Introduction

This section gives basic information about cancer and how it is diagnosed.

Key points

• Cancer is the name given to a group of diseases that can develop in any part of the body.
• There are many different types of cancer (even in the same part of the body).
• Each type has different symptoms and may need different treatment and care.
• Cancer is not contagious (it cannot be caught from someone else).
• Even if a cure is not possible many cancers can now be controlled for a long time.
  

Page last edited: 21 October 2011