Types of Cancer
Types of Cancer:
Cancer is categorized according to its location inside the body or the type of cell from which it starts.
1. Based on Cell of Origin
a. Carcinomas:
· Cancer that starts in the skin, glands, or organs' lining epithelium.
· Skin, lungs, colon, pancreas, liver, breast, and prostate are among the common locations.
· Examples: Adenocarcinoma: Develops in glandular tissues, such as the pancreas, lungs, prostate, and breast.
Squamous cell Carcinoma: Develops in Flat epithelial cells, such as skin, cervix, esophagus.
b. Sarcomas:
· Cancer originating in connective or supportive tissues.
· Bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, fat, and blood arteries are common locations.
· Examples: Osteosarcoma (Bone), Angiosarcoma (Blood vessels), Liposarcoma
(Fat), Leiomyosarcoma (Smooth muscle).
c. Leukemias:
· Cancer of the blood-forming tissues, leading to abnormal white blood cell production.
· Abnormal cells circulate in the blood; there is no solid tumor. impacts blood and bone marrow.
· Types: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
d. Lymphomas:
· Cancer of the lymphatic system, which includes the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.
· Types: Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
e. Myelomas:
· Cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow.
· Examples: Multiple Myeloma.
f. Melanomas:
· Cancer that arises in the cells that produce pigment, called melanocytes.
· Skin, eyes (ocular melanoma), and mucous membranes are common sites.
g. Germ Cell Tumors:
· Cancer that starts in germ cells, which are cells that give birth to sperm or eggs.
· Examples: Testicular Cancer, Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors.
· The ovaries, testes, and occasionally the chest or abdomen are common sites.
h. Neuroendocrine Tumors:
· Cancer that develops in neuroendocrine cells that produce hormones.
· Examples: Carcinoid Tumors, Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.
i. Blastomas:
· Cancer that arises from tissues that are still growing or embryonic.
· Examples: Retinoblastoma (Eye), Neuroblastoma (Nervous system), Hepatoblastoma (Liver).
2. Based on Location:
a. Lung Cancer:
· Associated to air pollution and smoking.
· Types: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC).
b. Neck and Head Cancer:
· Include cancers of the oral cavity, throat, and larynx.
· Associated with HPV infection, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
c. Gastrointestinal Cancer:
· The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a 25-foot-long pathway where food is processed to extract nutrients, with waste expelled through the colon and rectum. When DNA alterations cause abnormal cell development in certain tissues, tumors may develop.
· It includes Esophageal Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Liver Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer.
d. Breast Cancer:
· Breast cancer develops when cells in the breast proliferate uncontrollably and develop into tumors.
· One of the most prevalent malignancies that affects women and those who are assigned female at birth is breast cancer.
· Types: Ductal carcinoma in situ, Invasive ductal carcinoma, Triple-negative breast cancer.
e. Genitourinary Cancer:
· Genitourinary cancers refer to cancers of the urinary system of men and women and the reproductive organs in men. Gynecologic cancers, which are cancers of the reproductive organs, can also affect women.
· It includes Prostate Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Cervical Cancer.
f. Skin Cancer:
· Skin cancer is caused by abnormal cells growing in the tissues of your skin.
· It includes Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma.
g. Central Nervous System Cancer:
· Central nervous system cancers are those that affect the brain and spinal cord. When abnormal cells develop in any area of the brain or spine, these tumors develop. A tumor may be malignant, which indicates the presence of cancer, or benign, which indicates it contains no cancer cells.
· It includes Brain Tumors (Glioblastoma, astrocytoma), Spinal Cord Tumors.
3. Based on Behavior:
a. Benign Tumor: A group of cells that grows gradually and doesn't spread to other areas of the body is called a benign tumor. Benign tumors grow slowly and have distinct borders. They typically have an exterior surface or are enclosed within the epithelium.
b. Malignant Tumor: Abnormal particles of cells that grow and spread uncontrollably throughout the body are called malignant tumors, or cancerous tumors. Through the circulation or lymphatic system, malignant tumors can spread to adjacent tissues and other bodily regions. We refer to this process as metastasis.
