Flourish - eMag - Feb 25 - Flipbook - Page 11
WHAT IS
CANCER?
C
ancer is not a single disease but a group of over 200 related conditions
characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in
the body. When these cells invade surrounding tissues or spread to other
parts of the body, it’s called metastasis. Left untreated, cancer can disrupt essential
bodily functions and become life-threatening.
Cancers can develop almost anywhere in the body and are typically named after the
organ or tissue where they originate. Examples include lung cancer, breast cancer,
and leukaemia (cancer of the blood-forming tissues).
Most cancers start in a particular organ; this is called the primary site or primary
tumour. Tumours can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
BENIGN
TUMOURS
(NOT CANCER)
Benign tumours do not spread outside their normal
boundary to other parts of the body. Some benign
tumours are precancerous and may progress to
cancer if left untreated. Other benign tumours do not
develop into cancer.
However, if a benign tumour continues to grow at the
original site, it can cause a problem by pressing on
nearby organs.
MALIGNANT
TUMOURS
(CANCER)
A malignant tumour is made up of cancer cells.
When it 昀椀rst develops, this malignant tumour may be
con昀椀ned to its original site.
This is known as a cancer in situ (or carcinoma
in situ). If these cells are not treated, they may
spread beyond their normal boundaries and into
surrounding tissues, becoming invasive cancer.
