Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2007 7.6 million people died from cancer. Cancer is a term for deadly diseases in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably. There are many instances when these cells are metastatic, in which it spreads to other locations in the body, as well as invasive, in which these abnormal cells invade and destroy nearby tissue.

There are several core types of cancer. They are divided into three groups, carcinoma, sarcoma, and lymphoma. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. Lymphoma is cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system.

Cancer is usually differentiated according to the tissue from which the cancerous cells originate along with the normal cell type they most resemble. 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 radiotherapy, chemotherapy and or surgery, depending on the extremity of the cancer. However, as research progresses, treatments are becoming more specific for different varieties of cancer.

Cancer Cells Dividing


Breast Cancer Cells


References:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
http://www.cancer.gov/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancer.html
http://cancer.about.com/
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/treatment/721.html