Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Cancer

Cancer is not a single disease but a range of about 200 different conditions caused by collections of abnormal cells dividing uncontrollably. Cancer is second only to diseases of the heart and blood vessels as a cause of death. The word ‘tumour’ is often confused with cancer but actually only means a growth that may or may not be malignant. In other words, it may be ‘benign’, that is non-cancerous, and unable to spread to other parts of the body or recur. All cancers primarily affect older people.

Malignant tumours are the real cancers and they behave quite differently from benign tumours. There are two broad classes of cancers. Those that arise from surface linings of organs are the commonest group and are called carcinomas. The second group called sarcomas, arise from the substance of solid tissues such as muscle, bone, lymph glands, blood vessels and fibrous and other connective tissues. Sarcomas are generally much less common than carcinomas. Both carcinomas and sarcomas are able to invade normal tissue and spread through the body.

Throughout nearly all the tissues of the body, there are thin-walled tubes called lymphatic ducts. Their job is to carry off excess fluid from the tissues back to the bloodstream. Lymphatic ducts are very easily invaded by cancers, and this is a very common way for cancer cells to spread.

Cancers vary greatly in the speed with which they spread. Tumours of high malignancy will sometimes have spread widely before they are diagnosed.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Prevention
• Treatment

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

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