Types of Cancer

There are over 200 types of cancer. Some types are much more common than others. Doctors categorize them to determine treatment and outlook. No 2 types have the exact same causes, treatment, and prognosis. Some cancers involve more than 1 type or categorization.^1,2

Understanding your cancer type can help you navigate all the available information. This article covers terms you may hear when discussing cancer types. Talk to your healthcare team about your specific type.

What are the most common types of cancer?

The most common types of cancer in the United States are:³

• Breast cancer – approximately over 315,000 new cases every year
• Prostate cancer – approximately over 310,000 new cases every year
• Lung cancer – approximately over 225,000 new cases every year
• Colorectal cancer – approximately over 150,000 new cases every year

These cancers make up about half of new cancer diagnoses. But there are many other types of cancer. These include:⁴

• Bone cancer
• Blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma
• Brain and spinal cord cancers
• Head and neck cancers
• Kidney cancers
• Reproductive system cancers, including endometrial, ovarian, and testicular
• Skin cancers, including melanoma
• Thyroid cancer
• Upper gastrointestinal cancers, including the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas
• Urinary system cancers, including bladder

What do cancer types mean?

We classify cancer types in 2 ways:^1,5

• What organ the cancer starts in – lung cancer starts in the lung, and brain cancer starts in the brain
• What cells the cancer starts in – blood cells, bone cells, muscle cells, or cells that cover your organs

Body organs do very different things. Cells that make up different organs have unique structures. For example, cells that line the prostate look a lot different from white blood cells. This is why 1 type of cancer may be nothing like another type.¹

What are solid cancers?

Solid cancers make up over 80 percent of cancers. They are called “solid” because they form a tissue mass called a tumor. Not all solid tumors are cancerous.²

Examples of solid cancers are:^1,2,5

• Carcinomas – cancers that form in cells that line our organs
• Sarcomas – cancers that form in bone and connective cells like muscle
• Melanomas – skin cancers that affect cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color
• Brain and spinal cancers – cancers that form tumors in the brain or spinal cord

Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer. Most skin, breast, colon, and prostate cancers are carcinomas. For example, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. Different subtypes of carcinomas are defined by the specific cell. Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are common subtypes.^5,6

Sarcomas are much less common than carcinomas. They form in bone and soft tissue. Soft tissue includes muscle, tendons, ligaments, and fat. Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer.⁵

Melanoma is relatively rare but serious. It is one of the most common cancers in young people. Melanoma causes most deaths from skin cancer, but it can be cured if caught early. Talk to your healthcare team about your risk and what to watch for.⁷

What are blood cancers?

Blood cancers start in blood cells or other parts of the immune system. Blood cancers generally do not form solid tumors. Instead, they build up and crowd out normal blood cells. Blood cells form in the bone marrow.²

Examples of blood cancers include:^1,2,5

• Leukemias – cancers caused by rapid growth of white blood cells in the bone marrow
• Lymphomas – cancers starting in certain white blood cells that are part of your body’s immune system
• Multiple myeloma – cancers starting in white blood cells called plasma cells

These types of cancer are not common. Leukemias are the most common cancer type in children. Leukemia can be acute or chronic. Acute forms of leukemia grow faster. Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the main types of lymphoma.^1,8

What if cancer has spread to other parts of the body?

Cancer can spread from 1 organ to another. This is called metastatic cancer. If that happens, you may hear your doctors use the words “primary” and “secondary.” ⁹

For example, “primary breast cancer” refers to cancer cells that initially form in the breast. If the breast cancer travels to the bone, this may be referred to as “secondary bone cancer.” But the cells are still considered breast cancer cells.

Understanding your cancer type

No 2 people with the same cancer type are exactly alike. But understanding your cancer type can help you navigate diagnosis. Your cancer type can give you signs of what to expect regarding:

• Symptoms – how to monitor your health
• Complications – what other health conditions are possible
• Primary treatment – what your main options are to destroy cancer cells
• Adjuvant treatment – whether you may need follow-up treatment
• Recurrence – how to reduce your risk of cancer coming back
• Outlook – what the typical survival rate is

Talk to your healthcare team about your specific cancer type. They can provide the best guidance about what to expect.