Cancer is not a single disease with a single cause and a single type of treatment. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with its own name and treatment.
Although cells in different parts of the body may
look and work differently, most repair and reproduce themselves in the
same way. Normally, cells divide in an orderly and controlled way. But
if for some reason the process gets out of control, the cells carry on
dividing and develop into a lump called a tumour. Tumours are either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Doctors can tell if a tumour is benign or malignant by removing a piece of tissue (biopsy) and examining a small sample of cells under a microscope.
Diagram of cells forming a tumour
In a benign tumour, the cells do
not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However,
they may carry on growing at the original site, and may cause a problem
by pressing on surrounding organs.
In a malignant tumour, the cancer cells have the ability to spread beyond the original area of the body. If the tumour is left untreated, it may spread into surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the original (primary) cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
In a malignant tumour, the cancer cells have the ability to spread beyond the original area of the body. If the tumour is left untreated, it may spread into surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the original (primary) cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system – the
body’s natural defence gainst infection and disease. It’s made up of
organs such as bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen and lymph nodes. The
lymph nodes throughout the body are connected by a network of tiny
lymphatic tubes (ducts). The lymphatic system has two main roles: it
helps to protect the body from infection and it drains fluid from the
tissues.
The lymphatic system
When the cancer cells reach a new area they may go on dividing and form a new tumour. This is known as a secondary cancer or a metastasis.
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