Cancer Types and Staging: The guide you shouldn’t ignore

Introduction to Cancer 

Hearing the word, cancer, brings fear, confusion, and a lot of questions. What to do? What exactly is it? What type of cancer and what is the current stage? How to defeat it? What is the exact treatment? Let us answer each question. To understand cancer better, know what it is and its types. How does it affect our body at particular stages? So, cells in our body divide through a process called cell division. When there is a disturbance in this normal process, cells become aggressive and start to grow and divide without any control. Then, it takes the form of cancer cells. So, Cancer can be defined as a group of diseases in which our cells begin to divide and grow abnormally and uncontrollably. They produce that rapidly, it becomes difficult to control them. That's when our body shows signs, and the doctor prescribes a detection test. By reports, the type and stage of cancer can be identified. To decide on treatment, it is crucial to know the type and stage. To find out more information, keep reading this blog.

Classification: 200+ Cancer Types Explained

As we talked, why is it important to know the cancer type? Now, how many are there of them? If we talk about types, based on the body part where it is happening, cancer is divided into more than 200 types. These types are divided based on stage and the organ in which it has spread. Further, Cancer is broadly classified based on the type of cells it originates from or starts to develop. It is divided into 5 types. These types are crucial to understand, and each of them behaves differently. Knowing every type helps the physician to make a decision regarding:

• Identify the correct and most effective treatment
• Estimate how the disease may progress
• Discuss the prognosis and recovery of the patient

Most Common Types of Cancer

Cancer is classified based on the type of cell, where it began to grow and proliferate. These are the most prevalent forms of cancer:

1. Carcinomas: They are the most common type of cancer, which mainly occurs in epithelial cells. The skin and internal organs are examples of the body's surface where these cells can be found. Carcinomas are classified according to the body organs and impact the majority of the body. It also depends on the type of epithelial cell and its body location. Its sub-types are:

• Adenocarcinoma (in breast, prostate, colon)
• Squamous cell carcinoma (Skin, lungs, and esophagus)
• Basal cell carcinoma (a Rare cancer that starts from the skin)
• Transitional cell carcinoma (Urinary bladder)

2. Sarcomas: The body's connective tissues, including blood vessels, bones, muscles, and fat tissues, are prone to this rare kind of cancer. Unlike carcinomas, they develop in mesenchymal cells, so they can be generated from anywhere. The chest, arms, legs, and belly are the most frequently impacted areas. Its subtypes are:

• Osteosarcoma (bones) and more common in children & young adults
• Chondrosarcoma (cartilage cells)
• Liposarcoma (fat tissue)
• Leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle tissue).
• Rhabdomyosarcoma (skeletal muscle) and more common in children.
• Angiosarcoma (blood or lymph vessels).

3. Lymphomas and Myelomas: These are the specific cancers that occur in cells of the immune system. Among them, lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphocytes (White blood cells).
These cancers are further divided into two types:

1. Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL):
• Characterized by the presence of specific Reed-Sternberg cells.
• Spread in a specific manner
• Mostly, they are treatable if detected in the early stages.

2. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL):
• A lymphoma cancer without the presence of specific Reed-Sternberg cells.
• Spread is undecidable and affects multiple nodes.

Whereas, Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects the plasma cells in the blood. These cells are found in bone marrow and secrete antibodies that fight infection. It multiplies uncontrollably in an unregulated way that also causes the formation of abnormal antibodies.

4. Brain and Spinal Cord Cancers: These cancers are also known as Central Nervous System tumors. They mostly appear in the bone marrow and spinal cord. Based on origin, they can be of two types: Primary, which occurred originally from any part of the CNS. Whereas secondary is metastatic cancer, one that spreads in the CNS from another origin. These are further divided into subtypes:

• Gliomas: occur in glial cells (astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastomas), are highly aggressive.
• Meningiomas: Develop in the meningeal cells
• Medulloblastomas: Common in children, the origin is the cerebellum.
• Ependymomas: Begin in the cells lining of ventricles of the brain.
• Spinal Cord Tumors: Can be intramedullary (within the cord), and extramedullary (around the cord).

5. Leukemia: Leukemia is a specific cancer that occurs in the bone marrow and lymphatic system. The formation of blood is a result of each of these systems. When cancer occurs, these cells start to form abnormal white blood cells. Leukemia is further divided into its subtypes:

1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL):
• Divided rapidly
• Most common in children
2. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML):
• Fast-growing
• More common in adults
​3. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL):
• Slow-growing.
• Mostly affects the age of people
4. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML):
• Rapid progression over time
• Mainly caused due to mutation.

What Is Cancer Staging?

One method of determining the extent of cancer's spread within a particular organ is through cancer staging. It displays the scope that determines its pattern of spread. The size and growth of the malignancy determine its stages and grading. They can grow slowly or quickly. From the least aggressive to the most aggressive, it classifies the tumor's severity. Cancer stages are described by the size and dispersion of the affected areas. This grading system can be determined by various diagnostic methods. This grading helps the doctor to decide the further treatment and associated outcomes.

The stage of the cancer depends on the symptoms and the rate of metastasis (the Surface area the cancer cell has covered). Based on that, the WHO has described five common stages of cancer:

Stage 0:
• Known as the Pre-cancerous stage
• Benign tumor cell (Non-malignant)
• Abnormal cell division, when visualized under a microscope

Stage 1:
• Small tumor growth
• Relatively slow proliferation
• Treatment is possible if detected
• Long-term survival after treatment
• Abnormal cell growth under the microscope
• Sometimes, the cure is possible if completely removed by surgery.

Stage 2:
• Slow growth relatively
• Starts spreading to nearby healthy tissue
• Abnormal cell growth and division under a microscope
• If not treated, concert into the high-grade tumor.

Stage 3:
• Malignant growth (Cancerous)
• Rapidly dividing cancer cells
• Spread fast and affect multiple lymph nodes.

Stage 4:
• Malignant cancer
• Highly Aggressive growth
• spread to nearby healthy body parts
• Abnormal and rapid cell division
• The tumor has a center of necrosis
• It can't be cured, but treatment is possible

Also Read - Treatment of Lung Cancer: A Step-by-Step Guide for Patients

Conclusion

The body shows symptoms and signs when it is affected by cancer. Types and stages are important to know for future treatment. These categories are based on cell types and the body. The type of cancer showed us where it began to grow and what kind of cells were affected by this. Stage defines how far it has spread. Together, this information guides doctors in choosing the most effective treatment plan and helps patients in their future battle against cancer.
While a cancer diagnosis can be a flood of emotional struggle. By knowing more about the nature and progression of cancer, patients can recover with proper care and support. To support, Magicine Pharma is with you. It is an online pharmacy which offers a wide range of anti cancer medicines worldwide. You are not alone in this journey. Hope and heal yourself with us.

FAQs

Q-Which cancer type accounts for 90% of all cancer cases?
Carcinomas are the most common occurring cancer, accounting for almost 80-90% of all cancer cases.

Q-What is the difference between lymphoma and leukemia?
Lymphoma are the cancer which occurs in the specific type of blood cells,i.e., white blood cells where as leukemia occurs in lymphatic cancer and bone marrow.

Q-Are Brain Cancers Cancerous?
Depending on where in the brain the tumor has developed, brain tumors can be either benign or malignant.

Q-Are all Cancers treatable?
Yes, cancer is treatable if it is detected at early stages. In case of an advanced stage, anti-cancer drugs may prolong patients' lives and reduce symptoms.

Reference:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancer-starts/types-of-cancer
https://www.cancer.gov/types
https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/cancer/cancer/cancer-types.html