Cancer: Symptoms, Types, News and Updates

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 27 Jun 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis: Cancer is a group of over 100 diseases marked by abnormal cell growth that can invade or spread, with many types now treatable and increasingly curable.

At a Glance

• 1 - Cancer causes about 13% of all human deaths.
• 2 - Only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize.
• 3 - Benign tumors, such as moles and uterine fibroids, do not invade tissue or spread.

Topic Definition: Cancer

Cancer, sometimes called a malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, refers to a large family of more than one hundred diseases that share a single defining trait: cells begin to grow and divide abnormally, often gaining the ability to invade nearby tissue or travel to distant parts of the body. Almost all cancers trace back to damage in the genetic material of the affected cells, whether from carcinogens like tobacco smoke, radiation, and chemicals, from infectious agents, or from errors and inherited faults in DNA. Warning signs vary widely but can include a new lump, unusual bleeding, a lingering cough, unexplained weight loss, or a shift in bowel habits. Although cancer has long carried a reputation as a death sentence, modern medicine has steadily changed that story, and many types are now treated successfully through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, with some fully cured depending on the type, location, and stage at diagnosis.

Introduction

Cancer Explained: Types, Symptoms, Treatments, and Survival Insights

Cancer, also known as a malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumors are cancerous; benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Possible signs and symptoms include: a new lump, abnormal bleeding, a prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel movements, among others. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they may also occur due to other issues. There are actually over 100 different known types of cancers that affect humans.

Cancer has a reputation for being a deadly disease. While this certainly applies to certain particular types, the truths behind the historical connotations of cancer are increasingly being overturned by advances in medical care. Some types of cancer have a prognosis that is substantially better than nonmalignant diseases such as heart failure and stroke.

• Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths.
• Cancer may affect people at all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age.
• According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007.

Main Content

Metastasis

The spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. They then begin to divide and grow again, eventually forming a new tumor, called secondary tumors or metastases. Only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize.

A medical term used to describe a severe and progressively worsening disease, mostly used as a description of cancer.

Benign

A tumor that lacks the malignant properties of a cancer. A benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissues, and does not metastasize. Examples of benign tumors include moles and uterine fibroids.

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.

Symptoms and Treatment

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. The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumor and the stage of the disease, as well as the general state of the patient.

Radiation Therapy

The use of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy can be administered externally via external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or internally via brachytherapy.

Surgery

In theory, non-hematological cancers can be cured if entirely removed by surgery, but this is not always possible. When the cancer has metastasized to other sites in the body before surgery, complete surgical excision is often impossible.

The treatment of cancer with drugs ("anticancer drugs") that can destroy cancer cells. In current usage, the term "chemotherapy" usually refers to cytotoxic drugs which affect rapidly dividing cells in general, in contrast with targeted therapy.

Chemotherapy drugs interfere with cell division in various possible ways, e.g., with the duplication of DNA or the separation of newly formed chromosomes.

Cancer symptoms can be generally divided into three groups:

Symptoms of metastasis (spreading):

• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Cough and hemoptysis.
• Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver).
• Bone pain.
• Fracture of affected bones.
• Neurological symptoms.

Although advanced cancer may cause pain, it is often not the first symptom.

Local symptoms:

• Unusual lumps or swelling (tumor).
• Hemorrhage (bleeding).
• Pain or ulceration.
• Compression of surrounding tissues may cause symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin).

Systemic Symptoms:

• Weight loss.
• Poor appetite.
• Fatigue and cachexia (wasting).
• Excessive sweating (night sweats).
• Anemia and specific paraneoplastic phenomena, i.e., specific conditions that are due to an active cancer, such as thrombosis or hormonal changes.

Most Common Cancers

This list of common cancer types includes cancers that are diagnosed with the greatest frequency in the United States, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers:

Approximate Survival Rates

Percentage of patients with cancer types deceased five years after cancer diagnosis:

NOTE: The figures above are broad averages that combine all stages and ages together and do not predict the outcome for any individual. Survival depends heavily on the type, stage, and location of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and the treatment received. These statistics may also be dated, as outcomes continue to improve with advances in screening and care. Always consult a qualified medical professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Cancer Causing Agents: List of Currently Known Human Carcinogens - Disabled World (DW).

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 27 Jun 2026