What is cancer?
Your body is made up of many small parts, like building blocks, called cells. There are different types of cells in each part of the body. These cells are too small to see with your eyes.
Cancer is a disease where the cells of the body grow in a way that is not normal. Healthy cells grow in a cycle; they multiply and grow all the time. Cancer cells are different from healthy cells and grow the wrong way.
In most cancers, the cells grow into lumps called tumours. They can grow into the surrounding areas and invade the organs around it; or spread to other parts of the body (this is called metastatic cancer, also called secondary or advanced cancer). These tumours can also cause other problems inside the body.
Cancer usually starts in one place in the body. The name of the cancer comes from the place it first starts. So, lung cancer starts in the lungs, and breast cancer starts in the breast, and so on.
Cancer cells can spread and grow into nearby parts of the body, or move to other parts of the body and grow there. This is metastatic cancer, also called secondary or advanced cancer.
Cancers can be of different types and stages or grades. The cancer one person has is usually different to the cancer another person has.
What can we do about cancer?
Many people who get cancer will be offered treatment to help them get better. Many do recover especially if cancer has been found early.
Cancer can cause serious problems. If a tumour grows big, it can stop that part of the body working properly. Cancer can cause symptoms such as pain, or it can make someone feel tired and sick. But there are treatments available that can help you feel better.
There is help available for our mob with cancer. This can be medical help with your doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker as well as traditional healing and cultural practices that look after our body. mind, spirit and Country.
