Cancer is a non-infectious disease. Uncontrolled proliferation without differentiation leads to a new growth called neoplasm. Neoplasm growth may indicate the onset of cancer. There are two categories of tumours: benign tumours and malignant tumours.
The characteristics of cancerous cells are:
- high proliferation
- no differentiation
- no contact inhibition
- highly spreading
- high invasiveness
- high tolerance activity
- the secret angiogenic factor that dilates the blood vessels, causing the maximum blood supply to cancerous cells and causing normal cells to die due to starvation
This article will clarify how many categories of cancer are there and will also elaborate on the different forms of cancer.
There are Two Categories of Tumours
Cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases in human beings and is a major cause of death worldwide. A high number of people have cancer, and many die annually. Neoplasm is the proliferation of cancerous cells without being differentiated. In other words, it is abnormal cell growth that is out of control and is considered a tumour. The new growth of such cancerous cells can appear at any location in the body.
There are two categories of tumours:
- Benign tumour
- Malignant tumour
Of these two categories of tumours, malignant tumours have three stages of spreading, growth, and symptoms:
- T phase (Tumour phase)
- N phase (Nodal phase)
- M phase (Metastatic phase)
Benign Tumour
A benign tumour is non-cancerous, characterised by slow growth, non-spreading, and usually encapsulated. A benign tumour is usually confined or restricted only to the place of origin.
Malignant Tumour or Cancerous Tumour
Malignant tumours have a mass of proliferating cells known as tumour cells or neoplastic cells. A malignant tumour is classified into three stages:
- T phase (Tumour phase)
The slow growth of cancerous cells and spreading do not occur
- N phase (Nodal phase)
The fast growth of the tumour begins, spreading begins and is restricted to neighbouring areas
- M phase (Metastatic phase)
Cancerous cells are released into circulation and migrate to a distant place in the body, in a process known as metastasis. The secondary tumour is formed in the M phase.
How many categories of cancer are there?
Cancer is fast-spreading and can infect any organ in the body. There are many categories of cancer, and some deadly forms of cancer are:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
Depending on the organs or tissue which form them, these cancers are also termed:
Sarcomas
This is a very rare type of cancer. Only about 1% of cancers in adults are categorised as sarcoma. This type of cancer starts in the mesodermal tissue like cartilage, bone, adipose tissue, lymphoid tissue, and muscle.
Carcinomas
This is the most common type of cancer and accounts for almost 80-85% of all cancers. It affects the epithelial tissue and includes skin cancer, mammary gland cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, liver cancer, and brain cancer.
Leukaemia
Leukaemia is due to an abnormal, and permanent increase in the number of white blood cells and is commonly called blood cancer.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is considered the leading cause of cancer deaths. Cigarette smoking is a carcinogenic factor involved in this type of cancer. The signs and symptoms of lung cancer are fatigue, sudden weight loss, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that causes death among women. There is no specific cause of breast cancer, but there are several risk factors: getting older, genetic factors, early menstruation or late menopause, being overweight, and other factors. The symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that forms in a man’s prostate gland. Most prostate cancer grows slowly, compared to other cancers. The risk factors include the grade or age of cancer and the individual’s medical history.
Additionally, there are also other cancers:
- Adenoma: Cancer of the glands
- Osteoma: Cancer of the bone
- Myoma: Cancer of the muscle
- Lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphoid tissue
- Melanoma: Cancer of pigmented cells
- Glioma: Cancer of glial cells
- Adipoma: Cancer of adipose tissue
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most prominent types of cancer that can cause death. Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose easily, which makes it difficult to treat. This type of cancer can be inherited, too, as a genetic syndrome.
Some causes of pancreatic cancer are:
- Cigarette smoking
- Alcohol
- A pancreatic cyst that sometimes turns into cancer
What is the rarest form of pancreatic cancer?
The rarest form of pancreatic cancer is adenosquamous carcinoma. On average, this form represents 1 to 4% of all pancreatic cancers. The usual symptoms of pancreatic cancer are abdominal pain, jaundice, and excessive weight loss. Symptoms may vary for different types of cancers.
Conclusion
Cancer is a non-infectious and dangerous disease and may cause death without proper treatment. The human body cell has a mechanism for the formation and differentiation within a regulated manner. When the regulated manner of cell differentiation gets affected by any carcinogens or mutation, they produce cancerous cells which, in turn, affects the function of the cell. There are primarily two categories of tumours: benign and malignant tumours. The malignant tumour spreads within the body and causes secondary tumours. There are many categories of cancer, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer, and the rarest form of pancreatic cancer is adenosquamous carcinoma.