Cancer
Also called: Carcinoma, Malignancy, Neoplasms, Tumor
Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don’t need them, and old cells don’t die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren’t cancer while malignant ones are. Cells from malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Most treatment plans may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Some may involve hormone therapy, immunotherapy or other types of biologic therapy, or stem cell transplantation.
Diagnosis and Tests
- Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ) (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Cancer Staging (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Exams and Test Descriptions (American Cancer Society)
- Fine Needle Aspiration (American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery)
- Karyotype Genetic Test (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Test (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
- Pathology Reports (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Tumor Grade (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Tumor Marker Tests (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
- Tumor Markers (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Understanding Laboratory Tests (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Calcium and Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Cancer Prevention Overview (PDQ) (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Diet Choices to Prevent Cancer (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
- How Is Cancer Risk Measured? (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Lowering Your Cancer Risk: Healthy Living for Cancer Prevention (National Institutes of Health)Also in Spanish
- Risk Factors (National Cancer Institute)
- Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplements for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) – PDF
Treatments and Therapies
- A to Z List of Cancer Drugs (National Cancer Institute)
- Adjuvant Therapy: Treatment to Keep Cancer from Returning (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Cancer Alternative Therapies: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
- Cancer Chemotherapy: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)
- Cancer Immunotherapy: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
- Cancer Surgery: Physically Removing Cancer (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
- Cancer Treatment Scams (Federal Trade Commission)Also in Spanish
- Drugs Approved for Solid Tumors Anywhere in the Body (National Cancer Institute)
- Hyperthermia to Treat Cancer (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Lasers to Treat Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
- Managing Cancer Care – Finding Health Care Services (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Pain Control (National Cancer Institute) – PDF
- Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
- Radiation Therapy: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)
- Targeted Cancer Therapies (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Treatment Option Overview (Carcinoma of Unknown Primary) (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
- Treatment Option Overview (Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors) (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish