There are over 100 different types of cancer.^1,2 When abnormal cells multiply in an uncontrolled way, that’s cancer. Sometimes they spread into other tissues, affecting other parts of the body.^1-3

• Some growths are non-cancerous (benign). This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body, grows slowly, has a distinct border, and does not invade nearby tissue. They are often treated with surgery or sometimes with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy to help reduce the risk of them returning, to help ease any discomfort or to help relieve any medical issue they may be causing.²
• Harmful cancer growths are called malignant tumours. They can grow quickly, have irregular borders, often invade surrounding tissues, and can spread to other parts of the body (called metastasis). Treatment may consist of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination.²

Some of the most common cancers in women are breast cancer and bowel cancer - in men, prostate cancer is the most common, followed by bowel cancer.⁴

A primary tumour is where a cancer starts, if it spreads to other parts of the body, that’s a secondary tumour or metastasis.^5,6

Malignant cells are cells which grown in an uncontrolled way and spread to other parts of the body.⁷

There are a lot of factors that influence how cancer can be treated:⁹¹

• The type of cancer
• Where the tumour’s located
• How fast it’s growing
• How advanced the cancer is
• Your age and general health
• How you’d like your cancer to be treated

Please note: The links below are outside of GenesisCare who cannot accept responsibility for the content.

1. NSW Government. Cancer Institute NSW. What is cancer [webpage]. Page last updated 2022 [cited Oct. 2023]. Access from: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/about-cancer/cancer-basics/what-is-cancer
2. National Cancer Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Understanding Cancer [webpage].Last updated 2007 [Cited Oct. 2023]. Access from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20362/
3. Upadhyay, A. Genes Dis. 2021; 8(5): 655–61
4. Australian Government. AIHW. Cancer Australia. Gynaecological cancers in Australia, an overview. Report date Sept. 2012 [cited Oct. 2023]. Access from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/gynaecological-cancers-in-australia-an-overview/summary
5. National Cancer Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Definitions; primary cancer [Cited Oct. 2023]. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries
6. National Cancer Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Definitions; secondary cancer [Cited Oct. 2023]. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries
7. National Cancer Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Definitions malignant cancer [Cited Oct. 2023]. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries