THE BASICS
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases. It begins when some cells in the body multiply without their normal controls. They can grow into nearby tissues and may spread to other parts of the body.
How it starts
Changes in DNA can affect the signals that tell a cell when to grow or divide. A cancer is often named after the organ or type of cell where it started.
What is a tumour?
A tumour is a mass of tissue that can be benign or malignant. Benign tumours stay local and may cause problems depending on their size or location. Leukaemias are forms of cancer that affect blood cells.
What does metastasis mean?
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from where the cancer started to another part of the body. The cancer is still named after its original site.
