The Cancer Council Tasmania

Cancer facts

Tremendous progress in cancer treatment has been made in recent decades.

Today, more than half of those diagnosed with cancer will survive and some forms of cancer are effectively now controlled.

What is cancer?
Cancer is a general term for a group of about 100 diseases in which normal cells spread out of control.

Cancer can develop from most types of cells in different parts of the body, and each cancer has its own pattern of growth and spread.

It usually spreads from mild to severe cellular abnormality, to invasion of surrounding tissue and may spread through the body.

The human body is made up of billions of cells that have many different functions.

Normal cells of the body grow, divide and die constantly in an orderly fashion. Genes in each cell control this growth, division and death.

More than half of those diagnosed with
cancer will survive

In cancer, the cells do not obey the body’s control mechanisms and do not stop growing and multiplying. Cancer cells continue to grow and divide, outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells.

Cancer usually forms a lump or tumour, although some cancers, like leukaemia, involve the blood and blood forming organs and circulate through the body. Not all lumps or tumours are cancerous and some may be benign. Benign tumours usually grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant tumours are made up of cancer cells:
cancer cells go on growing and multiplying when they should not
cancer cells are capable of crossing the normal boundaries of the tissue from which they started, i.e. they invade surrounding areas
cancer cells can get into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and can travel to distant areas of the body
cancer cells can establish secondary growths or tumours at these distant areas
some cancer cells may produce substances that interfere with the control of various body functions, and may affect nerves, muscles, salt regulation and other systems

The place where cancer begins is called the primary cancer site. Most types of cancer begin with a primary tumour in one place and then invade neighbouring body tissues. Cancer cells can break away and be carried in the blood or lymphatic system to other parts of the body where they can begin to grow new tumours called secondary cancers or metastases.

Different types of cancer can behave very differently, grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. People diagnosed with cancer need treatment aimed at their particular type of cancer.

This information is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Please consult your doctor if you have any health concerns.

Order the booklet, About cancer.

Who gets cancer?
Cancer was the leading cause of death in Australia in 2003, ahead of heart diseases and stroke. It accounted for 28.6% of all deaths. At current rates one in three men and one in four women will be diagnosed with a malignant cancer before the age of 75.

In Tasmania
Over 2200 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Tasmania in 2003.

The most common cancer in Tasmanian men is prostate cancer, with over 400 new cases diagnosed every year. In Tasmanian women, breast cancer is the most common cancer, with 295 new cases each year.

Overall, the most common cancer diagnosed in Tasmania is prostate cancer, followed by bowel, breast, lung cancer and melanoma.

What causes cancer?
For many of the common cancers, the causes are not known. In other cancers, recent research has identified some factors that may increase a person’s likelihood of getting cancer. These are called risk factors.

Contributing cancer causes include:
smoking causes 12.7% of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in Australia. Cancers attributed to smoking include lung, mouth, oesophagus, kidney
exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes of all types of skin cancers. Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world
industrial chemicals like uranium, asbestos, benzene
viruses such human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis
genetics

Preventing cancer
While the causes of many cancers are not known, the following actions are known to reduce your cancer risk:
stop smoking and avoid tobacco smoke
maintain a healthy body weight
be SunSmart - avoid sunburn and reduce exposure to the sun
exercise regularly
avoid or limit your intake of alcohol
eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

The Cancer Council Tasmania has free information resources available on the prevention and early detection of cancers.

Resources
The Cancer Council Tasmania has a wide range of free booklets, brochures, pamphlets and information sheets. We also have books and videos available for loan. All resources are available from our four Cancer Support Centres as well as attreatment centres and health centres.

All information is free of charge thanks to The Cancer Council Tasmania's
Relay For Life fundraising event.

For information on any aspect of cancer, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, management and survivors’ issues, call into your nearest Cancer Support Centre, call The Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 or use our
resource order forms.

Cancer information on the internet
There is a huge quantity of cancer information available to the general public, much of it of questionable quality and veracity. A popular information brochure is Cancer on the Net that details authoritative websites is available by calling 13 11 20 for the price of a local call.

Cancer facts

Disclaimer www.cancertas.org.au last updated 3 July 2008

Disclaimer
www.cancertas.org.au last updated 3 July 2008