Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of

abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body
tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout your body.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the world. But survival rates are improving for
many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening and cancer treatment.

SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary depending on what part of the body is affected.
Some general signs and symptoms associated with, but not specific to, cancer, include:
 Fatigue
 Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin
 Weight changes, including unintended loss or gain
 Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, sores that won't heal, or
changes to existing moles
 Changes in bowel or bladder habits
 Persistent cough or trouble breathing
 Difficulty swallowing
 Hoarseness
 Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
 Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
 Persistent, unexplained fevers or night sweats
 Unexplained bleeding or bruising

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that concern
you.
If you don't have any signs or symptoms, but are worried about your risk of cancer, discuss your
concerns with your doctor. Ask about which cancer screening tests and procedures are appropriate
for you.

CAUSES
Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA within cells. The DNA inside a cell is
packaged into a large number of individual genes, each of which contains a set of instructions
telling the cell what functions to perform, as well as how to grow and divide. Errors in the
instructions can cause the cell to stop its normal function and may allow a cell to become
cancerous.

WHAT DO GENE MUTATIONS DO?

A gene mutation can instruct a healthy cell to:
 Allow rapid growth. A gene mutation can tell a cell to grow and divide more rapidly. This
creates many new cells that all have that same mutation.
 Fail to stop uncontrolled cell growth. Normal cells know when to stop growing so that you
have just the right number of each type of cell. Cancer cells lose the controls (tumor
suppressor genes) that tell them when to stop growing. A mutation in a tumor suppressor
gene allows cancer cells to continue growing and accumulating.
  Make mistakes when repairing DNA errors. DNA repair genes look for errors in a cell's
DNA and make corrections. A mutation in a DNA repair gene may mean that other errors
aren't corrected, leading cells to become cancerous.
These mutations are the most common ones found in cancer. But many other gene mutations can
contribute to causing cancer.

WHAT CAUSES GENE MUTATIONS?

Gene mutations can occur for several reasons, for instance:
 Gene mutations you're born with. You may be born with a genetic mutation that you
inherited from your parents. This type of mutation accounts for a small percentage of cancers.
 Gene mutations that occur after birth. Most gene mutations occur after you're born and
aren't inherited. A number of forces can cause gene mutations, such as smoking, radiation,
viruses, cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens), obesity, hormones, chronic inflammation
and a lack of exercise.
Gene mutations occur frequently during normal cell growth. However, cells contain a mechanism
that recognizes when a mistake occurs and repairs the mistake. Occasionally, a mistake is missed.
This could cause a cell to become cancerous.

HOW DO GENE MUTATIONS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER?

The gene mutations you're born with and those that you acquire throughout your life work together
to cause cancer.
For instance, if you've inherited a genetic mutation that predisposes you to cancer, that doesn't
mean you're certain to get cancer. Instead, you may need one or more other gene mutations to
cause cancer. Your inherited gene mutation could make you more likely than other people to
develop cancer when exposed to a certain cancer-causing substance.
It's not clear just how many mutations must accumulate for cancer to form. It's likely that this
varies among cancer types.

RISK FACTORS
While doctors have an idea of what may increase your risk of cancer, the majority of cancers occur
in people who don't have any known risk factors. Factors known to increase your risk of cancer
include:
 Your age - Cancer can take decades to develop. That's why most people diagnosed with
cancer are 65 or older. While it's more common in older adults, cancer isn't exclusively an
adult disease — cancer can be diagnosed at any age.
 Your habits - Certain lifestyle choices are known to increase your risk of cancer. Smoking,
drinking more than one alcoholic drink a day (for women of all ages and men older than
age 65) or two drinks a day (for men age 65 and younger), excessive exposure to the sun
or frequent blistering sunburns, being obese, and having unsafe sex can contribute to
cancer. You can change these habits to lower your risk of cancer — though some habits
are easier to change than others.
 Your family history -Only a small portion of cancers are due to an inherited condition. If
cancer is common in your family, it's possible that mutations are being passed from one
generation to the next. You might be a candidate for genetic testing to see whether you
have inherited mutations that might increase your risk of certain cancers. Keep in mind that
having an inherited genetic mutation doesn't necessarily mean you'll get cancer.
  Your health conditions- Some chronic health conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, can
markedly increase your risk of developing certain cancers. Talk to your doctor about your
risk.
 Your environment - The environment around you may contain harmful chemicals that can
increase your risk of cancer. Even if you don't smoke, you might inhale secondhand smoke
if you go where people are smoking or if you live with someone who smokes. Chemicals
in your home or workplace, such as asbestos and benzene, also are associated with an
increased risk of cancer.

COMPLICATIONS
Cancer and its treatment can cause several complications, including:
 Pain. Pain can be caused by cancer or by cancer treatment, though not all cancer is painful.
Medications and other approaches can effectively treat cancer-related pain.
 Fatigue. Fatigue in people with cancer has many causes, but it can often be managed. Fatigue
associated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments is common, but it's usually
temporary.
 Difficulty breathing. Cancer or cancer treatment may cause a feeling of being short of
breath. Treatments may bring relief.
 Nausea. Certain cancers and cancer treatments can cause nausea. Your doctor can sometimes
predict if your treatment is likely to cause nausea. Medications and other treatments may
help you prevent or decrease nausea.
 Diarrhea or constipation. Cancer and cancer treatment can affect your bowels and cause
diarrhea or constipation.
 Weight loss. Cancer and cancer treatment may cause weight loss. Cancer steals food from
normal cells and deprives them of nutrients. This is often not affected by how many calories
or what kind of food is eaten; it's difficult to treat. In most cases, using artificial nutrition
through tubes into the stomach or vein does not help change the weight loss.
 Chemical changes in your body. Cancer can upset the normal chemical balance in your
body and increase your risk of serious complications. Signs and symptoms of chemical
imbalances might include excessive thirst, frequent urination, constipation and confusion.
 Brain and nervous system problems. Cancer can press on nearby nerves and cause pain
and loss of function of one part of your body. Cancer that involves the brain can cause
headaches and stroke-like signs and symptoms, such as weakness on one side of your body.
 Unusual immune system reactions to cancer. In some cases the body's immune system
may react to the presence of cancer by attacking healthy cells. Called paraneoplastic
syndrome, these very rare reactions can lead to a variety of signs and symptoms, such as
difficulty walking and seizures.
 Cancer that spreads. As cancer advances, it may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the
body. Where cancer spreads depends on the type of cancer.
 Cancer that returns. Cancer survivors have a risk of cancer recurrence. Some cancers are
more likely to recur than others. Ask your doctor about what you can do to reduce your risk
of cancer recurrence. Your doctor may devise a follow-up care plan for you after treatment.
This plan may include periodic scans and exams in the months and years after your treatment,
to look for cancer recurrence.
PREVENTION
There's no certain way to prevent cancer. But doctors have identified several ways of reducing
your cancer risk, such as:
 Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Smoking is linked to
several types of cancer — not just lung cancer. Stopping now will reduce your risk of cancer
in the future.
 Avoid excessive sun exposure. Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can increase
your risk of skin cancer. Limit your sun exposure by staying in the shade, wearing protective
clothing or applying sunscreen.
 Eat a healthy diet. Choose a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Select whole grains and lean
proteins.
 Exercise most days of the week. Regular exercise is linked to a lower risk of cancer. Aim
for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. If you haven't been exercising
regularly, start out slowly and work your way up to 30 minutes or longer.
 Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of cancer.
Work to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through a combination of a healthy diet and
regular exercise.
 Drink alcohol in moderation, if you choose to drink. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit
yourself to one drink a day if you're a woman of any age or a man older than age 65, or two
drinks a day if you're a man 65 years old or younger.
 Schedule cancer screening exams. Talk to your doctor about what types of cancer screening
exams are best for you based on your risk factors.
 Ask your doctor about immunizations. Certain viruses increase your risk of cancer.
Immunizations may help prevent those viruses, including hepatitis B, which increases the
risk of liver cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV), which increases the risk of cervical
cancer and other cancers. Ask your doctor whether immunization against these viruses is
appropriate for you.

TYPES OF CANCER
 BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. After skin cancer, breast cancer
is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in
both men and women, but it's far more common in women. Substantial support for breast cancer
awareness and research funding has helped create advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast
cancer. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this
disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized
approach to treatment and a better understanding of the disease.
LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs
in your chest that take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you
exhale. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both
men and women. Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian
and breast cancers combined.
People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur
in people who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time
and number of cigarettes you've smoked. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many
years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.

PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland in men
that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Usually prostate cancer
grows slowly and is initially confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious
harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal
or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
 Prostate cancer that's detected early — when it's still confined to the prostate gland— has
a better chance of successful treatment.

BLADDER

The bladder is a hollow, flexible pouch in your pelvis. Its main job is to store urine before it
leaves your body. Your kidneys make pee. Tubes called ureters carry the pee from
your kidneys to your bladder. When you use the bathroom, the muscles in your bladder push
the urine out through a tube called the urethra.
You get bladder cancer when bladder cells become abnormal and grow out of control. Over
time, a tumor forms. It can spread to nearby lymph nodes and other organs. In severe cases, it
can spread to distant parts of your body, including your bones, lungs, or liver.

COLON AND RECTAL

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), which is the final part of your digestive
tract. Most cases of colon cancer begin as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells
called adenomatous polyps. Over time some of these polyps can become colon cancers.
Polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms. For this reason, doctors
recommend regular screening tests to help prevent colon cancer by identifying and
removing polyps before they turn into cancer.
ENDOMETRIAL

Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. The uterus is the hollow,
pear-shaped pelvic organ in women where fetal development occurs.
Endometrial cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium)of the
uterus. Endometrial cancer is sometimes called uterine cancer. Other types of cancer can
form in the uterus, including uterine sarcoma, but they are much less common than
endometrial cancer.
Endometrial cancer is often detected at an early stage because it frequently produces
abnormal vaginal bleeding, which prompts women to see their doctors. If endometrial
cancer is discovered early, removing the uterus surgically often cures endometrial cancer.

KIDNEY
 Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about
the size of your fist. They're located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on
each side of your spine.
In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer — about 90
percent of cancerous tumors. Other less common types of kidney cancer can occur. Young
children are more likely to develop a kind of kidney cancer called Wilms' tumor.
The incidence of kidney cancer seems to be increasing. One reason for this may be the fact
that imaging techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) scans are being used more
often. These tests may lead to the accidental discovery of more kidney cancers. In many
cases, kidney cancer is found at an early stage, when the tumors are small and confined to
the kidney, making them easier to treat.

LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the
lymphatic system. Many types of leukemia exist. Some forms of leukemia are more common in
children. Other forms of leukemia occur mostly in adults. Leukemia usually involves the white
blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters — they normally grow and divide
in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow
produces abnormal white blood cells, which don't function properly. Treatment for leukemia can
be complex — depending on the type of leukemia and other factors. But there are strategies and
resources that can help to make your treatment successful.

LIVER
 Liver cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of your liver. Your liver is a football-sized
organ that sits in the upper right portion of your abdomen, beneath your diaphragm and
above your stomach.
Several types of cancer can form in the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is
hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other
types of liver cancer, such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma, are
much less common.
Not all cancers that affect the liver are considered liver cancer. Cancer that begins in
another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the
liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer. And this type of cancer is named
after the organ in which it began — such as metastatic colon cancer to describe cancer that
begins in the colon and spreads to the liver. Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common
than cancer that begins in the liver cells.

MELANOMA

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, develops in the cells (melanocytes) that
produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanoma can also form in
your eyes and, rarely, in internal organs, such as your intestines.
The exact cause of all melanomas isn't clear, but exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
from sunlight or tanning lamps and beds increases your risk of developing melanoma.
Limiting your exposure to UV radiation can help reduce your risk of melanoma.
The risk of melanoma seems to be increasing in people under 40, especially women.
Knowing the warning signs of skin cancer can help ensure that cancerous changes are
detected and treated before the cancer has spread. Melanoma can be treated successfully if
it is detected early.

NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer that originates in your lymphatic system, the disease-
fighting network spread throughout your body. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors
develop from lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common than the other general type of lymphoma —
Hodgkin lymphoma. Many different subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma exist. Diffuse
large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma are among the most common subtypes.
 Advances in diagnosis and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped improve
the prognosis for people with this disease.

PANCREATIC

Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas — an organ in your abdomen that
lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas releases enzymes
that aid digestion and hormones that help manage your blood sugar.
Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs. It is seldom detected in its
early stages. But for people with pancreatic cysts or a family history of pancreatic cancer,
some screening steps might help detect a problem early. One sign of pancreatic cancer is
diabetes, especially when it occurs with weight loss, jaundice or pain in the upper abdomen
that spreads to the back.
Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these
THYROID

 Thyroid cancer occurs in the cells of the thyroid — a butterfly-shaped gland located at the
base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. Your thyroid produces hormones that
regulate your heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.
 Although thyroid cancer isn't common in the United States, rates seem to be increasing.
Doctors think this is because new technology is allowing them to find small thyroid cancers
that may not have been found in the past.
 Most cases of thyroid cancer can be cured with treatment.