HEALTH & DISEASE A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z           HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site cancer Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide and grow unchecked. It can spread from its original site to other parts of the body and can also be fatal if not treated adequately. Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors Benign tumors are not cancer: Benign tumors are rarely life-threatening. Generally, benign tumors can be removed. They usually do not grow back. Cells from benign tumors do not invade the tissues around them. Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors Malignant tumors are cancer: Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors. They may be life-threatening. Malignant tumors often can be removed. But sometimes they grow back. Cells from malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cells from malignant tumors can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor and entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. Metastasis When cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually prostate cancer cells. The disease is metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer. For that reason, it is treated as prostate cancer, not bone cancer. Doctors call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease. Types of cancer For more on specific types of cancer, see: bladder cancer bladder cancer treatment brain tumor brain tumor treatment breast cancer breast cancer treatment carcinoma colon and rectal cancer colon and rectal cancer treatment Hodgkin's disease Hodgkin's disease treatment leukemia leukemia treatment lung cancer lung cancer treatment melanoma melanoma treatment non-Hodgkin's lymphoma non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment pancreatic cancer pancreatic cancer treatment prostate cancer prostate cancer treatment skin cancer skin cancer treatment Related category    • HEALTH AND DISEASE Source: National Cancer Institite Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP