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Cancer Information

Cancer Definition

Cancer includes any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream.

Types of Cancer

There are many types of cancer that fall under the following 5 categories:

Carcinoma

Carcinoma Cancers: are cancers of the epithelial tissue, and adenocarcinomas are are cancers of the glandular epithelelial cells. Since Epithelelial tissue covers the surface of the body and lines the internal cavities, carcinomas include cancer of the skin, breast, liver, pancreas, intestines, lung, prostate and thyroid gland. These cancers may be spread to other body parts by the lymphatic system

Sarcoma

Sarcoma Cancers: are cancers that arise in the connective tissues, such as the muscle, bone and fibrous connective tissue. These cancers may be spread to other body parts by the blood stream

Osteosarcoma or osteogenic sarcoma (bone)
Chondrosarcoma (cartilage)
Leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle)
Rhabdomyosarcoma (skeletal muscle)
Mesothelial sarcoma or mesothelioma (membranous lining of body cavities)
Fibrosarcoma (fibrous tissue)
Angiosarcoma or hemangioendothelioma (blood vessels)
Liposarcoma (adipose tissue)
Glioma or astrocytoma (neurogenic connective tissue found in the brain)
Myxosarcoma (primitive embryonic connective tissue)
Mesenchymous or mixed mesodermal tumor (mixed connective tissue types)

Lymphoma

Lymphoma cancers are cancers of the lymphoid system. Lymphomas develop in the glands or nodes of the lymphatic system, a network of vessels, nodes, and organs (specifically the spleen, tonsils, and thymus) that purify bodily fluids and produce infection-fighting white blood cells, or lymphocytes. Unlike the leukemias which are sometimes called "liquid cancers," lymphomas are "solid cancers." Lymphomas may also occur in specific organs such as the stomach, breast or brain. These lymphomas are referred to as extranodal lymphomas. The lymphomas are subclassified into two categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin lymphoma diagnostically distinguishes Hodgkin lymphoma from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Myeloma

Myeloma - originates from plasma cells in bone marrow. The plasma cells produce some of the proteins found in blood.

Leukemia (liquid cancers or blood cancers) - associated with the overproduction of immature white blood cells. Lowered immune system due to low performance of white blood cells. Red cell production can also be affected resulting in blood clots and fatigue.

Leukemia includes the following sub-types:

Myelogenous or granulocytic leukemia (malignancy of the myeloid and granulocytic white blood cell series)
Lymphatic, lymphocytic, or lymphoblastic leukemia (malignancy of the lymphoid and lymphocytic blood cell series)
Polycythemia vera or erythremia (malignancy of various blood cell products, but with red cells predominating)

Mixed Types
The type components may be within one category or from different categories. Some examples are:

adenosquamous carcinoma
mixed mesodermal tumor
carcinosarcoma
teratocarcinoma

source: SEER - Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute