Cancer FAQ
Ngā patapatai Cancer is complex, and you may have a lot of questions. The following are some commonly asked questions and answers about cancer.The human body is made up of billions of cells that group together to form organs and tissue such as the skin, bones, muscles, lungs and kidneys.
Typically, cells grow and over time they die and are replaced by new cells. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells begin to multiply and divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues or other parts of the body.
When these groups of abnormal cells form lumps or growths, they are called tumours. They behave differently depending on whether they are cancerous (malignant), non-cancerous (benign) or pre-cancerous.
Around one-third of cancers are preventable. A healthier life and looking after your body are essential to reduce the likelihood of getting cancer. However, not all cancers can be prevented. There are some things you can do to detect cancer early so that treatment can be more successful.
Most cancers start in an organ or tissue. This is called primary cancer or a primary site.
In some cases, cancer cells can spread to other areas of the body from where it began. This is called a metastasis or secondary cancer. This is when cancer cells spread via blood vessels or the lymphatic system (small tubes or vessels in the body) to other parts of the body.
Secondary cancers keep the name of the primary cancer. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the liver is called metastatic breast cancer.
It is important to be aware of your body and how you normally feel on a day to day basis. There are many different signs and symptoms of cancer including:
- Persistent pain
- Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- Unexplained and/or sudden weight changes
- Persistent cough
- Skin changes
- Lumps or bumps
- Unusual bleeding (e.g. rectal bleeding) or coughing up blood.
It is important to remember that experiencing a sign or symptom doesn't mean you have cancer. However, if you are concerned about anything, it is important to talk to your doctor about it as soon as possible. Finding cancer early usually means the treatment will be more successful.
Your doctor will talk to you about any physical exams or tests you might need if it is required. Write any questions down and take it with you to your appointment and your doctor will be able to answer them. You can also take a support person with you too (e.g. whānau member or friend).
Learn the signs and symptoms of these cancers: (link to signs and symptoms section of relevant pages)
- Bowel cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Melanoma cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Lung cancer
Each person deals with a cancer diagnosis differently, and their needs or preferences are unique to the individual and their whānau. Te Aho o Te Kahu provides information to help you make the best possible decisions for your health and whānau.
You may want to talk about it with someone you are comfortable with. There are many support services that you can contact too - see our support page.
You might have to go for further tests to find out more information about your cancer. This information will be used when making your treatment plan.
You may wish to consider advance care planning. This will assist you think about, talk about and share what matters to you for your future health care. To help you and your whānau start a conversation about it, visit the advance care planning website Tō Tātou Reo.
Learn more about what happens after diagnosis for these common cancers using the links below:
You can read about other types of cancer on our website.
