Cancer

What is Cancer?

Cancer is a disease that results from abnormal growth and division of cells that make up the body's tissues and organs. Under normal circumstances, cells reproduce in an orderly fashion to replace old cells, maintain tissue health and repair injuries. However, when growth control is lost and cells divide too much and too fast, a cellular mass or tumour is formed.

If the tumour is confined to a few cell layers and does not invade the surrounding tissues or organs, it is considered benign. By contrast, if the tumour spreads to the surrounding tissues or organs, it is considered malignant or cancerous. When it first develops, a malignant tumour may be confined to its original site. In order to grow further, a cancer develops its own blood vessels through a process called angiogenesis. When it first develops, a malignant tumour may be confined to its original site.

If cancerous cells are not treated they may break away from the original tumour, travel, and grow within other body parts, the process is known as metastasis.

Cancer screening is the performance of tests on individuals who seem healthy in order to detect a medical condition at an earlier stage.

Click on the below links to find more about individual cancers.