Cancer Types
The medical name of the cancer identifies the cancer type. The patient may also be given information regarding how far the cancer has progressed which is often measured in stages.
Some cancer types are obvious by the name of the cancer. Bladder cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer obviously affect the body parts for which they are named.
The names of some other cancer types may not be as easy for a person to know what part of the body is affected. For example, leukemia is a cancer that often affects bone marrow. Melanoma is a cancer type that may start in a mole or other body tissue that contains pigment.
The name of the cancer can be considered a category of cancer. Each general type of cancer may actually have several different types. For example, small cell and non-small cell are the two main types of lung cancer.
Some families have high rates of incidence of a specific cancer type. Cancer types can also develop by a carcinogen that contributes to the development of that cancer type. Many carcinogens only affect the development of one cancer type like smoking and lung cancer or sun exposure and skin cancer.
The most common of the cancer types is nonmelanoma skin cancer. More than 1 million new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are expected this year.
There is more than one kind of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The type of skin cell that the cancer affects is usually included in the in the name. The elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most susceptible to nonmelanoma skin cancer.
The indication of the stage of the cancer is another way to describe that type of cancer. Ranging from I to IV, the stage describes how severe the cancer is, how far it has progressed, and the general prognosis. Stage I is the least severe with the cancer typically restricted to a single tumor.
The cancer type can be further described by whether or not the cancer has affected the lymph nodes, how destructive the tumor is, and if the cancer has metastasized. Other information about the cancer may also be included in the description of the cancer type.
Some cancer types are obvious by the name of the cancer. Bladder cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer obviously affect the body parts for which they are named.
The names of some other cancer types may not be as easy for a person to know what part of the body is affected. For example, leukemia is a cancer that often affects bone marrow. Melanoma is a cancer type that may start in a mole or other body tissue that contains pigment.
The name of the cancer can be considered a category of cancer. Each general type of cancer may actually have several different types. For example, small cell and non-small cell are the two main types of lung cancer.
Some families have high rates of incidence of a specific cancer type. Cancer types can also develop by a carcinogen that contributes to the development of that cancer type. Many carcinogens only affect the development of one cancer type like smoking and lung cancer or sun exposure and skin cancer.
The most common of the cancer types is nonmelanoma skin cancer. More than 1 million new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are expected this year.
There is more than one kind of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The type of skin cell that the cancer affects is usually included in the in the name. The elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most susceptible to nonmelanoma skin cancer.
The indication of the stage of the cancer is another way to describe that type of cancer. Ranging from I to IV, the stage describes how severe the cancer is, how far it has progressed, and the general prognosis. Stage I is the least severe with the cancer typically restricted to a single tumor.
The cancer type can be further described by whether or not the cancer has affected the lymph nodes, how destructive the tumor is, and if the cancer has metastasized. Other information about the cancer may also be included in the description of the cancer type.
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