Summary

Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, your body
forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes
wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they
should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors aren't cancer while malignant ones are. Cells from malignant tumors can invade
nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of
cancer. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung,
and breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is
called metastasis. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is.
Most treatment plans may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Some may involve
hormone therapy, biologic therapy, or stem cell transplantation.
NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

Cancer (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Cancer Basics (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Inside Cancer (Dolan DNA Learning Center)

What Is Cancer?

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Latest News

Smoking Still Takes Big Toll in U.S. Cancer Deaths (10/24/2016, HealthDay)

Cancer Treatment More Likely to Leave Blacks in Debt (09/26/2016, HealthDay)

Many Patients Enter Cancer Trials with Unrealistic Expectations (09/26/2016,

HealthDay)

More News on Cancer

Diagnosis and Tests

Cancer Imaging

(National Cancer Institute)

Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ)

Cancer Staging

Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer

Spanish

Exams and Test Descriptions (American Cancer Society)

Fine Needle Aspiration (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck

Surgery)

Nuclear Medicine Scans for Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Pathology Reports

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

SPECT (Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) Scan (Mayo Foundation

for Medical Education and Research)

Tumor Grade

Tumor Markers

Understanding Laboratory Tests

What Is Cancer Proteomics?

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
(National Cancer Institute)

Prevention and Risk Factors

Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention

Calcium and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence

Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Cancer Prevention Overview (PDQ)

Cancer Vaccines

Diet Choices to Prevent Cancer (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in

Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

How Is Cancer Risk Measured?

Risk Factors

Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplements for the Primary Prevention of

Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) - PDF

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

A to Z List of Cancer Drugs (National Cancer Institute)

Adjuvant Therapy: Treatment to Keep Cancer from Returning (Mayo Foundation for
Medical Education and Research)

Angiogenesis Inhibitors

Biological Therapies for Cancer

Cancer Surgery: Physically Removing Cancer (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
and Research)

Cancer Treatment Scams (Federal Trade Commission) Also in Spanish

Cancer: Treatment (American Academy of Family Physicians)

How to Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer

Institute)

Hyperthermia in Cancer Treatment

Immunotherapy: Disrupting the Cancer Treatment World (American Cancer Society)

Lasers in Cancer Treatment

MedlinePlus: Cancer Alternative Therapies

Spanish

Non-Specific Immunotherapies and Adjuvants (American Cancer Society)

Pain Control

Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Library of Medicine) Also in

(National Cancer Institute) - PDF

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Treatment Option Overview (Carcinoma of Unknown Primary)

Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer

Treatment Option Overview (Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors)

Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

MedlinePlus: Cancer--Living with Cancer

(National Library of Medicine)

Related Issues

Cancer Causes: Popular Myths about the Causes of Cancer (Mayo Foundation for
Medical Education and Research)

Cancer Clusters

Cancer Fact or Fiction: Separating Myths from Good Information

Institute) - PDF

Chemicals in Meat Cooked at High Temperatures and Cancer Risk

Institute) Also in Spanish

Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention

Spanish

Fluoridated Water

Known and Probable Human Carcinogens (American Cancer Society)

Obesity and Cancer Risk

Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Physical Activity and Cancer

Psychological Stress and Cancer

Should I Get a Flu Shot? (American Cancer Society)

Smoking in Cancer Care (PDQ)

(National Cancer Institute)

(National Cancer

(National Cancer

(National Cancer Institute) Also in

(National Cancer Institute)

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
(National Cancer Institute)
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Tobacco and Cancer (American Cancer Society)

Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention

What Causes Cancer? (American Cancer Society)

When Cancer Returns

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute)

Specifics

General Information about Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors

Institute)

Metastatic Cancer

Occupational Cancer (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

(National Cancer

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Genetics

Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes

Genetics Home Reference: Bloom syndrome

Genetics Home Reference: Costello syndrome

(National Library of Medicine)

Genetics Home Reference: Cowden syndrome

(National Library of Medicine)

Genetics Home Reference: DICER1 syndrome

(National Library of Medicine)

Genetics Home Reference: Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Genetics Home Reference: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Genetics Home Reference: Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

Medicine)

Genetics Home Reference: Werner syndrome

Videos and Tutorials

Inside Cancer (Dolan DNA Learning Center)

(National Cancer Institute)

(National Library of Medicine)

(National Library of Medicine)

(National Library of Medicine)
(National Library of

(National Library of Medicine)

Understanding Cancer Prognosis

(National Cancer Institute)

Statistics and Research

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2010: Questions and Answers
(National Cancer Institute)

Cancer Data and Statistics Tools (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Cancer Facts and Figures 2014 (American Cancer Society)

Cancer Statistics

Hair Dyes and Cancer Risk

NIH Study Offers Insight into Why Cancer Incidence Increases with Age
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

Snapshot of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer

Spanish

State Cancer Profiles

Tea and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence

Institute) Also in Spanish

Technologies Enhance Tumor Surgery: Helping Surgeons Spot and Remove Cancer
(National Institutes of Health)

(National Cancer Institute)

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
(National

(National Cancer Institute) Also in

(National Cancer Institute)

(National Cancer

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma

(National Institutes of Health)

ClinicalTrials.gov: Neoplasms

(National Institutes of Health)

Clinical Trials Information for Patients and Caregivers

(National Cancer Institute)

Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from

MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Overcoming Barriers to Access, One Community Support at a Time.

Article: The Zebrafish Xenograft Platform: Evolution of a Novel Cancer Model...

Article: Long Noncoding RNAs as Novel Biomarkers Have a Promising Future...

Cancer -- see more articles

Cancer prevention -- see more articles

Cancer therapy -- see more articles

Reference Desk

Cancer Terms: After Treatment (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Dictionary of Cancer Terms

National Cancer Institute News

(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

(National Cancer Institute)

Find an Expert

American Cancer Society

Cancer Genetics Services Directory

Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Finding Treatment Centers (American Cancer Society)

National Cancer Institute

NCI Designated Cancer Centers

Organizations That Offer Support Services

Spanish

(National Cancer Institute)

Also in Spanish
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
(National Cancer Institute) Also in

Children

MedlinePlus: Cancer in Children

(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Men

Cancer and Men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Women

Cancer and Women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Reducing Your Risk of Cancer (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) PDF

Seniors

Cancer: Unique to Older Adults (AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)

Patient Handouts

Cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Cancer and lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Cancer treatment -- early menopause (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Cancer treatment: preventing infection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Cancer treatments (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Hyperthermia for treating cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Immunotherapy for cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Laser therapy for cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Photodynamic therapy for cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Targeted therapies for cancer (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Your cancer care team (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish