The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as 'metastasis'.

Early signs of cancer are changes to your body's normal processes or symptoms that are out of the ordinary.

For example, a lump that suddenly appears on your body, unexplained bleeding or changes to your bowel habits are all symptoms that need to be checked by a doctor.

Cancer has a significant impact on the Australian community in terms of death, illness and costs. The most common cancers in Australia are:

• prostate cancer
• breast cancer
• bowel cancer
• melanoma
• lung cancer
• skin cancers
• head and neck cancers
• uterine cancer
• lymphoma
• leukaemia
• cervical cancer
• ovarian cancer
• thyroid cancer