What Is Cancer?
Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases in which cells grow uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissue or spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. It begins when genetic changes disrupt the normal controls on cell growth and death.
Main Categories
Carcinomas
Begin in skin or tissue lining organs — breast, lung, colon, prostate. The most common category.
Sarcomas
Arise in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or blood vessels.
Leukemias & Lymphomas
Blood cancers starting in bone marrow or the lymphatic system.
Brain & CNS Tumors
Begin in the brain or spinal cord, such as gliomas.
Staging & Grading
Stage describes how far cancer has spread (usually 0 to IV using the TNM system). Grade describes how abnormal the cells look under a microscope. Both guide treatment decisions and prognosis.
Treatment Types
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Stem cell / bone marrow transplant
Medically reviewed content for education only — not a substitute for advice from your oncology team.