonaspossible.Womenover40areeligibleforafreemammographyscreeningeverytwoyears.Westronglyrecommendyouarescreenedregularlyifyouareaged50-74. TheNationalBowelScreeningProgramiscurrentlyofferedtofreetoallAustraliansaged50-74. AFOBTkitisautomaticallysenttoyourhome. CancerCouncilAustraliarecommendsthatanyoneinterestedintestingforcancershouldspeakwiththeirgeneralpractitioner(GP). FormoreinformationonnationalscreeningprogramsvisitthefederalGovernment'scancerscreeningwebsite. Howiscancertreated? Thetypeofcancertreatmentorcombinationoftreatmentsthatapatienthasdependsonthetypeandstageofthecancer.Themostcommontypesofcancer treatment aresurgery,chemotherapyandradiationtherapy. Somecancerscanbecuredifthetumourisdetectedandsurgicallyremovedbeforethecancercellsspread. Chemotherapy (anti-cancerdrugs)and radiotherapy (radiationtreatment)canalsocurecancer,bykillingcancercellsorstoppingthemfrommultiplying.Oftenthesetreatmentsaremosteffectivewhenusedtogether. Themaingoaloftreatmentistocurethedisease,butifcureisnotpossible,differenttreatmentsmaybeusedtocontrolthecancer.Newwaysoftreatingcancerarealwaysbeingdevelopedandtested.Inthefuture,wecanexpecttoseeanewrangeof'designerdrugs'thatblockthebloodsupplythattumoursneedtogrow,correctthegeneticdefectsthatleadtocancerandassistthebody'simmunesystemtofightcancer. Whatabouttreatmentsideeffects? Usuallywhenyousufferadiseaseyoufeelsymptomssuchaspain,andthetreatmentmakesyoufeelbetter.Unfortunately,withsomecancers,youmaynothaveexperiencedanypainordiscomfortuntilthetreatmentbegins. Cancertreatmentsdesignedtokillcancercellscanhaveunpleasantsideeffects,suchasnauseaandvomiting,bowelproblems,tiredness,hairlossandscalpproblems,andeffectsonnervesandmuscles. Beforebeginningtreatment,itisbesttobeawareofthepossiblesideeffectsandchangesthatyourbodymaygothrough,andwaysofmanagingorreducingthem. HowdoIdecideabouttreatment? Sometimes,makingdecisionsaboutyourtreatmentcanbeveryhard.Itmaybeevenharderwhenyouknowthatthetreatmentisaimedatrelievingandcontrollingsymptomsratherthancuringthecancer. Onceyouhavediscussedtreatmentoptionswithyourdoctor,youmaywanttotalkaboutyouroptionswithyourfamilyorfriends,nursingstaff,thehospitalsocialworkerorchaplain,oryourspiritualadvisor.Talkingitovercanhelpyoutosortoutwhatcourseofactionisrightforyou.Inmostcasesitissafetodelaytreatmentafewdaysoraweekorso,butyoushouldnotputitofflonger. ShouldItakepartinclinicaltrials? Yourdoctormaysuggestthatyoutakepartinaclinicaltrial. Doctorsconductclinicaltrialstotestnewormodifiedtreatmentsandseeiftheyaremoreeffectivethanexistingtreatments. Clinicaltrialsareanessentialpartofthequesttofindbettertreatmentsforcancer. Hundredsofthousandsofpeopleallovertheworldhavetakenpartinclinicaltrialsthathaveresultedinmanyimprovementstocancertreatment.AlltrialsareapprovedbyanEthicsCommittee. Tohelpyoumakeaninformeddecisionaboutjoiningaclinicaltrial,yourdoctorwilldiscussthetrialanditsimplicationsforyou.Ifyoujoina'doubleblind'clinicaltrial,youwillbegiveneitherthebestexistingtreatmentforyourconditionorapromisingnewtreatment.Treatmentsarerandomlyassigned,soneitheryounoryourdoctorknowswhichtreatmentyouarebeinggiven. Ifyoudojoinaclinicaltrial,youhavetherighttowithdrawatanytime.Doingsowillnotjeopardiseyourcancertreatment. Whataboutcomplementarytherapies? Manypeoplewithcancerconsidercomplementarytherapiesinadditiontotreatmentrecommendedbytheirdoctors. Complementarytherapies aresupportivetherapiesusedtocomplementmainstreamtreatments.Theseareoftenrecommendedbyyourdoctororanotherhealthprofessional,nottocuredisease,buthelpcontrolsymptomsandimprovewellbeing.Examplesincludemassagetherapy,yoga,meditation,herbalteasandacupuncture. Ifyouareusing,orconsidering,acomplementarytherapy,discussitwithyourdoctororcallCancerCouncil131120foradvice. Whataboutalternativetreatments? Therearemany‘alternativetherapies’thatarepromotedascancercures.Theyareunprovenbecausetheyhavenotbeenscientificallytested,orweretestedandfoundtobeineffective.Ifalternativetherapiesareusedinsteadofevidence-basedtreatment,thepatientmaysuffer,eitherfromlackofhelpfultreatmentorbecausethealternativetreatmentisactuallyharmful. Ifyouarethinkingaboutusingatreatmentthatisnotanevidence-basedmedicaltreatment,makesureyoucarefullyconsiderandinvestigatetheclaimsbeingmade.Lookintotheevidenceforthoseclaims,thecredentialsofthepeopleororganisationpromotingthetreatment,thecostsandthepotentialrisksofdelayingconventionaltreatments. TheAmericanCancerSocietyrecommendsthefollowingchecklisttoidentifytreatmentsthatmightbequestionable: Isthetreatmentbasedonanunproventheory? Doesthetreatmentpromiseacureforallcancers? Areyoutoldnottouseconventionalmedicaltreatment? Isthetreatmentordruga‘secret’thatonlycertainproviderscangive? Doesthetreatmentrequireyoutotraveltoanothercountry? Dothepromotersattackthemedical/scientificestablishment? Iftheanswertoanyofthesequestionsis'yes',youshouldcarefullyconsiderwhethertheproposedtreatmentisofanyvalue. CancerCouncilAustraliaurgespeoplewithcancertoremaininthecareofqualifieddoctorswhouseprovenmethodsoftreatmentandparticipateinclinicaltrialsofpromisingnewtreatments.Ifyouareusing,orconsidering,analternativetreatment,discussitwithyourdoctororcallCancerCouncil131120foradvice. InformationforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanders Whatiscancer-InformationforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersDownloadthePDF Understandingcancertalk-informationforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersDownloadthePDF Sources AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare2019.CancerinAustralia2019.Cancerseriesno.119.Cat.no.CAN123.Canberra:AIHW AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare.ACIM(AustralianCancerIncidenceandMortality)Books.Canberra:AIHW NationalCancerControlInitiative2003. The2002NationalNon-melanomaSkinCancerSurvey.Melbourne. quicklinksquicklinksWhatiscancer?CommoncancersymptomsCausesandpreventionTypesofcancerAfteradiagnosisTreatmentOncologyDownloadableresourcesFindmoreinformationonspecifictypesofcancerExploremore