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Cancer begins when a cell begins dividing uncontrollably. Eventually these cells form a visible mass or tumor. This initial tumor is called the "primary" tumor. Cancer cells may invade nearby tissues and cells from the primary tumor can break off and lodge elsewhere in the body where they then grow into secondary tumors. This process is called "metastasis" and a cancer, which has spread to other organs, is called "metastatic." When cancer spreads to another organ, the type of cancer remains the type of the primary tumor. Several different kinds of cancer can start in the same organ. Cancers of different kind can effect almost any organ of the body.

Cancer Staging

Cancer staging describes how far cancer has spread anatomically. It is very important it is to know the stage of cancer since prognosis and treatment depend to a large extent on the stage of cancer. Commonly cancers are grouped into four stages denoted by Roman numerals I through IV. In general, stage I cancers are small localized cancers that are usually curable, Stage II and III cancers are usually locally advanced and/or with involvement of local lymph nodes,  while stage IV usually represents inoperable or metastatic cancer. Another common type of classification used for cancer is TNM classification. TNM stands for Tumor, Nodes, and Metastases. The definitions of T, N and M are specific to each cancer and what is described here is just a basic introduction. Each of these is categorized separately and classified with a number to give the total stage. A T₁N₁M₀ cancer means the patient has a T₁ tumor, N₁ lymph node involvement, and no distant metastases.

Diagnosis of Cancer - Cancer diagnosis requires a detailed examination of a patient by the doctors and several tests (pathological, biochemical or scans). The type of test required to confirm a cancer depends on the origin of the suspected cancer. But more often then not a cancer is diagnosed and confirmed on basis of  'Biopsy' examination. In biopsy a small piece of tissue is taken from the suspected area of cancer and examined by a pathologist.                                             < Next >

Common Cancers

• Bladder Cancer 

• Prostate Cancer

• Colorectal Cancer

• Endometrial Cancer

• Head and Neck Cancer 

• Breast Cancer 

• Lung Cancer   

• Melanoma 

• Ovarian Cancer 

• Hodgkins Lymphoma

• NHL

• Leukemias

Occupation related Cancers

• Mesothelioma

Common Childhood Cancers

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Neuroblastoma

• Wilm's Tumor

• Retinoblastoma