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• Conditions (26): Cancer of Head and Neck, Other and unspecified benign neoplasms, Benign Neoplasm, and 23 others Cancer of Head and Neck, Other and unspecified benign neoplasms, Benign Neoplasm, Neoplasms, Cancer; other and unspecified primary, Bladder Cancer, Malignant tumor of colon, Cancer of brain and nervous system, Cancer of bone and connective tissue, Brain Cancer, Bone neoplasms, Malignant neoplasm of stomach, Malignant tumor of bone and articular cartilage, Esophageal Cancer, Tumor of bone and articular cartilage, Pancreatic Cancer, Other male genital malignant neoplasm, Carcinoma in Situ, Malignant neoplasm of splenic flexure of colon, Colon Carcinoma, Skin Cancer, Carcinoma, Bladder Neoplasm, Cancer of other GI organs; peritoneum, Neoplasms of unspecified nature or uncertain behavior, Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified sites [hide]
• Groups (25): Brain Cancer, Lung Cancer, Testicular Cancer, and 22 others Brain Cancer, Lung Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia, Brain Tumors, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Liposarcoma, Astrocytoma, Esophageal Cancer, Burkitt's Lymphoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, Leiomyosarcoma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Lymphoma, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Uterine Carcinosarcoma, Mesothelioma, Children of Cancer Victims and Survivors [hide]
• Symptoms (28): Major Depressive Disorder, Mental disorders, neoplasm/cancer type, and 25 others Major Depressive Disorder, Mental disorders, neoplasm/cancer type, abnormal growth and differentiation, Communication impairment, CALCIUM DISORDER, Pathology processes, psychological aspect of cancer, Host-Tumor Interaction, Stomach problem, Hyperplasia, Hypertrophy, Esophagus problem, Hypoplasia, Aplasia, NOS, Concomitant or past diseases, Cholangiocarcinoma, Burkitt's Lymphoma, benign state, Pheochromocytoma, [V]Head, neck or trunk problems, Klatskin Tumor, Organic brain syndrome, Eye problem, Myxoid Liposarcoma, Neurologic Manifestations, Lipoma, Cerebrovascular Disorders [hide]
• Treatments (37): Chemotherapy, Maintenance chemotherapy; radiotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and 34 others Chemotherapy, Maintenance chemotherapy; radiotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Etoposide 100 MG, Etoposide 20 MG/ML, ETOPOSIDE 200 MG, Etoposide 50 MG, Chemotherapy Regimen, Etoposide, Etoposide 50 MG Oral Capsule, Surgical Procedures of the Conjunctiva, ETOPOSIDE 500 MG, Etoposide 20 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Interferon Alfa-2a, hydroxyurea, ETOPOSIDE PHOSPHATE 100 MG, Interferon Alfa-2a 6000000 UNT/ML, Cyclophosphamide, etoposide phosphate, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE 100 MG, Cyclophosphamide 25 MG Oral Tablet, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE 200 MG, Cyclophosphamide 50 MG Oral Tablet, Cyclophosphamide 20 MG/ML / Mannitol 15 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Cyclophosphamide 25 MG, Cyclophosphamide 2000 MG, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE 1 GM/VIL, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE 500 MG, Cyclophosphamide 25 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Cyclophosphamide 50 MG, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE 2 GM/VIL, Cyclophosphamide 20 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Cyclophosphamide 1000 MG, CARMUSTINE 100 MG, Carmustine 33.3 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Carmustine, Interferon Alfa-2a 36000000 UNT/ML Injectable Solution [hide]

About Cancer

Cancer is a disease characterized by a population of cells that grow and divide without respect to normal limits, invade and destroy adjacent tissues, and may spread to distant anatomic sites through a process called metastasis. These malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors,... more

Cancer is a disease characterized by a population of cells that grow and divide without respect to normal limits, invade and destroy adjacent tissues, and may spread to distant anatomic sites through a process called metastasis. These malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited in their growth and do not invade or metastasize (although some benign tumor types are capable of becoming malignant). Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk for the more common varieties tends to increase with age. Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths.
Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells. These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. Complex interactions between carcinogens and the host genome may explain why only some develop cancer after exposure to a known carcinogen. New aspects of the genetics of cancer pathogenesis, such as DNA methylation, and microRNAs are increasingly being recognized as important.
Genetic abnormalities found in cancer typically affect two general classes of genes. Cancer-promoting oncogenes are often activated in cancer cells, giving those cells new properties, such as hyperactive growth and division, protection against programmed cell death, loss of respect for normal tissue boundaries, and the ability to become established in diverse tissue environments. Tumor suppressor genes are often inactivated in cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions in those cells, such as accurate DNA replication, control over the cell cycle, orientation and adhesion within tissues, and interaction with protective cells of the immune system.
Cancer is usually classified according to the tissue from which the cancerous cells originate, as well as the normal cell type they most resemble. These are location and histology, respectively. A definitive diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of a tissue biopsy specimen by a pathologist, although the initial indication of malignancy can be symptoms or radiographic imaging abnormalities. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for different varieties of cancer. There has been significant progress in the development of targeted therapy drugs that act specifically on detectable molecular abnormalities in certain tumors, and which minimize damage to normal cells. The prognosis of cancer patients is most influenced by the type of cancer, as well as the stage, or extent of the disease. In addition, histologic grading and the presence of specific molecular markers can also be useful in establishing prognosis, as well as in determining individual treatments.

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