What is cancer?

Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably.

Some cancers may spread into other tissues and organs.

Cancer starts when damage to our DNA builds up over time. Our DNA is a set of instructions which tell our body’s cells what to do.

There are more than 200 different types of cancer and each is diagnosed and treated in a particular way.

In the UK the most common types of cancer are:

• breast
• lung
• prostate
• bowel

1 in 2 people born after 1960 will get some form of cancer. Due to medical research and improvements in diagnosing and treating cancer, many people are now cured of cancer or survive for many years, even if their cancer cannot be cured.

If your GP suspects cancer, they’ll refer you to a specialist, you'll usually be seen within 2 weeks.

Visit the Cancer Research UK website for detailed information explaining more about what cancer is, how it starts and grows.

You can also find more information about cancer on the NHS website.