Cancer

Cancer develops when a cell in the body begins to grow abnormally fast or out of control. As a result of this growth, the cell loses its specialised characteristics and tumours develop which may impact the normal functioning of the tissues, organ or body systems.

Cancer normally develops in the form of a tumour and usually develops in a major organ. Tumours can be benign, or non-cancerous, or malignant which means it has spread to other parts of the body. Cancer will always be named after the place it began, regardless of where cancer may have spread.

Symptoms and characteristics

The symptoms of cancer can be variable depending on the location of cancer, the size of the cancer and its impact on surrounding structures or spread to other organs. General symptoms of cancer may include:

• fever which is very common, particularly in the later stages of cancer
• fatigue
• pain may appear early, but particularly in the later stages
• unexplained weight loss may be the first symptom of cancer or in later stages
• specific symptoms such as a lump on an organ
• changes in the skin such as darkening, yellowing or reddening of the skin.

For more information on the symptoms and characteristics of specific types of cancer, please see the link below:

• Cancer—specific types

Workplace adjustments and solutions

A person's ability to participate in work will be influenced by the type of cancer, the stage of the disease, the type of treatment being undertaken and its side effects. In the workplace there are various factors that would greatly assist people with cancer to better manage their symptoms and side effects from treatment. For example, sedentary work may be appropriate for people experiencing pain, fatigue, nausea or weakness resulting from treatment side effects. Flexible work hours may be required to accommodate treatment and recovery requirements.

References

American Cancer Society 2011, What is Cancer?, American Cancer Society, Ltd, online, viewed 16 December 2011,  

Better Health Channel 2011, Cancer, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 16 December 2011, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cancer_explained?open.

MD Guidelines 1991—2011, Cancer, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 16 December 2011, http://www.mdguidelines.com/.  

Cancer Council Australia 2011, FAQS, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, viewed 16 December 2011, http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/FAQ.htm.