Skip to main content
  • Cancer
    Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by out-of-control cell growth. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. The cancer is named after the area of the body or organ where it originates.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 15 October 2015

Cancer is usually named after the part of the body where it originates. According to WHO, there are 20 million cancer new cases and 9.7 million deaths globally. Approximately 55.3 million individuals were estimated to have survived within five years after being diagnosed with cancer. One out of every five individuals will experience cancer diagnosis in their life time.

The five top most common cancers among men, globally, are: 

  • Prostate
  • Colorectal
  • Lung 
  • Skin cancer 
  • Testicular cancer

The five top most common cancers among women, globally, are: 

  • Breast 
  • Colorectal 
  • Lung 
  • Cervical 
  • Endometrial cancer.

Other cancers include:

  • Brain cancer
  • Childhood cancer (neuroblastoma, Wilms’ tumour, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma)
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Bile duct cancer
  • Gall bladder cancer
  • Small intestine cancer
  • Anal cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Blood cancers such Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma
  • Skin cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Bladder cancer.

Grading and staging of cancer- 

Grading of cancer is done based on the visual appearance of cancer cells compare to normal cells under the microscope. 

  • Grade X – Grade is not known.
  • Grade 1- Well differentiated, low grade.
  • Grade 2 – Moderately differentiated, intermediate grade.
  • Grade 3 – Poorly differentiated, high grade.
  • Grade 4 – Undifferentiated, high grade.

Cancer staging is a process to determine how far the cancer has spread. The staging of cancer helps to decide the treatment and make an informed prognosis.

TNM system is the most widely used cancer staging system. In the TNM system:

  • T – Size and extent of the tumour.
    T 0 – No evidence of primary tumour.
    T1, T2, T3, T4 indicates the size and extent of the tumour. 
  • N – Number of nearby lymph nodes having cancer.
    N 0 – No regional lymph node involvement.
    N1, N2, N3 indicates the number and location of lymph nodes having cancer spread.
  • M – Cancer metastasis mean cancer has spread to the other parts of the body. It occurs when cancer spreads to other part of the body.
    M 0 – No metastasis.
    M1 – Metastasis is present.

Overall stage grouping:  Overall stage grouping is also referred to as Roman numeral staging. This system uses numerals to describe the progression of the cancer.

  • Stage 0: Carcinoma in situ (absence of invasion of tumour cell to surrounding tissue) 
  • Stage I: Cancer is localised to one part of the body. Stage I cancer can be surgically removed if small enough.
  • Stage II: Cancer is early but locally advanced. Tumour is larger than stage I but has not started to spread to the surrounding tissue. Stage II cancer can be treated by chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.
  • Stage III: Cancer is locally advanced in late stages. Cancer cells can be found in the adjoining lymph nodes. Stage III can be treated by chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.
  • Stage IV: Cancer has metastasized, or spread to other organs and parts the body. Stage IV cancer can be treated by chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.
     
Community
Condition

Stories

  • A woman in a red dress coughing and text overlay Understanding A Cough
    Know What Your Cough Could Mean
    We have all had a cough in our life. While it is our body's natural reflex and a routine occurrence, a cough may signify more than a bodily function. It may be a powerful signal, an expression of our respiratory system trying to communicate with us. Whether the cough is fleeting, annoying, or persistent, it is a call for attention to the intricacies of our health. Through this article, we will decode everything about coughing and the significance it holds in the broader context of our health.…
  • Neema in a pink shirt, white pants and a scarf in an open area walking with support of a cane
    मुझे अपने बेटे के लिए अपनी हड्डियों के कैंसर से लड़ना था
    नीमा 26 वर्ष की थीं जब उनको ऑस्टियोसारकोमा (हड्डी का कैंसर) का निदान मिला और उनका जीवन हमेशा के लिए बदल गया। इस लेख में वे अपनी उस चुनौतीपूर्ण यात्रा के बारे में बात करती हैं जिसमें कई सर्जरी, टांग का कटना, और अनेक अन्य मुश्किलों का सामना करना पड़ा, और यह भी साझा करती हैं कि कैंसर से लड़ने की हिम्मत और प्रेरणा उन्हें किस से मिली। कृपया हमें अपनी स्थिति के बारे में कुछ बताएं 1998 के नवंबर की बात है जब मैं सिर्फ 26 साल की थी और मुझे अपने घुटने के ओस्टियोसारकोमा (हड्डी का कैंसर) का निदान मिला। आपके…
  • A pic of a plane midflight and overlay of the text Travel tips for Cancer patients
    कैंसर सर्वाइवर के लिए यात्रा से संबंधित नुस्खे
    कैंसर रोगी और उत्तरजीवी (सर्वाईवर) यात्रा कर सकते हैं, पर उन्हें कुछ ख़ास बातों का ख़याल रखना चाहिए। इस लेख में इस के लिए डॉ. शीतल पटेल से कुछ सुझाव हैं और उर्वी सबनीस, नंदिता मुरलीधर और मोना चौधरी (सभी कैंसर उत्तरजीवी / सर्वाईवर) का बहुमूल्य योगदान भी शामिल है। कैंसर रोगी को किसी भी यात्रा को शुरू करने से पहले अपने डॉक्टर की सहमति ज़रूर प्राप्त कर लेनी चाहिए। यात्रा का कार्यक्रम ऐसा बनाएं ताकि आप यात्रा के कारण अपने किसी भी टेस्ट या फॉलो-उप अपॉइंटमेंट से न चूकें। यात्रा करने के लिए ध्यान रहे कि…
  • Image of a woman experiencing hot flashes and using a hand fan. Text overlay on blue strip - Menopause And Cancer
    Tips To Manage Menopause During Cancer Treatment
    Developing menopause while going through cancer is a double whammy for all women. The sudden jolt of menopause caused by cancer treatment is not only physically but mentally straining as well.  Can physiotherapy help alleviate these distressing menopausal effects and improve quality of life for women with cancer? Ajeeta Kulkarni, a senior physiotherapist at Tata Memorial hospital in Mumbai, tells us how. What are the causes of menopause in cancer patients? Menopause is the decline in the…
  • A partially visible person in white top and pants holding the urge to urinate with text on blue strip How to manage incontinence
    Managing Bowel and Bladder Incontinence in Cancer Patients
    Bowel (fecal) and bladder (urinary) incontinence is a relatively common side-effect that can occur during cancer treatment. Due to the stigma and under-recognition attached to this condition, quality of life suffers significantly in persons with cancer. Learn more about managing this condition with Prachi P. Narkhede, a MPT Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiotherapist at Tata Memorial Hospital. What is incontinence? It is loss of control of bladder and bowel causing accidental leakage of…
  • An woman holding her foot in pain and text overlay on blue strip :Tips and Exercises for Neuropathy
    Managing Neuropathy In Cancer treatment
    One of the many unpleasant aspects of treatment for cancer patients is the adverse effect of having nerve related pain, tingling, altered sensations, etc. This is termed as neuropathy and occurs when the nerves fibers in the body get damaged, inflamed or destroyed during the cancer treatment process. Neuropathy can be managed with the help of physiotherapy and some lifestyle changes. Manali Kamat, a Physiotherapist from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai provides detailed insight into this…
  • A woman holding the bridge of her nose and text overlay on a blue band Managing Cancer Related Fatigue
    Managing Cancer Related Fatigue
    Fatigue, often confused with mere weakness, is now recognized as one of the most common symptoms of cancer itself as well as a side-effect of the treatment that a patient goes through. Often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, it leads to a distress and affects daily living of the cancer patient. So how does one recognize it and what do we do about it. Sarika Mahajan, senior Physiotherapist with Tata Memorial Hospital helps us unpack this unvalued symptom for both patients and their care providers…
  • An elderly man with a port attached on his chest and blue side bar with overlay text Learn about Cancer ports and catheters and patientsengage logo
    Ports and Catheters in Cancer Treatment
    When you or a loved one is first diagnosed with cancer, there are a lot of new terms to deal with. There are also a lot of questions about how treatment delivery mechanisms. This article addresses these unanswered questions. You can also refer to the glossary for more information on cancer terminology. If you or your loved one has been through cancer treatment, you may be aware of the various types of medical inserts used by Oncologist for Chemotherapy. Most medicines are injected into the vein…
  • A Journey Of Hope: New Directions in Cancer Care
    PatientsEngage supports a Journey of Hope, a seminar highlighting new directions in Cancer Care. Find out how new therapy areas like nuclear medicine therapy and targeted radiotherapy are useful for treating prostate, neuroendocrine and potentially other cancers. Also learn about the role of patient groups in supporting patient and caregiver journeys. Join us on Sat 5 Nov at Academia Bldg, Singapore General Hospital Campus, or via YouTube  Register here to get the links: https://…
  • Stock pic of a magnifying glass over a dictionary focussing on cancer and the patientsengage logo and the purple ribbon for cancer
    Cancer Terms Explained
    When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they and their family caregivers need to suddenly learn a new vocabulary of terms. It can be overwhelming to look at various reports and make sense of what it means. PatientsEngage has put together a glossary of various cancer related terms. Bookmark this for easy reference. If you don't find the term you are looking for leave a comment below or send us a note through contact us and we will update the content.       …