Cancer can affect almost any part of the body. It typically develops in major organs including the intestines, breasts, prostate, skin, lungs, ovaries, thyroid, kidney, mouth, oesophagus, lymphatic system and pancreas. It can also develop in the bone marrow (leukaemia), where cancer cells circulate through the body to other tissues where they grow.
Cancer cells may also separate from the site of the initial tumour and travel to other parts of the body, where they can grow in the form of a secondary tumour. Cancer is always named from the site it began.
The most common cancers in Australia are:
- breast cancer
- colorectal (bowel) cancer
- lung cancer
- melanoma cancer
- prostate cancer.
Symptoms and characteristics:
There are different symptoms and characteristics associated with different types of cancer. Psychological impacts such as a fear of dying, loss of self esteem, depression and fatigue is common amongst people with all types of cancer.
Breast cancer
General symptoms include:
- a new lump in the breast tissue or thickening of the breast tissue or tissue within the armpit
- a change in the shape or size of the breast such as the nipple inverting
- change in appearance of the skin tissue of the breast such as dimpling
- rash over the breast
- breast swelling and inflammation
- discharge from the breast.
Colorectal (bowel) cancer
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the larger intestine (colon). This type of cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages, but as the tumour grows it may cause bleeding or obstruction of the bowel. Symptoms may include:
- diarrhoea and/or constipation or a change in stool consistency
- abdominal pain and cramping
- blood in the bowel motion
- weakness, fatigue and nausea
- anaemia with no recognised cause.
Lung cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer can include a cough, wheezing, coughing up blood and shortness of breath. More advanced symptoms include loss of weight and bone pain.
Melanoma cancer
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Symptoms include changes in the character, colour or size of a mole or new growth on the skin. Fatigue, weakness and nausea can be typical symptoms associated with melanoma.
Prostate cancer
Prostrate cancer is characterised by a tumour in the male reproductive organ called the prostate gland. Symptoms include changes in urination such as frequent urination, pain during urination, difficulty initiating urination, poor urine stream or blood in the urine. Fatigue, pain and unexplained weight loss are also common symptoms of prostrate cancer.
Workplace adjustments and solutions:
A person's ability to participate in work will be influenced by the type of cancer, the stage of the disease, the type of treatment being undertaken and its side effects. In the workplace there are various factors that would greatly assist people with cancer to better manage their symptoms and side effects from treatment. For example, sedentary work may be appropriate for people experiencing pain and fatigue as a result of cancer, or nausea, weakness or fatigue resulting from treatment side effects. Flexible work hours may be required to accommodate treatment and recovery requirements.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
(Cancer Council Australia 2008; Cancer Council Australia 2007; MDA Internet 2005; American Cancer Society 2008; Better Health Channel 2008)
References:
American Cancer Society 2008, Cancer Reference Information, American Cancer Society, USA, viewed 9 January 2008, <http://www.cancer.org>.
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>.
Cancer Council Australia 2008, Facts and figures, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/FactsFigures.htm>.
Cancer Council Australia 2007, Breast cancer, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/breastcancer.htm>.
Cancer Council Australia 2007, Colorectal cancer, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/colorectalcancer.htm>.
Cancer Council Australia 2007, Lung cancer-non small cell, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/lungcancernonsmallcell.htm>.
Cancer Council Australia 2007, Lung cancer-small cell, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/lungcancersmallcell.htm>.
MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 13 April 2007, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.