What is cancer?

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

1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the UK, the 4 most common types of cancer are:

breast cancer
lung cancer
prostate cancer
bowel cancer.

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

Spotting signs of cancer

Be aware of changes to your body's normal processes or unusual, unexplained symptoms as they can sometimes be an early sign of cancer.

Spotting signs of cancer can lead to early diagnosis and can be easier to treat. In some cases, with early screening, abnormalities can be detected early enough to prevent the cancer from developing.

If you notice any symptoms you are worried about, book an appointment with your GP and be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Coronavirus update

It's important to get help from a GP if you have symptoms that you're worried about. Here you’ll find contact details for GP’s in West Essex

More information

The following links have more useful information about cancer: