Cancer is not one disease but a large family of diseases sharing one behaviour: cells growing out of control. This guide walks you through how cancer is found, confirmed, staged and treated, how pathology and imaging drive every decision, where genetics fits, and where to find dedicated support, including The HOPE Fund for upper GI and HPB cancers.
2tests
biopsy and imaging start every diagnosis4stages
used to describe how far cancer has spread5-10%
of cancers are linked to inherited gene changes1fund
dedicated to upper GI and HPB cancersUnderstanding the machinery of diagnosis takes fear out of the process and puts you back in the conversation.
Tricorian LifeEvery cell in your body carries instructions for when to divide and when to stop. Cancer begins when changes, called mutations, accumulate in those instructions and a cell starts dividing without limit, forming a tumour and sometimes spreading through lymph or blood to other organs, a process called metastasis.
Cancers are named by where they start and the cell type involved. Breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer and leukaemia all share the same underlying behaviour but follow very different pathways.
Most cancers arise from mutations acquired over a lifetime. A minority, around 5 to 10 percent, are linked to inherited gene changes such as BRCA1, BRCA2 and Lynch syndrome genes. This is where genetic testing becomes relevant.
When cancer is found while still localised, treatment is usually simpler and outcomes are better. That is why screening programs and early investigation of symptoms exist.
Two people with the same cancer type may have tumours with different mutations. Modern treatment increasingly matches therapy to the molecular profile of the tumour itself.
A cancer diagnosis is never made from a single test. It is built from three layers: imaging to see it, biopsy to confirm it under the microscope, and staging to describe how far it has reached.
The first step is usually imaging to locate a suspicious area and see its size and surroundings. CT is the workhorse; MRI adds soft-tissue detail; PET shows metabolic activity. See our radiology topic for how each works.
A sample of tissue is taken by needle, endoscope or surgery and examined by a pathologist. The histopathology report confirms whether cancer is present, what type it is, and how aggressive it looks.
Routine bloods check how your organs are functioning. Tumour markers such as PSA, CA-125 or CEA can support monitoring, but are rarely diagnostic on their own.
Staging combines imaging, biopsy and sometimes surgery to describe the cancer, typically using the TNM system: tumour size, lymph node involvement, and whether it has metastasised. Stage 1 to 4 guides treatment.
Tests the tumour's DNA for mutations that match targeted therapies or clinical trials. Now standard for many cancer types, and a rapidly advancing field.
Where a hereditary pattern is suspected, blood or saliva testing looks for inherited mutations like BRCA or Lynch syndrome. The result affects your care, screening for relatives, and family planning.
Treatment is planned by a multidisciplinary team, often including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and nurses, and is tailored to the cancer type, stage, molecular profile and your own health and preferences.
Removing the tumour and nearby lymph nodes remains the cornerstone for many solid cancers, especially when disease is localised.
Precisely targeted radiation damages cancer cell DNA. Used to cure localised disease, shrink tumours before surgery, or relieve symptoms.
Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy treat cancer wherever it is in the body, increasingly guided by the tumour's molecular profile.
Managing symptoms, nutrition, pain and quality of life runs alongside curative treatment from day one. Not just end-of-life care, but care that supports living well throughout.
Cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract and the hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) system, including pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers, are among the most challenging to treat. A dedicated Australian organisation exists to move the needle.
Founded in 2018 by Melbourne-based clinicians, The HOPE Fund pursues the best possible outcomes for all upper GI and HPB cancers including pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers. It funds research, education and patient care, working to transform lives through research and patient care, and supports patients and their families across the journey.
Visit The HOPE FundUpper GI and HPB cancers are often diagnosed late because symptoms can be vague. They require highly specialised surgery, and research investment has historically lagged more common cancers. Dedicated funds like HOPE exist to close exactly that gap.
Open the glossaryAround 5 to 10 percent of cancers are linked to inherited gene changes. Hereditary cancer testing looks for the most common of these, with direct consequences for surveillance, treatment choice and family screening.
Inherited changes in these genes significantly raise the lifetime risk of breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. Testing informs surveillance and targeted therapies.
Changes in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and related genes raise the risk of bowel, womb, ovarian and other cancers. Identified early, screening can prevent cancers altogether.
Hereditary testing begins with a genetic counsellor or specialist who takes your family history, explains what testing can and cannot tell you, and supports every decision along the way.
Open the genetics guideFree, confidential support through the 13 11 20 information and support line, plus counselling, financial assistance and practical programs for people affected by any cancer. Your first call for general cancer support in Australia.
Visit Cancer CouncilIf you need recommendations or guidance in this space, whether understanding a report, deciding between tests, or navigating genetic testing options, reach out. Our team will help point you in the right direction. We respond within 24 hours.
Reach out to usNot on its own. Tumour markers support monitoring and can raise suspicion, but they are not specific enough to diagnose. Diagnosis requires imaging and, definitively, a biopsy examined by a pathologist.
Staging describes how far the cancer has spread. Roughly, stage 1 is localised, stages 2 and 3 involve nearby structures or lymph nodes, and stage 4 means spread to distant organs. The stage, together with the molecular profile, determines the treatment plan.
Often yes. If an inherited change is found, relatives may carry it too, and testing them, called cascade testing, allows earlier surveillance or prevention. A genetic counsellor guides this process family by family.
Start with your GP. Describe your symptoms honestly, including how long they have been present and what makes them better or worse. Your GP will arrange the right investigations or refer you to the right specialist, and can fast-track referral where symptoms are concerning.
Whether you are investigating symptoms, understanding a diagnosis, or supporting someone through treatment, our team can point you to the right recommendation. We respond within 24 hours.
Talk to our team or email [email protected]