Cancer is a disease of the body’s cells. Normally cells grow and multiply in a controlled way, however, sometimes cells become abnormal and keep growing. Abnormal cells can form a mass called a tumour.
Cancer is the term used to describe collections of these cells, growing and potentially spreading within the body. As cancerous cells can arise from almost any type of tissue cell, cancer actually refers to about 100 different diseases.
As mutant cells (those with mistakes in their genetic blueprint) grow and divide, a mass of abnormal cells, or a tumour, is formed. In some cases, these cells will form a discrete lump, in other cases such as leukaemia, abnormal blood cells are in the body.
Cancer cells can break away from the mass (or tumour) and travel via the bloodstream or lymphatic system to different parts of the body. These cells can settle in other parts of the body to form a secondary cancer or metastasis.
Cancer can cause premature death because these secondary cancers stop parts of the body from working properly.
We do not know all of the risks and causes of cancer. However, there are a number of chemical, physical and biological agents that have been shown to trigger the mistakes in the cell blueprint that cause cancer. These are called carcinogens and include tobacco, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and asbestos.
A number of cancers share risk factors:
◉ One in nine cancers, and one in five cancer deaths, are due to smoking.
◉ A study in 2010 found that about 2.8% of cancers are related to alcohol consumption.
◉ Many cancers occur as a direct result of dietary influences.
◉ Infectious agents or exposure to radiation can cause cancer (especially skin cancers from UV radiation).
◉ Some cancers result from inherited ‘faulty’ genes.
◉ Cancer is NOT caused by injury or stress.
The most commonly diagnosed cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) was prostate cancer, followed by breast, colorectal or bowel cancer, melanoma and lung cancer. There are more than 100 different types of cancer, but these five most common types account for 60% of all cases.
The most common cancers for men and women are listed in order below:
Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia. The most common causes of cancer deaths are not necessarily the most frequently occurring cancers. While lung cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer overall, it is the leading cause of cancer death in Bangladesh
The most common causes of cancer-related death in men and women are listed in order below:
With our current knowledge, we believe that at least one in three cancer cases can be prevented. Smoking, sun exposure, poor diet, alcohol consumption and inadequate physical activity are significant risk factors, which can be modified.
Not smoking, or giving up, is the single most effective strategy to prevent cancer. One in nine cancer cases, and more than one in five cancer deaths (over 7700 every year) are caused by cigarette smoking.
Protecting your skin from exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a simple and very effective strategy for preventing skin cancer. Around 12,000 Australian men and women are diagnosed with a melanoma each year, and an estimated 434,000 people are treated for one or more non-melanoma skin cancers. In 2016 there were nearly 2000 deaths from skin cancer in Australia, 1281 from melanoma and 679 from non-melanoma. Relative five-year survival rates for melanoma are 89% for men and 94% for women.
It is estimated that more than 4000 cancer deaths annually are due to poor diet, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and being overweight. Again, these are deaths that can be prevented. See our preventing cancer section for more information on how you can reduce your cancer risk.
Cancer is not contagious. There is no reason to avoid people with cancer; in fact they will need your support and understanding.
We now know that some cancer genes are hereditary and so several family members may have the same or a related type of cancer. This is due to an inherited genetic disorder, not spending time together.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that causes 70% of cervical cancers, is contagious and is transmitted via sexual activity. However, cervical cancer itself is not contagious.
Some cancers cause pain, others do not. Some people experience pain as the result of tumour growth or advanced cancer, or as a side effect of treatment.
Pain relief is always made available to cancer patients suffering pain. Your doctor can advise you about what to expect and how the pain can be managed.
Absolutely not. Advances in our knowledge about prevention, early detection and treatment mean that over 66% of people diagnosed with cancer today can be effectively treated. Almost nine out of 10 children with cancer are effectively treated and go on to live normal lives.
As we further our knowledge about the disease, survival rates are likely to increase. Your state or territory Cancer Council can provide further information and support for cancer survivors and people living with cancer.
Screening involves testing people who have no symptoms for the presence of early, potentially curable disease. At present national screening programs exist for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer.
There is no national screening program from prostate cancer. Current evidence shows that the harms of population screening with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test outweigh the benefits. Therefore, the PSA test does not form the basis of a population-based screening program (either alone or combined with digital rectal examination).
Women who are 25 to 74 years of age should have a cervical screening test two years after their last Pap test to check for cervical cancer. If your results are normal, you will then have the test every five years.
Also be on the lookout for any changes to your breasts; if you notice any lumps or other changes, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Women over 40 are eligible for a free mammography screening every two years. We strongly recommend you are screened regularly if you are aged 50-74.
Women who are 25 to 74 years of age should have a cervical screening test two years after their last Pap test to check for cervical cancer. If your results are normal, you will then have the test every five years.
Also be on the lookout for any changes to your breasts; if you notice any lumps or other changes, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Women over 40 are eligible for a free mammography screening every two years. We strongly recommend you are screened regularly if you are aged 50-74.
Usually when you suffer a disease you feel symptoms such as pain, and the treatment makes you feel better. Unfortunately, with some cancers, you may not have experienced any pain or discomfort until the treatment begins.
Cancer treatments designed to kill cancer cells can have unpleasant side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, bowel problems, tiredness, hair loss and scalp problems, and effects on nerves and muscles.
Before beginning treatment, it is best to be aware of the possible side effects and changes that your body may go through, and ways of managing or reducing them.
Sometimes, making decisions about your treatment can be very hard. It may be even harder when you know that the treatment is aimed at relieving and controlling symptoms rather than curing the cancer.
Once you have discussed treatment options with your doctor, you may want to talk about your options with your family or friends, nursing staff, the hospital social worker or chaplain, or your spiritual advisor. Talking it over can help you to sort out what course of action is right for you. In most cases it is safe to delay treatment a few days or a week or so, but you should not put it off longer.
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