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This is what happens to a cancer and your body if it is not treated. If you have treatment for cancer, some of these stages may be delayed or avoided altogether.

 

If you have cancer, talk to your doctor to find out what is happening with your cancer in your body, with your treatment – everyone is different.

 

What happens?   
    one cell mutates (changes) and multiplies out of control
    cells keep dividing rapidly, and form a tumour 
    tumours can be detected as a lump when they’re about a cubic centimetre in size – this can take 
      from months to years. It will grow its own blood supply.
    this tumour is called the primary tumour – usually named after the organ where it develops
    cells invade tissue next to them, replacing normal tissue. Most are solid tumours. Some cancer cells 
      circulate around the body, like leukaemia – they never form a lump or mass.
    some cancer cells may separate from the primary cancer and spread around the body and start cancer in

       another part of the body – this is called metastasis
    these cells form secondary tumour/s – they usually behave and respond to treatment in the same way as

       the primary tumour. A breast cancer is still a breast cancer, even if it develops secondary growths 

      in the lung or liver.

 

Each type of cancer has a usual pattern of spread  
    some cancers spread early in the disease, others not until much later, if ever 
    some spread through the blood, and secondary growths develop in organs such as the lungs, liver, 
      bones or brain 
    others spread via the lymph system, and growths start in the lymph nodes closest to the primary tumour
    some grow mainly in the localised area, invading organs and tissues next to the primary tumour.

 

Why is cancer a health problem? 
Growing cancers can destroy tissues or organs like the lungs or liver and can sometimes lead to organ failure.

 

Cancer symptoms are often caused by tissue destruction of organs, or pressure from the growing tumour. Growing cancers can also produce generalised effects such as weight loss, tiredness and reduced resistance to infection.

 

Find out more 

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            What is cancer?