Cancer

Cancer

“There are more than 100 types of cancer.
Types of cancer are usually named for the organs
or tissues where the cancers form”.1

Umbrella

What may the Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cancer/s
  • Carcinomas
  • Malignancies
  • Malignant Tumors/Tumours
  • Neoplasms
  • Tumors/Tumours

Definition

What is cancer?

DotS the definition of cancer may vary. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition is:

“Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs; the latter process is referred to as metastasis. Widespread metastases are the primary cause of death from cancer”.2

The (United States) National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) definition is:

“Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body”.3

Types

How many types of cancer are there?

In What Is Cancer? Types of Cancer the NCI also note:

“There are more than 100 types of cancer. Types of cancer are usually named for the organs or tissues where the cancers form. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and brain cancer starts in the brain. Cancers also may be described by the type of cell that formed them, such as an epithelial cell or a squamous cell”.4

Women

Worldwide, in women, what are the most common cancers worldwide?

In Worldwide Cancer Data: Global Cancer Incidence In Women according to the World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRFI), “in 2022, the latest year that data has been made available by GLOBOCAN”:

“Breast, as well as trachea, bronchus and lung, were the most common cancers worldwide. Cancers of the colorectum were the third most common”.5

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and cancer?

In Cancer the (United States) Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) elaborate on:

“Women have a one-in-three chance of developing cancer in their lifetimes. Menopause does not increase cancer risk, but the likelihood of many cancers increases with age”.6

Early Detection

Is there an association between early detection and cancer?

Yes. Cancer Australia explain:

“Finding cancer at an early stage increases the chances of successful treatment and improved survival”.7

Prevention

How may cancer be prevented?

In Our Cancer Prevention Recommendations: Our Recommendations the World Cancer Research Fund include:

  • “Be a healthy weight
  • Be physically active
  • Eat wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beans
  • Limit ‘fast foods’
  • Limit red and processed meat
  • Limit sugar sweetened drinks
  • Limit alcohol consumption
  • Do not use supplements for cancer prevention
  • For mothers: breastfeed your baby, if you can
  • After a cancer diagnosis, follow our Recommendations, if you can

Not smoking, and staying safe in the sun, are also important to reduce your cancer risk”.8
Cancer prevention

In Cancer Facts for Women: What Else You Can Do To Help Reduce Your Cancer Risk the American Cancer Society (ACS) note:

“Almost half of all adult cancers might be prevented by things we can do or change. To help keep your cancer risk low:

  • “Stay away from tobacco
  • Be as physically active as you can
  • Eat a healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Avoid or limit highly processed foods, red or processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined grains
  • Get to and stay at a healthy weight
  • It’s best not to drink alcohol. If you do drink, have no more than 1 drink per day for women
  • Protect your skin from the sun
  • Know yourself, your family history, and your risks
  • Get regular checkups and recommended cancer screening tests”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to lower my risk of cancer?

If you would like to lower your risk of cancer, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ)–Patient Version: Skin Cancer Prevention – Avoiding Risk Factors and Increasing Protective Factors May Help Prevent Cancer the NCI elaborate on:

“Avoiding cancer risk factors may help prevent certain cancers. Risk factors include smoking, having overweight, and not getting enough exercise. Increasing protective factors such as quitting smoking and exercising may also help prevent some cancers. Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer”.10

Cancer

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cancer?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. About Cancer
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  3. Alcohol Use and Cancer
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  5. Alternative Cancer Treatments: 11 Options To Consider
  6. CAM Therapies: A-Z
  7. Can You Prevent Cancer With Lifestyle Changes? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  8. Cancer
  9. Cancer
  10. Cancer
  11. Cancer
  12. Cancer
  13. Cancer
  14. Cancer Australia
  15. Cancer A–Z
  16. Cancer Basics
  17. Cancer Causes: Popular Myths About the Causes of Cancer
  18. Cancer Council Australia
  19. Cancer Diagnosis: 11 Tips for Coping
  20. Cancer Facts for Lesbians and Bisexual Women
  21. Cancer Facts for Women
  22. Cancer Fatigue: Why It Occurs and How To Cope
  23. Cancer Information In Other Languages
  24. Cancer Patient Diet Tips and Recommendations
  25. Cancer Prevention Overview (PDQ)–Patient Version
  26. Cancer Prevention Recommendations
  27. Cancer Research UK
  28. Cancer Screening Tests for Women
  29. Cancer Survival Toolbox
  30. Cancer Survivors: Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
  31. Cancer Treatment
  32. Cancer Treatment Myths
  33. Cancer Types
  34. Cancer and Hair Loss
  35. Cancer and Mental Health: Mayo Clinic Expert Dispels Myths
  36. Cancer and the LGBTQ+ Community: Mayo Clinic Expert Addresses Key Topics
  37. Cancer – Multiply Languages
  38. Cancer, Flu, and You
  39. Cancer: Cancer and Women
  40. Cancer: Healthy Living After Cancer
  41. Cancer: Preventing Cancer
  42. Cancer: Types of Cancer
  43. Cancer.Net [American Cancer Society]
  44. Cancer52.org.uk: Directory of Rare Rare and Less Common Cancers
  45. Canceradvocacy.org [National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship]
  46. Cancercare.org
  47. Cancer– –Living With Cancer
  48. Causes and Prevention [Topics]
  49. Causes of Cancer and Reducing Your Risk
  50. Chemotherapy
  51. Chemotherapy: Cancer and Hair Loss [Video]
  52. Clinicaltrials.gov: Cancer
  53. Common Cancer Myths and Misconceptions
  54. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – What Is the Current State of Genetic Testing For Women
  55. Coping With Cancer
  56. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Resources [Cancer Information]
  57. Diet
  58. Does Medicinal Cannabis Affect Depression, Anxiety, and Stress In People With Cancer? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies
  59. Find A Clinical Trial
  60. Find Cancer Early
  61. Foundationforwomenscancer.org [Foundation for Women’s Cancer, United States]
  62. Genetic Testing for Cancer Risk
  63. Glossary: Definitions, & Phonetic Pronunciations
  64. Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month [September]
    Menopause News 2026 What’s Hot
  65. Gynecologic Cancers
  66. How Cancer Can Affect Sex and Intimacy
  67. How To Reduce Your Risk of Cancer
  68. Iheard.com.au [iHeard, Cancer Council Australia]
  69. Interactive Body Map: Navigate Your Way To View Symptoms of the Most Common Cancers
  70. Is A Cancer Clinical Trial Right for Me?
  71. Mayo Clinic Minute: Is There A Connection Between Ultraprocessed Food and Cancer? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  72. Mayo Clinic Minute: Plant-Based Diet Is Encouraged for Patients With Cancer [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  73. Mayo Clinic Minute: The Right Way To Talk With Someone Who Has Cancer [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  74. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  75. NCI Fact Sheets [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  76. Menopause
    Menopause
  77. National Cancer Institute [NCI, United States]
  78. National Cancer Survivors Day 01 June 2025 [United States]
  79. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cancer: In Depth
  80. National LGBT Cancer Network
  81. OCCAM Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  82. Oncology
  83. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Cancer and Bone Health
  84. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  85. Our Cancer Prevention Recommendations [World Cancer Research Fund]
    Cancer
  86. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  87. Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Cancer
  88. Rarecancers.org.au [Rare Cancers Australia]
  89. The Inherited Cancer Experience
  90. Types of Cancer
  91. Types of Cancer
  92. Understanding Cancer
  93. Uicc.org [Union for International Cancer Control]
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  95. Wcrf.org [World Cancer Research Fund, England and Wales]
  96. What Is Cancer?
  97. What Is Cancer?
  98. What Is Cancer?
  99. What Is Cancer?
  100. Worldcancerday.org [World Cancer Day, 04 February]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Cancer? Types of Cancer. Updated: 11 October 2021. National Institute of Cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer#types Accessed: 09 July 2026
  2. Cancer: Overview. 03 July 2026. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer Accessed: 09 July 2026
  3. What Is Cancer? The Definition of Cancer. Updated: 11 October 2021. National Institute of Cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer#related-diseases Accessed: 09 July 2026
  4. What Is Cancer? Types of Cancer. Updated: 11 October 2021. National Institute of Cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer#types Accessed: 09 July 2026
  5. Worldwide Cancer Data: Global Cancer Incidence In Women. World Cancer Research Fund International https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/worldwide-cancer-data Accessed: 09 July 2026
  6. Cancer. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/cancer Accessed: 09 July 2026
  7. Screening. 22 January 2025. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/awareness/screening Accessed: 09 July 2026
  8. Our Cancer Prevention Recommendations: Our Recommendations. World Cancer Research Fund https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-prevention/our-cancer-prevention-recommendations/ Accessed: 09 July 2026
  9. Cancer Facts for Women: What Else You Can Do To Help Reduce Your Cancer Risk. Last Revised: 27 May 2026. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/healthy/findcancerearly/womenshealth/cancer-facts-for-women Accessed: 09 July 2026
  10. Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ)–Patient Version: Skin Cancer Prevention – Avoiding Risk Factors and Increasing Protective Factors May Help Prevent Cancer. Updated: 16 May 2025. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/skin-prevention-pdq#link/_16 Accessed: 09 July 2026
Topic Last Updated: 01 September 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 July 2026

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