Cancer;A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can

invade nearby tissues

Types of Cancer
There are more than 100 types of cancer

#Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal
organs.

#Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or
other connective or supportive tissue.

#Leukemia is a 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 multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the
immune system.

#Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain
and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.(nci)

Many cancers form solid tumors, which are masses of tissue. Cancers of the blood, such as
leukemias, generally do not form solid tumors.

Cancerous tumors are malignant, which means they can spread into, or invade, nearby
tissues. In addition, as these tumors grow, some cancer cells can break off and travel to
distant places in the body through the blood or the lymph system and form new tumors far
from the original tumor.

Unlike malignant tumors, benign tumors do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. Benign
tumors can sometimes be quite large, however. When removed, they usually don’t grow
back, whereas malignant tumors sometimes do. Unlike most benign tumors elsewhere in the
body, benign brain tumors can be life threatening. .(nci)

Differences between Cancer Cells and Normal Cells

One important difference is that cancer cells are less specialized than normal
cells. That is, whereas normal cells mature into very distinct cell types with
specific functions, cancer cells do not. This is one reason that, unlike normal
cells, cancer cells continue to divide without stopping.

In addition, cancer cells are able to ignore signals that normally tell cells to
stop dividing or that begin a process known as programmed cell death, or
apoptosis, which the body uses to get rid of unneeded cells.

How Cancer Arises

Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, it is caused by changes to genes that
control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide.

Genetic changes that cause cancer can be inherited from our parents. They
can also arise during a person’s lifetime as a result of errors that occur as cells
divide or because of damage to DNA caused by certain environmental
exposures. Cancer-causing environmental exposures include substances,
such as the chemicals in tobacco smoke, and radiation, such as ultraviolet
rays from the sun. (Our Cancer Causes and Prevention section has more
information.)

Drivers" of Cancer
The genetic changes that contribute to cancer tend to affect three main
types of genes—proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes.
These changes are sometimes called “drivers” of cancer.

Proto-oncogenes are involved in normal cell growth and division.

Tumor suppressor genes are also involved in controlling cell growth and
division.

DNA repair genes are involved in fixing damaged DNA.

When Cancer Spreads

A cancer that has spread from the place where it first started to another
place in the body is called metastatic cancer. The process by which cancer
cells spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis.
Metastatic cancer has the same name and the same type of cancer cells as
the original, or primary, cancer

disease.

Tissue Changes that Are Not Cancer

Not every change in the body’s tissues is cancer..

Hyperplasia occurs when cells within a tissue divide faster than normal and extra cells build
up, or proliferate.

Dysplasia. In dysplasia, there is also a buildup of extra cells. However, the cells and the way
the tissue is organized look normal under a microscope.

Cancer Statistics
Statistics at a Glance: The Burden of Cancer Worldwide
 Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2012, there were 14.1 million new
cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide.
 57% of new cancer cases in 2012 occurred in less developed regions of the world that include
Central America and parts of Africa and Asia; 65% of cancer deaths also occurred in these
regions.
 The number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 23.6 million by 2030.

The International Agency for Research on CancerExit Disclaimer has more information
about cancer statistics across the world.
Types of Cancer Treatment
Surgery
When used to treat cancer, surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon removes cancer from
your body. Learn the different ways that surgery is used against cancer and what you can
expect before, during, and after surgery.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer
cells and shrink tumors. Learn about the types of radiation, why side effects happen, which
ones you might have, and more.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Learn how
chemotherapy works against cancer, why it causes side effects, and how it is used with other
cancer treatments.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. Get
information about the types of immunotherapy and what you can expect during treatment.

Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that
help them grow, divide, and spread. Learn how targeted therapy works against cancer and
about common side effects that may occur.

Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers
that use hormones to grow. Learn about the types of hormone therapy and side effects that
may happen.

Stem Cell Transplant

Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming stem cells in cancer patients
who have had theirs destroyed by very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Learn about the types of transplants, side effects that may occur, and how stem cell
transplants are used in cancer treatment.

Precision Medicine
Precision medicine helps doctors select treatments that are most likely to help patients based
on a genetic understanding of their disease. Learn about the role precision medicine plays in
cancer treatment, including how genetic changes in a person's cancer are identified and used
to select treatments.
 The list below includes the most-studied known or suspected risk factors for cancer.
 Age
 Alcohol
 Cancer-Causing Substances
 Chronic Inflammation
 Diet
 Hormones
 Immunosuppression
 Infectious Agents
 Obesity
 Radiation
 Sunlight
 Tobacco

Cancer Screening
 A Conversation with Dr. Barry Kramer about Cancer Screening
Inside NCI: A Conversation with Dr. Barry Kramer about Cancer Screening.

Checking for cancer (or for abnormal cells that may become cancer) in people who have no
symptoms is called screening.

General Information About Endometrial Cancer

KEY POINTS

 Endometrial cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the
endometrium.

 Obesity and having metabolic syndrome may increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

 Taking tamoxifen for breast cancer or taking estrogen alone (without progesterone) can increase
the risk of endometrial cancer.

 Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer include unusual vaginal bleeding or pain in the
pelvis.

 Tests that examine the endometrium are used to detect (find) and diagnose endometrial cancer.

 Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

Risk factors for endometrial cancer include the following:

 Taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause.

 Taking tamoxifen to prevent or treat breast cancer.
 Obesity.
 Having metabolic syndrome.
 Having type 2 diabetes.
 Exposure of endometrial tissue to estrogen made by the body. This may be caused by:
o Never giving birth.
o Menstruating at an early age.
o Starting menopause at a later age.
 Having polycystic ovarian syndrome.
 Having a family history of endometrial cancer in a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or
daughter).
 Having certain genetic conditions, such as Lynch syndrome.
 Having endometrial hyperplasia.

Older age is the main risk factor for most cancers. The chance of getting
cancer increases as you get older.

Taking tamoxifen for breast cancer or taking estrogen alone

(without progesterone) can increase the risk of endometrial
cancer
Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer
 Vaginal bleeding or discharge not related to menstruation (periods).
 Vaginal bleeding after menopause.
 Difficult or painful urination.
 Pain during sexual intercourse.
 Pain in the pelvic area.

Tests that examine the endometrium are used to detect (find)

and diagnose endometrial cancer.
 Endometrial biopsy : The removal of tissue from the endometrium (inner lining of the uterus)
by inserting a thin, flexible tube through the cervix and into the uterus. The tube is used to gently
scrape a small amount of tissue from the endometrium and then remove the tissue samples.
A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
 Dilatation and curettage : A procedure to remove samples of tissue from the inner lining of the
uterus. The cervix is dilated and a curette (spoon-shaped instrument) is inserted into the uterus to
remove tissue. The tissue samples are checked under a microscope for signs of disease. This
procedure is also called a D&C.ENLARGE

Dilatation and curettage (D and C). A speculum is inserted into the vagina to widen it in order to
look at the cervix (first panel). A dilator is used to widen the cervix (middle panel). A curette is
put through the cervix into the uterus to scrape out abnormal tissue (last panel).
 Hysteroscopy: A procedure to look inside the uterus for abnormal areas. A hysteroscope is
inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. A hysteroscope is a thin, tube-like
instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue samples,
which are checked under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Transvaginal ultrasound exam: A procedure used to examine the vagina,
uterus, fallopian tubes, and bladder. An ultrasound transducer (probe) is inserted
into the vagina and used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off
internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body
tissues called a sonogram. The doctor can identify tumors by looking at the
sonogram.ENLARGE

Transvaginal
ultrasound. An ultrasound probe connected to a computer is inserted into the vagina and is gently
moved to show different organs. The probe bounces sound waves off internal organs and tissues to
make echoes that form a sonogram (computer picture).

Uterine Sarcoma
Uterine sarcoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells
form in the muscles of the uterus or other tissues that support
the uterus.
Risk factors for uterine sarcoma include the following:

 Past treatment with radiation therapy to the pelvis.

 Treatment with tamoxifen for breast cancer.

Being exposed to x-rays can increase the risk of uterine sarcoma.

Signs of uterine sarcoma


 Bleeding that is not part of menstrual periods.
 Bleeding after menopause.
 A mass in the vagina.
 Pain or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
 Frequent urination.
 elvic exam: An exam of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum.
A speculum is inserted into the vagina and the doctor or nurse looks at the vagina and cervix
for signs of disease. A Pap test of the cervix is usually done. The doctor or nurse also inserts
one or two lubricated, gloved fingers of one hand into the vagina and places the other hand
over the lower abdomen to feel the size, shape, and position of the uterus and ovaries. The
doctor or nurse also inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for lumps or
abnormal areas.ENLARGE

Pelvic exam. A doctor or

nurse inserts one or two lubricated, gloved fingers of one hand into the vagina and presses on
the lower abdomen with the other hand. This is done to feel the size, shape, and position of
the uterus and ovaries. The vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, and rectum are also checked.
 Pap test: A procedure to collect cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. A piece of
cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the cervix and
vagina. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal. This
procedure is also called a Pap smear. Because uterine sarcoma begins inside the uterus, this
cancer may not show up on the Pap test.ENLARGE

Pap test. A speculum is inserted

into the vagina to widen it. Then, a brush is inserted into the vagina to collect cells from the
cervix. The cells are checked under a microscope for signs of disease.
Transvaginal ultrasound exam

Dilatation and curettage

Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells
form in the tissues of the prostate.
Signs of prostate cancer
 Weak or interrupted ("stop-and-go") flow of urine.
 Sudden urge to urinate.
 Frequent urination (especially at night).
 Trouble starting the flow of urine.
 Trouble emptying the bladder completely.
 Pain or burning while urinating.
 Blood in the urine or semen.
 A pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.
 Shortness of breath, feeling very tired, fast heartbeat, dizziness, or pale skin caused by anemia.

Normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A normal prostate does not block the flow
of urine from the bladder. An enlarged prostate presses on the bladder and urethra and blocks the
flow of urine.

Tests that examine the prostate and blood are used to detect
(find) and diagnose prostate cancer.
 Digital rectal exam (DRE): An exam of the rectum. The doctor or nurse inserts a lubricated,
gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall for lumps
or abnormal areas.ENLARGE
 Digital rectal exam (DRE).
The doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the prostate to check for
anything abnormal.
 Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test : A test that measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is
a substance made by the prostate that may be found in an increased amount in the blood of men
who have prostate cancer. PSA levels may also be high in men who have
an infection or inflammation of the prostate or BPH (an enlarged, but noncancerous, prostate).
 Transrectal ultrasound : A procedure in which a probe that is about the size of a finger is
inserted into the rectum to check the prostate. The probe is used to bounce high-energy sound
waves (ultrasound) off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of
body tissues called a sonogram. Transrectal ultrasound may be used during a biopsy procedure.

ENLARGETransrectal
ultrasound. An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum to check the prostate. The probe
bounces sound waves off body tissues to make echoes that form a sonogram (computer picture)
of the p rostate.
 Transrectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A procedure that uses a strong magnet, radio
waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. A probe that
gives off radio waves is inserted into the rectum near the prostate. This helps the MRI machine
make clearer pictures of the prostate and nearby tissue. A transrectal MRI is done to find out if
the cancer has spread outside the prostate into nearby tissues. This procedure is also called
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
 Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by
a pathologist. The pathologist will check the tissue sample to see if there are cancer cells and find
 out the Gleason score. The Gleason score ranges from 2-10 and describes how likely it is that
a tumor will spread. The lower the number, the less likely the tumor is to spread.
A transrectal biopsy is used to diagnose prostate cancer. A transrectal biopsy is the
removal of tissue from the prostate by inserting a thin needle through the rectum and into
the prostate. This procedure is usually done using transrectal ultrasound to help guide
where samples of tissue are taken from. A pathologist views the tissue under a
microscope to look for cancer cells.

ENLARGE Transrectal
biopsy. An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum to show where the tumor is. Then a
needle is inserted through the rectum into the prostate to remove tissue from the prostate.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the

tissues of the breast
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in
the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular
carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast
cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in
which the breast is warm, red, and swollen.

Risk factors for breast cancer include the following:

 A personal history of invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or lobular
carcinoma in situ (LCIS).
 A personal history of benign (noncancer) breast disease.
 A family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, or sister).
 Inherited changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes or in other genes that increase the risk of breast
cancer.
 Breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram.
 Exposure of breast tissue to estrogen made by the body. This may be caused by:
o Menstruating at an early age.
o Older age at first birth or never having given birth.
o Starting menopause at a later age.
 Taking hormones such as estrogen combined with progestin for symptoms of menopause.
 Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
 Drinking alcohol.
 Obesity.

Older age is the main risk factor for most cancers. The chance of getting
cancer increases as you get older.

Breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene

mutations (changes).
Hereditary breast cancer makes up about 5% to 10% of all breast cancer. Women
who have certain gene mutations, such as a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, have an
increased risk of breast cancer. These women also have an increased risk of ovarian
cancer

The use of certain medicines and other factors decrease the

risk of breast cancer.
Protective factors for breast cancer include the following:
 Taking any of the following:
o Estrogen-only hormone therapy after a hysterectomy.
o Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).
o Aromatase inhibitors.
 Less exposure of breast tissue to estrogen made by the body. This can be a result of:
o Early pregnancy.
o Breastfeeding.
 Getting enough exercise.
 Having any of the following procedures:
o Mastectomy to reduce the risk of cancer.
o Oophorectomy to reduce the risk of cancer.
o Ovarian ablation.

Signs of breast cancer

 A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
 A change in the size or shape of the breast.
 A dimple or puckering in the skin of the breast.
 A nipple turned inward into the breast.
 Fluid, other than breast milk, from the nipple, especially if it's bloody.
 Scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola (the dark area of skin around the
nipple).
 Dimples in the breast that look like the skin of an orange, called peau d’orange.

Tests that examine the breasts

 Clinical breast exam (CBE): An exam of the breast by a doctor or other health professional.
The doctor will carefully feel the breasts and under the arms for lumps or anything else that
seems unusual.
 Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast.ENLARGE

Mammography. The breast is pressed between two plates. X-rays are used to take pictures of
breast tissue.
 Ultrasound exam: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off
internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called
a sonogram. The picture can be printed to be looked at later.
 MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a
computer to make a series of detailed pictures of both breasts. This procedure is also called
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
 Blood chemistry studies : A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the
amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An
unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease.
 Biopsy : The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by
a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. If a lump in the breast is found, a biopsy may be done.

There are four types of biopsy used to check for breast cancer:

o Excisional biopsy : The removal of an entire lump of tissue.

o Incisional biopsy : The removal of part of a lump or a sample of tissue.
o Core biopsy : The removal of tissue using a wide needle.
o Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy : The removal of tissue or fluid, using a thin needle.
wiki
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or
spread to other parts of the body.[2][8] These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread to
other parts of the body

Early detection through screening is useful for cervical. Cancer is a "great imitator

Cancers are caused by a series of mutations. Each mutation alters the

behavior of the cell somewhat.

These types include:cancer

 Carcinoma: Cancers derived from epithelial cells. This group includes many of the most
common cancers and include nearly all those in
the breast, prostate, lung, pancreas and colon.
 Sarcoma: Cancers arising from connective tissue (i.e. bone, cartilage, fat, nerve), each of
which develops from cells originating in mesenchymal cells outside the bone marrow.
 Lymphoma and leukemia: These two classes arise from hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells
that leave the marrow and tend to mature in the lymph nodes and blood, respectively.[96]
 Germ cell tumor: Cancers derived from pluripotent cells, most often presenting in
the testicle or the ovary (seminoma and dysgerminoma, respectively).
 Blastoma: Cancers derived from immature "precursor" cells or embryonic tissue.

History
. The earliest written record regarding cancer is from circa 1600 BC in the Egyptian Edwin Smith
Papyrus and describes breast cancer.[183] Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC) described
several kinds of cancer, referring to them with the Greek word καρκίνος karkinos (crab
or crayfish).
In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, it became acceptable for doctors to dissect bodies to
discover the cause of death.[186] The German professor Wilhelm Fabry believed that breast cancer
was caused by a milk clot in a mammary duct. The Dutch professor Francois de la Boe Sylvius, a
follower of Descartes, believed that all disease was the outcome of chemical processes and that
acidic lymph fluid was the cause of cancer. His contemporary Nicolaes Tulp believed that cancer
was a poison that slowly spreads and concluded that it was contagious.[187]
The physician John Hill described tobacco snuff as the cause of nose cancer in 1761.[186] This
was followed by the report in 1775 by British surgeon Percivall Pott that chimney sweeps'
carcinoma, a cancer of the scrotum, was a common disease among chimney sweeps.[188] With
the widespread use of the microscope in the 18th century, it was discovered that the 'cancer
poison' spread from the primary tumor through the lymph nodes to other sites ("metastasis").
This view of the disease was first formulated by the English surgeon Campbell De
Morgan between 1871 and 1874.[189]

Epidemiology

In 2008, approximately 12.7 million cancers were diagnosed (excluding non-melanoma skin
cancers and other non-invasive cancers)[22] and in 2010 nearly 7.98 million people
died.[170] Cancers account for approximately 13% of deaths. The most common are lung cancer
(1.4 million deaths), stomach cancer (740,000), liver cancer (700,000), colorectal
cancer (610,000) and breast cancer (460,000).[171]

Death from cancer per million persons in 2012

135–367 368–443 444–521 522–588 589–736 969-1,567 1,568–2,085 2,086–2,567 2,568–3,320