What causes cancer

This is one of the questions we’re asked the most. But the truth is, very few cancers have a single known cause. Most cancers seem to be caused by a complex mix of many risk factors, but sometimes cancer develops in people who don’t have any risk factors.

How does cancer grow and spread?

Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells grouped together to form tissues and organs. Genes inside each cell tell it when to grow, work, divide and die. Normally, our cells follow these instructions and we stay healthy. But sometimes the instructions get mixed up, causing our cells to grow and divide out of control. Over time, the abnormal cells may form a lump in the body called a tumour

What do cancer grade and stage mean?

Cancer grade is based on how the cancer cells look. Knowing the cancer grade helps doctors predict how fast the cancer will grow and how likely it is to spread. Grade is usually described using a number from 1 to 3 or 4. The higher the number, the more different the cancer cells look from healthy cells and the faster they are growing.

What are the symptoms of cancer?

Signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary depending on what part of the body is affected. Some early warning signs of cancer are:

• A new or unusual growth, lump or swelling anywhere on your body
• A sore that does not heal
• A change in the shape, size or colour of a mole or wart
• Blood in your pee (urine), poop (stool) or phlegm