Cancer

Cancer develops when a cell in the body begins to grow abnormally fast or out of control. As a result of this growth the cell loses it’s specialised characteristics, tumours develop and may impact the normal functioning of the tissues, organ or body systems.

Cancer normally develops in the form of a tumour and usually develops in a major organ. Tumours can be benign (non cancerous) or malignant (spread to other parts of the body). Cancer will always be named after the place it began, regardless of where cancer may have spread.

Symptoms and characteristics:

The symptoms of cancer can be variable depending on the location of cancer, the size of the cancer and its impact on surrounding structures.

General symptoms of cancer may include:

• fever which is very common, particularly in the later stages of cancer
• fatigue
• pain may appear early with cancer, but particularly in the later stages of cancer
• unexplained weight loss may be the first symptom of cancer or in later stages
• specific symptoms such as a lump on an organ
• changes in the skin such as darkening, yellowing or reddening of the skin.

(MDA Internet 2005; American Cancer Society 2008, Better Health Channel 2008; Cancer Council 2007; Cancer Council Australia 2008).

References:

American Cancer Society 2008, What is Cancer?, American Cancer Society, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Is_Cancer.asp?sitearea=>.

Better Health Channel 2008, Cancer explained, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cancer_explained?open>.

MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 13 April 2007, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.

Cancer Council Australia 2008, Facts and figures, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org.au/content.cfm?randid=101127>.

Cancer Council Australia 2007, FAQS, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, < http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/FAQ.htm>.

Links to specific types of cancer