What is Cancer?
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body.There are over 200 types of cancer.Anything that may cause a normal body cell to develop abnormally potentially can cause cancer; general categories of cancer-related or causative agents are as follows: chemical or toxic compound exposures, ionizing radiation, some pathogens, and human genetics.Cancer symptoms and signs depend on the specific type and grade of cancer; although general signs and symptoms are not very specific the following can be found in patients with different cancers: fatigue, weight loss, pain, skin changes, change in bowel or bladder function, unusual bleeding, persistent cough or voice change, fever, lumps, or tissue masses.Although there are many tests to screen and presumptively diagnose cancer, the definite diagnosis is made by examination of a biopsy sample of suspected cancer tissue.Cancer staging is often determined by biopsy results and helps determine the cancer type and the extent of cancer spread; staging also helps caregivers determine treatment protocols. In general, in most staging methods, the higher the number assigned (usually between 0 to 4), the more aggressive the cancer type or more widespread is the cancer in the body. Staging methods differ from cancer to cancer and need to be individually discussed with your health-care provider.Treatment protocols vary according to the type and stage of the cancer. Most treatment protocols are designed to fit the individual patient's disease. However, most treatments include at least one of the following and may include all: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.There are many listed home remedies and alternative treatments for cancers but patients are strongly recommended to discuss these before use with their cancer doctors.The prognosis of cancer can range from excellent to poor. The prognosis depends on the cancer type and its staging with those cancers known to be aggressive and those staged with higher numbers (3 to 4) often have a prognosis that ranges more toward poor.
Cancer 101 Slideshow Breast Cancer Slides Skin Cancer Slideshow
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What is cancer?
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Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. These abnormal cells are termed cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumor cells. These cells can infiltrate normal body tissues. Many cancers and the abnormal cells that compose the cancer tissue are further identified by the name of the tissue that the abnormal cells originated from (for example, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer). Cancer is not confined to humans; animals and other living organisms can get cancer. Below is a schematic that shows normal cell division and how when a cell is damaged or altered without repair to its system, the cell usually dies. Also shown is what occurs when such damaged or unrepaired cells do not die and become cancer cells and show uncontrolled division and growth -- a mass of cancer cells develop. Frequently, cancer cells can break away from this original mass of cells, travel through the blood and lymph systems, and lodge in other organs where they can again repeat the uncontrolled growth cycle. This process of cancer cells leaving an area and growing in another body area is termed metastatic spread or metastasis. For example, if breast cancer cells spread to a bone, it means that the individual has metastatic breast cancer to bone. This is not the same as "bone cancer," which would mean the cancer had started in the bone.
The following table (National Cancer Institute 2016) gives the estimated numbers of new cases and deaths for each common cancer type:
Types of cancer.
AAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)Adolescents, Cancer inAdrenocortical CarcinomaChildhood Adrenocortical Carcinoma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodAIDS-Related CancersKaposi Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)AIDS-Related Lymphoma (Lymphoma)Primary CNS Lymphoma (Lymphoma)Anal CancerAppendix Cancer - see Gastrointestinal Carcinoid TumorsAstrocytomas, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Childhood, Central Nervous System (Brain Cancer)BBasal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin - see Skin CancerBile Duct CancerBladder CancerChildhood Bladder Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodBone Cancer (includes Ewing Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma)Brain TumorsBreast CancerChildhood Breast Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodBronchial Tumors, Childhood - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodBurkitt Lymphoma - see Non-Hodgkin LymphomaCCarcinoid Tumor (Gastrointestinal)Childhood Carcinoid Tumors - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodCarcinoma of Unknown PrimaryChildhood Carcinoma of Unknown Primary - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodCardiac (Heart) Tumors, Childhood - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodCentral Nervous SystemAtypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Embryonal Tumors, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Germ Cell Tumor, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Primary CNS LymphomaCervical CancerChildhood Cervical Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodChildhood CancersCancers of Childhood, UnusualCholangiocarcinoma - see Bile Duct CancerChordoma, Childhood - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodChronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)Chronic Myeloproliferative NeoplasmsColorectal CancerChildhood Colorectal Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodCraniopharyngioma, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma - see Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome)DDuctal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) - see Breast CancerEEmbryonal Tumors, Central Nervous System, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer)Ependymoma, Childhood (Brain Cancer)Esophageal CancerChildhood Esophageal Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodEsthesioneuroblastoma (Head and Neck Cancer)Ewing Sarcoma (Bone Cancer)Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor, ChildhoodExtragonadal Germ Cell TumorEye CancerChildhood Intraocular Melanoma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodIntraocular MelanomaRetinoblastomaFFallopian Tube CancerFibrous Histiocytoma of Bone, Malignant, and OsteosarcomaGGallbladder CancerGastric (Stomach) CancerChildhood Gastric (Stomach) Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodGastrointestinal Carcinoid TumorGastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)(Soft Tissue Sarcoma)Childhood Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodGerm Cell TumorsChildhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors (Brain Cancer)Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell TumorsExtragonadal Germ Cell TumorsOvarian Germ Cell TumorsTesticular CancerGestational Trophoblastic DiseaseHHairy Cell LeukemiaHead and Neck CancerHeart Tumors, Childhood - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodHepatocellular (Liver) CancerHistiocytosis, Langerhans CellHodgkin LymphomaHypopharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)IIntraocular MelanomaChildhood Intraocular Melanoma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodIslet Cell Tumors, Pancreatic Neuroendocrine TumorsKKaposi Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma)Kidney (Renal Cell) CancerLLangerhans Cell HistiocytosisLaryngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)LeukemiaLip and Oral Cavity Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)Liver CancerLung Cancer (Non-Small Cell and Small Cell)Childhood Lung Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodLymphomaMMale Breast CancerMalignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone and OsteosarcomaMelanomaChildhood Melanoma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodMelanoma, Intraocular (Eye)Childhood Intraocular Melanoma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodMerkel Cell Carcinoma (Skin Cancer)Mesothelioma, MalignantChildhood Mesothelioma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodMetastatic CancerMetastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary (Head and Neck Cancer)Midline Tract Carcinoma Involving NUTGeneMouth Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodMultiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell NeoplasmsMycosis Fungoides (Lymphoma)Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative NeoplasmsMyelogenous Leukemia, Chronic (CML)Myeloid Leukemia, Acute (AML)Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, ChronicNNasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)Nasopharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)NeuroblastomaNon-Hodgkin LymphomaNon-Small Cell Lung CancerOOral Cancer, Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer and Oropharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of BoneOvarian CancerChildhood Ovarian Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodPPancreatic CancerChildhood Pancreatic Cancer - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodPancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors)Papillomatosis (Childhood Laryngeal)ParagangliomaChildhood Paraganglioma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodParanasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)Parathyroid CancerPenile CancerPharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer)PheochromocytomaChildhood Pheochromocytoma - see Unusual Cancers of ChildhoodPituitary TumorPlasma Cell Neoplasm/Multiple MyelomaPleuropulmonary Blastoma - see Unusual Cancers of Childhood
