What does the word "Cancer" mean
Cancer is a word used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can spread to other areas of the body invading other tissues causing them to act abnormally too.
How many types of cancer are there?
Cancer is many different diseases (currently more than 100 different types) that are often named for the type of cell or organ where they begin. Examples include breast cancer, colon cancer, or skin cancer.
Groups of cancers?
As Oncologists, we divide the list of cancers into several categories including:
- Carcinoma – cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
- Sarcoma – cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
- Leukemia – cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
- Lymphoma and myeloma – cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
- Central nervous system cancers – cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.