There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and character. What links them is that all cancers start in the same way - with a change in the make-up or the pattern of the development of a cell.
Normal cells are constantly at work in our bodies, repairing damaged skin, maintaining hair growth, and performing all the other necessary tasks we don't even think about. This complicated process is carefully controlled but sometimes things can go wrong, resulting in abnormal cells that divide in an uncontrolled manner. A cluster of tissue then develops when new cells are not needed - this cluster is called a tumour, which can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumours may require treatment or surgery but are usually not life threatening.
Malignant tumours are cancers, that can invade nearby parts of the body and therefore prevent the cells in that area from functioning properly. Cells contained in these malignant tumours can break away and move to other parts of the body where they can develop new clusters of abnormal cells, these are secondary growth or metastases.
Most of the lives that are lost occur because the cancer has spread, that is why it is vital to diagnose and treat cancers early.
Different types of cancers behave in different ways, growing at different rates and responding to different treatments. With early diagnosis, before any spread of the cancer, and appropriate treatment cancer can be lived with or cured.
Today many cancers are curable if they are diagnosed early and receive appropriate treatment.