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List of Common Cancer Types
Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Cancer forms in tissues of the bladder - the organ that stores urine. Most bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinomas - cancer that begins in cells that normally make up the inner lining of the bladder. Other types include squamous cell carcinoma - cancer that begins in thin, flat cells - and adenocarcinoma which is cancer that begins in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids. The cells that form squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma develop in the inner lining of the bladder as a result of chronic irritation and inflammation.
Bone Cancer
- Cancer that starts in the bone is uncommon.
- Pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer.
- Surgery is the usual treatment for bone cancer.
- With modern surgical techniques, 9 out of 10 people who have bone cancer in an arm or leg may not need amputation.
- Because bone cancer can come back after treatment, regular follow-up visits are important.
- People with bone cancer are encouraged to enroll in clinical trials (research studies) that explore new treatments.
Breast Cancer
- Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the lining of the milk ducts (thin tubes that carry milk from the lobules of the breast to the nipple). Another type of breast cancer is lobular carcinoma, which begins in the lobules (milk glands) of the breast. Invasive breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread from where it began in the breast ducts or lobules to surrounding normal tissue. Breast cancer occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.
Colon and Rectal Cancer
- Colon cancer forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids).
- Rectal cancer forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus).
Endometrial Cancer
- Cancer that forms in the tissue lining the uterus - the small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis in which a fetus develops. Most endometrial cancers are adenocarcinomas - cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids.
Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer
- Cancer that forms in tissues of the kidneys. Kidney cancer includes renal cell carcinoma (cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products) and renal pelvis carcinoma (cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects). It also includes Wilms tumor, which is a type of kidney cancer that usually develops in children under the age of 5.
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 bloodstream.
Lung Cancer
- Lung Cancer forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope.
Melanoma
- A form of cancer that begins in melanocytes - cells that make the pigment melanin. It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Any of a large group of cancers of lymphocytes (white blood cells). Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur at any age and are often marked by lymph nodes that are larger than normal, fever, and weight loss. There are many different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These types can be divided into aggressive (fast-growing) and indolent (slow-growing) types, and they can be formed from either B-cells or T-cells. B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas include Burkitt lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, immunoblastic large cell lymphoma, precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas include mycosis fungoides, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Lymphomas that occur after bone marrow or stem cell transplantation are usually B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and type of disease. Also called NHL.
Pancreatic Cancer
- A disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the tissues of the pancreas. Also called exocrine cancer.
Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer forms in tissues of the prostate - which is the gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer usually occurs in older men.
Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer forms in the thyroid gland (an organ at the base of the throat that makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight). Four main types of thyroid cancer are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. The four types are based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope.