Types of Cancer

What is cancer?

Cancer occurs when cells grow in an abnormal way and multiply uncontrollably, invading healthy tissue. The body has natural systems to prevent the growth of cancerous cells by either repairing the damage to the DNA or forcing the cell to die, however, cancer occurs when these inbuilt defence mechanisms fail. Read more on what cancer is.

How many types of cancers are there?

There are over 200 known types of cancer; these include breast cancer, blood cancer, skin cancer, and liver cancer.

Each cancer is classified according to the location in the body where the abnormal cell growth began, for example cancer that begins in the lungs is called lung cancer. Cancerous cells can develop in the skin, tissue or blood, or form masses called tumours.