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 Cancer Council Australia 2007; MDA Internet 2005; Better Health Channel 2007; and American Cancer Society 2006).
The most common cancers in Australia are:
- breast cancer
- colorectal (bowel) cancer
- lung cancer
- melanoma cancer
- prostate cancer
These cancers accounted for 60 percent of all registered cancer cases in 2001 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Australasian Association of Cancer Registries 2001).
Symptoms and characteristics
There are different symptoms and characteristics associated with different types of cancer.
Breast cancer
General symptoms include:
- a lump in the breast tissue or thickening of the breast tissue
- a change in the shape/size of the breast or inflammation.
Psychological impact, such as a fear of dying, loss of self esteem and depression, and fatigue is common.
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. Other symptoms include:
- diarrhoea and/or constipation
- abdominal pain
- weakness
- fatigue
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- abdominal cramping.
Lung cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer 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 cancer and treatment.
Prostate cancer
Prostrate cancer is characterised by a tumour in the prostate gland (male reproductive organ). Symptoms include changes in urination such as frequent urination or difficulty initiating urination. In late stages of prostate cancer bone pain is common, particularly in the lower back and pelvis.
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 (MDA Internet 2005).
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
American Cancer Society 2007, American Cancer Society, USA, viewed 13 April 2007, <http://www.cancer.org>.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) & Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR) 2004, Cancer in Australia 2001 (Cancer Series no. 28), AIHW, Canberra, viewed 24 April 2007, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10083>.
Better Health Channel 2007, Cancer explained, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 13 April 2007, <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)>.
The Cancer Council Australia 2007, The Cancer Council Australia, Camperdown, viewed 13 April 2007, <http://www.cancer.org.au>.