What is cancer? The term cancer describes diseases in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can invade other tissues. Cancer cells may spread to nearby body parts or throughout a person’s body through the blood and lymph systems. Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. The main categories of cancer include: |
• Carcinoma – cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
• Sarcoma – cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
• 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 blood.
• Lymphoma and myeloma – cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers – cancers that begin the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
Learn more about Cancer
The National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s website contains comprehensive information about cancer causes and prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, clinical trials, statistics, funding, training and employment opportunities, and the institute and its programs. You will also find cancer information online through the LiveHelp instant messaging service on the The National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s website.If you live in the United States, you may call the NCI’s Cancer Information Service toll free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for cancer information in English and Spanish. For deaf and hard of hearing callers, the TTY number is 1-800-332-8615.
