15 Most Common Types of Cancer

Thursday, February 20, 2014, 13:25 [IST]

Cancer is called the emperor of maladies. Although so much advancement has been made in cancer research and treatment, this disease still invokes fear in people. This is because, the various types of cancer that exist still claim many lives. Different kind of cancers affect differ parts of the body. And some cancers are more common than others.

Whether a type of cancer is common or not depends on the country, region, culture and community you are looking at. For example, there are some types of male cancers that affect only men. There are also some kinds of cancer that occur in women specifically. The cancers in women usually affect the reproductive organs like uterus and ovaries.

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Apart from gender specific cancers, there are also other types of cancer that are common. For example, lung cancer claims millions of lives every year. Some cancers are very common but they do not claim as many lives. The survival rate of cancer does not depend on how common it is; it depends on how curable a type of cancer is. Breast cancer for example is very common but is also totally curable.

Here are some types of cancer that commonly occur in people all over the world.

Breast Cancer

Post-menopausal women are at the greatest risk of of developing this cancer. Breast cancer has a strong element of heredity in it. Recently, Angelina Jolie got a double mastectomy as preventive measure as she has a family history of breast cancer.

Melanoma

Skin cancer or melanoma has become increasingly common due to the rise in ultra-violet radiations and thinning of the ozone layer.

Ovarian Cancer

This type of cancer in women is very common. Tumours grow on the ovaries and go to an advanced stage before they are detected. But the good news is that pregnancy and breastfeeding cut down the chances of ovarian cancer in women.

Oesophagus Cancer

Oesophagus is very common among smokers. Eating very spicy or hot food can also lead to this type of cancer. Chances of survival are very grim. About 6 percent people survive oesophagus cancer.

Prostate Cancer

This is a type of male cancer that claims many lives. A diet rich in animal fat and smoking could be triggers for prostate cancer.

Blood Cancer

A massive increase in the number of white blood cells is called blood cancer. It is very common in children under the age of 10 years.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the only cancer caused by a virus. It affects a woman's cervix and it almost impossible to diagnose because the symptoms are vague. Vaccinations are now available to prevent cervical cancer.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the topmost killer diseases all over the world. Smokers are at a high risk for developing lung cancer. Increasing pollution levels is also a risk factor for this disease.

Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Usually, malignant tumours grow out of the uterus wall. Women who are past their menopause are at risk of developing this disease.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is largely caused by exposure to some chemicals and smoking. The costs involved in treating this cancer are massive, so prevention here is better than cure.

Colorectal Cancer

Men who are over 50 years of age are in the high risk category for getting colorectal cancer. This type of cancer affects the colon and the upper rectum.

Lymphoma

Cancer of the lymph nodes is also a common kind of malignancy these days. The exact cause of this cancer is yet to be discovered but it affects HIV positive patients greatly.

Pancreatic Cancer

The cause of pancreatic cancer is often a diet that is high in non-vegetarian food but lacks vegetables. If you are diabetic or have had pancreatitis, the odds are against you. The chances of survival are very low because it often goes undiagnosed.