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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Types of Cancer. What are the Different Types of Cancer?

Types of Cancer
What are the Different Types of Cancer?

Cancer is a broad term used to encompass several malignant diseases. There are over 100 different types of cancer, affecting various parts of the body. Each type of cancer is unique with its own causes, symptoms, and methods of treatment. Like with all groups of disease, some types of cancer are more common than others.

Common Types of Cancer
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and women. Over one million cases are diagnosed each year, with more young people having skin cancer than ever before. The most common types of cancer in the United States based on frequency of diagnosis are:

bladder cancer
breast cancer
colon cancer
endometrial cancer
kidney cancer (renal cell)
leukemia
lung cancer
melanoma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
pancreatic cancer
prostate cancer
thyroid cancer

Types of Cancer Classified by Body System
Cancer has the potential to affect every organ in the body. The cells within malignant tumors have the ability to invade neighboring tissues and organs, thus spreading the disease. It is also possible for cancerous cells to break free from the tumor and enter the bloodstream, in turn spreading the disease to other organs. This process of spreading is called metastasis.

When cancer has metastasized and has affected other areas of the body, the disease is still referred to the organ of origination. For instance, if cervical cancer spreads to the lungs, it is still called cervical cancer, not lung cancer.

Blood Cancer: The cells in the bone marrow that give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets can sometimes become cancerous. These cancers are leukemia or lymphoma.

Leukemia
Lymphoma
Multiple Myeloma
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

Bone Cancer: Bone cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer that can affect both children and adults, but primarily affects children and teens. There are several types of bone cancer, but the most common types are:

Ewing's Sarcoma
Osteosarcoma

Brain Cancer: Brain tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). They affect both children and adults. Malignant brain tumors don't often spread beyond the brain. However, other types of cancer have the ability to spread to the brain. Types of brain cancer include:

Adult Brain Tumor
Brain Stem Glioma, Childhood
Cerebellar Astrocytoma, Childhood
Cerebral Astrocytoma/Malignant Glioma, Childhood
Ependymoma, Childhood
Medulloblastoma, Childhood
Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma, Childhood
Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma, Childhood

Breast Cancer: Breast cancer is a common type of cancer that affects women and much less commonly, men. More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year. Types of breast cancer include, but are not limited to:

ductal carcinoma in situ
lobular carcinoma in situ
inflammatory breast cancer
Paget's disease of the nipple
Invasive types of breast cancer

Digestive/Gastrointestinal Cancers This is a broad category of cancer that affects everything from the esophagus to the anus. Each type is specific and has its own symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Anal Cancer
Bile Duct Cancer, Extrahepatic
Carcinoid Tumor, Gastrointestinal
colon cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Gallbladder Cancer
Liver Cancer, Adult Primary
Liver Cancer, Childhood
Pancreatic Cancer
Rectal Cancer
Small Intestine Cancer
Stomach (Gastric) Cancer

Endocrine Cancers: The endocrine system is an instrumental part of the body that is responsible for glandular and hormonal activity. Thyroid cancer is the most common of the endocrine cancer types and generally, the least fatal.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Carcinoid Tumor, Gastrointestinal
Islet Cell Carcinoma (Endocrine Pancreas)
Parathyroid Cancer
Pheochromocytoma
Pituitary Tumor
Thyroid Cancer

Eye Cancer: Like other organs in the human body, the eyes are vulnerable to cancer as well. Eye cancer can affect both children and adults.

Melanoma, Intraocular
Retinoblastoma

Genitourinary Cancers: These types of cancer affect the male genitalia and urinary tract.

Bladder Cancer
Kidney cancer (renal cell)
Penile Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer, Transitional Cell
Testicular Cancer
Urethral Cancer
Wilms' Tumor and Other Childhood Kidney Tumors

Gynecologic Cancers: This group of cancer types affect the organs of the female reproductive system. Specialized oncologists called gynecologic oncologists are recommended for treating gynecologic cancer.

Cervical Cancer
Endometrial Cancer
Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor
Ovarian Cancer
Uterine Sarcoma
Vaginal Cancer
Vulvar Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer: Most head and neck cancers affect moist mucosal surfaces of the head and neck, like the mouth, throat, and nose. Causes of head and neck cancer vary, but cigarette smoking plays a role. Current research suggests a strong HPV link in the development of some head and neck cancer.

Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer
Lip and Oral Cancer
Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Oropharyngeal Cancer
Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer
Parathyroid Cancer
Salivary Gland Cancer

Respiratory Cancers: Cigarette smoking is the primary cause for cancer affecting the respiratory system. Exposure to asbestos is also a factor.

Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell
Lung Cancer, Small Cell
Malignant Mesothelioma
Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma

Skin Cancers:
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among men and women. Exposure to the UV rays of the sun is the primary cause for non-melanoma skin cancer and also melanoma.

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Kaposi's Sarcoma
Melanoma
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer


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