Different types of cancer occured in human body.

Different types of cancer in human
Introduction:
Cancer, also known as a malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving
abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Not all tumors are
cancerous; benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Possible signs and symptoms include:
a new lump, abnormal bleeding, a prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel
movements among others. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they may also occur due to other
issues. There are over 100 different known cancers that affect humans. Cancer is a concerning diseases in
the modern era, especially for developing and poor countries, because here, death rate is so high. There
goes a proverb that there is no answer of cancer in our Bangladesh due to lack of treatment facilities, high
treatment cost and scarcity of proper knowledge. Survival of cancer depends upon the type of cancer. We
lost a lot of famous persons from the world by cancer and some are fighting with cancer.
Figure-1: Some of our beloved persons who were died by cancer.
Carcinoma:
Page 1 of 24

Carcinoma is a type of cancer that develops from epithelial cells. Specifically, a carcinoma is a cancer
that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells
originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during embryogenesis. Carcinomas occur when
the DNA of a cell is damaged or altered and the cell begins to grow uncontrollably and become
malignant. This group includes many of the most common cancers, particularly in the aged, and
include nearly all those developing in the breast, prostate, lung, pancreas, and colon.
Adenocarcinoma:
Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancerous tumor that can occur in several parts of the body. It is defined as
neoplasia of epithelial tissue that has glandular origin, glandular characteristics, or both.
Adenocarcinomas are part of the larger grouping of carcinomas. Cancers that are adenocarcinomas are
often usually called by more precise terms omitting the word, where these exist. Thus invasive ductal
carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer, is adenocarcinoma but does not use the term in its
name, but esophageal adenocarcinoma does, to distinguish it from the other common type of esophageal
cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which is not adenocarcinoma. Several of the most common
forms of cancer are adenocarcinomas, and the various sorts of adenocarcinoma vary greatly in all their
aspects, so that few useful generalizations can be made about them. In the most specific usage, the
glandular origin or traits are exocrine; endocrine gland tumors, such as a VIPoma, an insulinoma, or a
pheochromocytoma, are typically not referred to as adenocarcinomas but rather are often called
neuroendocrine tumors. Epithelial tissue sometimes includes, but is not limited to, the surface layer of
skin, glands, and a variety of other tissue that lines the cavities and organs of the body. Epithelial tissue
can be derived embryologically from any of the germ layers. To be classified as adenocarcinoma, the
cells do not necessarily need to be part of a gland, as long as they have secretory properties.
Adenocarcinoma is the malignant counterpart to adenoma, which is the benign form of such tumors.
Sometimes adenomas transform into adenocarcinomas, but most do not. Well differentiated
adenocarcinomas tend to resemble the glandular tissue that they are derived from, while poorly
differentiated adenocarcinomas may not. By staining the cells from a biopsy, a pathologist can determine
whether the tumor is an adenocarcinoma or some other type of cancer. Adenocarcinomas can arise in
many tissues of the body owing to the ubiquitous nature of glands within the body, and, more
fundamentally, to the potency of epithelial cells. While each gland may not be secreting the same
substance, as long as there is an exocrine function to the cell, it is considered glandular and its malignant
form is therefore named adenocarcinoma.
 Breast:
Most breast cancers start in the ducts or lobules, and are adenocarcinomas. The three most common
histopathological types collectively represent approximately three-quarters of breast cancers:
1. Invasive ductal carcinoma:
Page 2 of 24

55% of breast cancers.
Invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST) also known as invasive
ductal carcinoma or ductal NOS and previously known as invasive ductal carcinoma, not
otherwise specified (NOS) is a group of breast cancers that do not have the "specific
differentiating features". Those that have these features belong to other types. In this group are:
pleomorphic carcinoma, carcinoma with osteoclast-like stromal giant cells, carcinoma with
choriocarcinomatous features, and carcinoma with melanotic features. It is a diagnosis of
exclusion, which means that for the diagnosis to be made all the other specific types must be
ruled out.
Figure 2: Mastectomy specimen containing a very large invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.
Signs and symptoms:
In many cases, ductal carcinoma is asymptomatic, and detected as abnormal results on mammography.
When symptoms occur, a painless, enlarging mass that does not fluctuate with the menstrual period may
be felt. Pinching of the overlying skin may also be seen. Certain subtypes, such as inflammatory
carcinomas, may result in a swollen, enlarged and tender breast. All variants of cancer, if there is
metastatic spread, may cause enlarged lymph nodes and affect other organs.
Page 3 of 24

2. Ductal carcinoma in situ:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as intraductal carcinoma, is a pre-cancerous or non-
invasive cancerous lesion of the breast. DCIS is classified as Stage 0. It rarely produces
symptoms or breast lumps, and it is usually detected through screening mammography. In this
condition abnormal cells are found in the lining of one or more milk ducts in the breast.
Figure 3: A drawing of ductal carcinoma
Signs and symptoms:
Most of the women who develop DCIS do not experience any symptoms. The first signs and symptoms
may appear if the cancer advances. Because of the lack of early symptoms, DCIS is most often detected at
screening mammography.
In a few cases, DCIS may cause:
• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or under the arm
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Nipple discharge or nipple tenderness; the nipple may also be inverted, or pulled back into the
breast
• Ridges or pitting of the breast; the skin may look like the skin of an orange
• A change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels such as warmth,
swelling, redness or scaliness.
Page 4 of 24

3. Invasive lobular carcinoma:
Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 5-10% of invasive breast cancer. Loss of E-cadherin is
common in lobular carcinoma but is also seen in other breast cancers. Treatment includes surgery
and adjuvant therapy.
Figure 4: Lobular breast cancer. Single file cells and cell nests.
 Colon:
The vast majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. This is because the colon has numerous
glands within the tissue. Normal colonic glands tend to be simple and tubular in appearance with a
mixture of mucus secreting goblet cells and water absorbing cells. These glands are called glands because
they secrete a substance into the lumen of the colon, this substance being mucus. The purpose of these
glands is twofold. The first is to absorb water from the feces back into the blood. The second purpose is to
secrete mucus into the colon lumen to lubricate the now dehydrated feces. This is crucial as a failure to
lubricate the feces can result in colonic damage by the feces as it passes towards the rectum. When these
glands undergo a number of changes at the genetic level, they proceed in a predictable manner as they
move from benign to an invasive, malignant colon cancer. The gastroenterologist uses a colonoscopy to
find and remove these adenomas and polyps to prevent them from continuing to acquire genetic changes
that will lead to an invasive adenocarcinoma. There will be a mass of a different color to the surrounding
tissue. Bleeding from the tumor is often apparent as the tumor tends to grow blood vessels into it in a
haphazard manner via secretion of a number of angiogenesis promoting factors such as VEGF.
Histologically, tumours resembling the original structures are classified as well differentiated. Tumour
cells that have lost any resemblance to original tissue, both in appearance and structure form, are denoted
as poorly differentiated tumour cells. Regardless of the grade, malignant tumors tend to have a large
nucleus with prominent nucleoli. There will also be a noticeable increase in the incidence of mitosis, or
cell divisions.
Page 5 of 24

Figure 5: Gross appearance of an opened colectomy.
Signs and symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer depend on the location of the tumor in the bowel, and
whether it has spread elsewhere in the body (metastasis). The classic warning signs include: worsening
constipation, blood in the stool, decrease in stool caliber (thickness), loss of appetite, loss of weight, and
nausea or vomiting in someone over 50 years old. While rectal bleeding or anemia are high-risk features
in those over the age of 50, other commonly-described symptoms including weight loss and change in
bowel habit are typically only concerning if associated with bleeding.
 Lung:
Nearly 40% of lung cancers are adenocarcinoma, which usually originates in peripheral lung tissue. Most
cases of adenocarcinoma are associated with smoking; however, among people who have smoked fewer
than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes ("never-smokers"), adenocarcinoma is the most common form of
lung cancer. A subtype of adenocarcinoma, the bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, is more common in female
never-smokers, and may have a better long-term survival. This cancer usually is seen peripherally in the
lungs, as opposed to small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer, which both tend to be more
centrally located.
Page 6 of 24

Figure 6: A gross pathological specimen of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, removed in a lobectomy.
Sign and symptoms:
• Chest discomfort or pain.
• A cough that doesn't go away or gets worse over time.
• Trouble breathing.
• Wheezing.
• Blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs).
• Hoarseness.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss for no known reason.
Squamous-cell carcinoma:
Squamous-cell carcinoma or squamous-cell cancer (SCC or SqCC) is a cancer of a kind of epithelial cell,
the squamous cell. These cells are the main part of the epidermis of the skin, and this cancer is one of the
major forms of skin cancer. However, squamous cells also occur in the lining of the digestive tract, lungs,
and other areas of the body, and SCC occurs as a form of cancer in diverse tissues, including the lips,
mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lung, vagina, and cervix, among others. Despite sharing the
name squamous-cell carcinoma, the SCCs of different body sites can show tremendous differences in
their presenting symptoms, natural history, prognosis, and response to treatment. SCC typically initially
occurs in the sixth decade of life (the 50s), but is most common in the eighth decade (the 70s). It is twice
as prevalent in men as in women. People with darker skin are less at risk to develop SCC. Populations
with fair skin, light hair, and blue/green/grey eyes are at highest risk of developing the disease. Frequent
Page 7 of 24

exposure to direct, strong sunlight without adequate topical protection also increases risk. It is also caused
by Human papilloma virus (HPV).
Figure 7: SCC of the skin
Affected Organs:
Skin:
Squamous-cell carcinoma is the second-most common cancer of the skin. It usually occurs in areas
exposed to the sun. Sunlight exposure and immunosuppression are risk factors for SCC of the skin, with
chronic sun exposure being the strongest environmental risk factor. SCCs usually occur on portions of the
body commonly exposed to the Sun; the face, ears, neck, hands, or arm. The main symptom is a growing
bump that may have a rough, scaly surface and flat reddish patches. Unlike basal-cell carcinomas, SCCs
carry a significant risk of metastasis, often spreading to local nerves or the lymph nodes, and are thus
more dangerous. During its earliest stages, it is sometimes known as Bowen's disease. Squamous-cell
carcinomas are generally treated by surgical excision, Mohs surgery or electrodessication and curettage.
Head and neck:
Ninety percent of cases of head and neck cancer (cancer of the mouth, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, throat
and associated structures) are due to squamous-cell carcinoma.
Thyroid:
Primary squamous-cell thyroid carcinoma shows an aggressive biological phenotype resulting in poor
prognosis for patients.
Esophagus:
Oesophageal cancer may be due to either squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) or adenocarcinoma (EAC).
SCCs tend to occur closer to the mouth, while adenocarcinomas occur closer to the stomach. Dysphagia
and odynophagia are common initial symptoms. If the disease is localized, esophagectomy may offer the
possibility of a cure. If the disease has spread, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly used.
Page 8 of 24

Lung:
When associated with the lung, it is typically a centrally located large cell cancer (non-small cell lung
cancer or NSCLC). It often has a paraneoplastic syndrome causing ectopic production of
parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), resulting in hypercalcemia, however
paraneoplastic syndrome is more commonly associated with small cell lung cancer. It is
primarily due to smoking.
Penile genitalia:
When squamous-cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) is found on the penis, it is called erythroplasia
of Queyrat. This type of cancer responds very well to imiquimod.
Prostate:
When associated with the prostate, squamous-cell carcinoma is very aggressive in nature. It is difficult to
detect as there is no increase in prostate specific antigen levels seen; meaning that the cancer is often
diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Vagina and cervix:
Vaginal squamous-cell carcinoma spreads slowly and usually stays near the vagina, but may spread to the
lungs and liver. This is the most common type of vaginal cancer.
Bladder:
Most bladder cancer is transitional cell, but bladder cancer associated with Schistosomiasis is often
squamous-cell carcinoma.
Signs and symptoms:
Symptoms are highly variable depending on the involved organs.
SCC of the skin begins as a small nodule and as it enlarges the center becomes necrotic and sloughs and
the nodule turns into an ulcer.
• The lesion caused by SCC is often asymptomatic
• Ulcer or reddish skin plaque that is slow growing
• Intermittent bleeding from the tumor, especially on the lip
• The clinical appearance is highly variable
• Usually the tumor presents as an ulcerated lesion with hard, raised edges
Page 9 of 24

• The tumor may be in the form of a hard plaque or a papule, often with an opalescent quality, with
tiny blood vessels
• The tumor can lie below the level of the surrounding skin, and eventually ulcerates and invades
the underlying tissue
• The tumor commonly presents on sun-exposed areas (e.g. back of the hand, scalp, lip, and
superior surface of pinna)
• On the lip, the tumor forms a small ulcer, which fails to heal and bleeds intermittently
• Evidence of chronic skin photodamage, such as multiple actinic keratoses (solar keratoses)
• The tumor grows relatively slowly
• Unlike basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) has a substantial risk of
metastasis
• Risk of metastasis is higher in SCC arising in scars, on the lower lips or mucosa, and occurring in
immunosuppressed patients.
Adenosquamous carcinoma:
Refers to a mixed tumor containing both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, wherein each of
these cell types comprises at least 10% of the tumor volume.
Figure 8: Micrograph of an adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Anaplastic carcinoma:
Refers to a heterogeneous group of high-grade carcinomas that feature cells lacking distinct histological
or cytological evidence of any of the more specifically differentiated neoplasms. These tumors are
referred to as anaplastic or undifferentiated carcinomas.
Page 10 of 24

Large-cell lung carcinoma:
Large-cell lung carcinoma (LCLC) is a heterogeneous group of undifferentiated malignant neoplasms
originating from transformed epithelial cells in the lung. According to the Nurses' Health Study, the risk
of large cell lung carcinoma increases with a previous history of tobacco smoking, with a previous
smoking duration of 30 to 40 years giving a relative risk of approximately 2.3 compared to never-
smokers, and a duration of more than 40 years giving a relative risk of approximately 3.6.
Small-cell carcinoma:
Small-cell carcinoma (also known as "small-cell lung cancer", or "oat-cell carcinoma") is a type of highly
malignant cancer that most commonly arises within the lung, although it can occasionally arise in other
body sites, such as the cervix, prostate, and gastrointestinal tract. Compared to non-small cell carcinoma,
small cell carcinoma has a shorter doubling time, higher growth fraction, and earlier development of
metastases. Small-cell carcinoma of the lung usually presents in the central airways and infiltrates the
submucosa leading to narrowing of bronchial airways. Due to its high grade neuroendocrine nature,
small-cell carcinomas can produce ectopic hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). Ectopic production of large amounts of ADH leads to syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone hypersecretion (SIADH).
Sign and symptoms:
• Cough.
• Dyspnea.
• Weight loss.
• Debility.
• Over 70% of patients with small-cell carcinoma present with metastatic disease; common sites
include liver, adrenals, bone, and brain.
 Lung:
When associated with the lung, it is sometimes called "oat cell carcinoma" due to the flat cell shape and
scanty cytoplasm. It is thought to originate from neuroendocrine cells (APUD cells) in the bronchus
called Feyrter cells. Hence, they express a variety of neuroendocrine markers, and may lead to ectopic
production of hormones like ADH and ACTH that may result in paraneoplastic syndromes and Cushing's
syndrome. Approximately half of all individuals diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
(LEMS) will eventually be found to have a small-cell carcinoma of the lung.Small-cell carcinoma is most
often more rapidly and widely metastatic than non-small cell lung carcinoma. There is usually early
involvement of the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes.
 Combined small-cell lung carcinoma (c-SCLC):
Page 11 of 24

Small-cell lung carcinoma can occur in combination with a wide variety of other histological variants of
lung cancer, including extremely complex malignant tissue admixtures. When it is found with one or
more differentiated forms of lung cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, the
malignant tumor is then diagnosed and classified as a combined small cell lung carcinoma (c-SCLC). C-
SCLC is the only currently recognized subtype of SCLC. Although combined small-cell lung carcinoma
is currently staged and treated similarly to "pure" small-cell carcinoma of the lung, recent research
suggests surgery might improve outcomes in very early stages of this tumor type. Smoking is a significant
etiological factor. Symptoms and signs are as for other lung cancers. In addition, because of their
neuroendocrine cell origin, small-cell carcinomas will often secrete substances that result in
paraneoplastic syndromes such as Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.
 Extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma:
Very rarely, the primary site for small-cell carcinoma is outside of the lungs and pleural space, it is
referred to as extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma (EPSCC). Outside of the respiratory tract, small-cell
carcinoma can appear in the cervix, prostate, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, or bladder. When the
primary site is in the skin, it is referred to as Merkel cell carcinoma.
 Extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma localized in the lymph nodes:
This is an extremely rare type of small cell, and there has been little information in the scientific
community. It appears to occur in only one or more lymph nodes, and nowhere else in the body.
Treatment is similar to small cell lung cancer, but survival rates are much higher than other small-cell
carcinomas.
 Small-cell carcinoma of the prostate:
In the prostate, small-cell carcinoma (SCCP) is a rare form of cancer. Due to the fact that there is little
variation in prostate specific antigen levels, this form of cancer is normally diagnosed at an advanced
stage, after metastasis. It can metastasize to the brain.
Sarcoma:
A sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells of mesenchymal origin. Thus, malignant tumors
made of cancellous bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, or hematopoietic tissues are, by definition,
considered sarcomas. This is in contrast to a malignant tumor originating from epithelial cells, which are
termed carcinoma. Human sarcomas are quite rare.
Nomenclature:
 By Tissue:
Page 12 of 24

Sarcomas are given a number of different names based on the type of tissue that they most closely
resemble. For example, osteosarcoma resembles bone, chondrosarcoma resembles cartilage,
liposarcoma resembles fat, and leiomyosarcoma resembles smooth muscle.
 By Grade:
Sarcomas are also assigned a grade (low, intermediate, or high) based on the presence and
frequency of certain cellular and subcellular characteristics associated with malignant biological
behavior. Low grade sarcomas are usually treated surgically, although sometimes radiation
therapy or chemotherapy is used. Intermediate and high grade sarcomas are more frequently
treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Since higher grade
tumors are more likely to undergo metastasis, they are treated more aggressively. The recognition
that many sarcomas are sensitive to chemotherapy has dramatically improved the survival of
patients. For example, in the era before chemotherapy, long-term survival for patients with
localized osteosarcoma was only approximately 20%, but now has risen to 60–70%.
Types of Sarcoma:
• Askin's tumor.
• Sarcoma botryoides.
• Chondrosarcoma.
• Ewing's.
• Malignant Hemangioendothelioma.
• Malignant Schwannoma.
• Osteosarcoma.
• Soft tissue sarcomas, including:
o Alveolar soft part sarcoma.
o Angiosarcoma.
o Cystosarcoma Phyllodes
o Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).
o Desmoid Tumor.
o Desmoplastic small round cell tumor.
Page 13 of 24

o Epithelioid Sarcoma.
o Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma.
o Extraskeletal osteosarcoma.
o Fibrosarcoma.
o Gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
o Hemangiopericytoma.
o Hemangiosarcoma.
o Kaposi's sarcoma.
o Leiomyosarcoma.
o Liposarcoma.
o Lymphangiosarcoma.
o Lymphosarcoma.
o Neurofibrosarcoma.
o Rhabdomyosarcoma.
o Synovial sarcoma.
o Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.
Lymphoma:
Lymphoma is any of a group of blood cell tumors that develop from lymphatic cells. The name often
refers to just the cancerous ones rather than all such tumors.
Page 14 of 24

Figure 9: Follicular lymphoma replacing a lymph node.
Signs and symptoms:
Lymphoma may present with certain nonspecific symptoms; if the symptoms are persistent, an evaluation
to determine their cause, including possible lymphoma, should be undertaken.
• Lymphadenopathy or swelling of lymph nodes is the primary presentation in lymphoma.
• B symptoms (systemic symptoms) – can be associated with both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-
Hodgkin lymphoma. They consist of:
o Fever
o Night sweats
o Weight loss
• Other symptoms :
o Loss of appetite or anorexia
o Fatigue
o Respiratory distress or dyspnea
o Itching
Risk factors:
• Infection with Epstein–Barr virus.
• History of the disease in the family.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• HIV/AIDS,
Page 15 of 24

• Infection with human T-lymphotropic virus.
• Eating a large amount of meat and fat.
• Immunosuppressant medications,and some pesticides.
Affected Organs:
Figure 10: The lymph nodes where lymphoma most commonly develops
Two types of Lymphoma:
Hodgkin lymphoma:
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most commonly known types of lymphoma, and differs from other
forms of lymphoma in its prognosis and several pathological characteristics. A Hodgkin lymphoma is
marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed–Sternberg cell.
Page 16 of 24

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas:
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which are defined as being all lymphomas except Hodgkin lymphoma, are
more common than Hodgkin lymphoma. A wide variety of lymphomas are in this class, and the causes,
the types of cells involved, and the prognosis vary by type. The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
increases with age.
Who classification of Lymphoma
• Mature B cell neoplasms.
• Mature T cell and natural killer (NK) cell neoplasms.
• Precursor lymphoid neoplasms.
• Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.
Leukemia:
Leukemia is a group of cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of
abnormal white blood cells. These white blood cells are not fully developed and are called blasts or
leukemia cells.
Figure 11: A Wright's stained bone marrow aspirate smear from a person with precursor B-cell acute
lymphoblastic leukemia.
Signs and symptoms:
• Damage to the bone marrow, by way of displacing the normal bone marrow cells with higher
numbers of immature white blood cells, results in a lack of blood platelets, which are important in
the blood clotting process. This means people with leukemia may easily become bruised, bleed
excessively, or develop pinprick bleeds (petechiae).
• White blood cells, which are involved in fighting pathogens, may be suppressed or dysfunctional.
This could cause the patient's immune system to be unable to fight off a simple infection or to
start attacking other body cells. Because leukemia prevents the immune system from working
Page 17 of 24

normally, some patients experience frequent infection, ranging from infected tonsils, sores in the
mouth, or diarrhea to life-threatening pneumonia or opportunistic infections.
• Finally, the red blood cell deficiency leads to anemia, which may cause dyspnea and pallor.
• Some patients experience other symptoms, such as feeling sick, having fevers, chills, night
sweats, feeling fatigued and other flu-like symptoms. Some patients experience nausea or a
feeling of fullness due to an enlarged liver and spleen; this can result in unintentional weight loss.
Blasts affected by the disease may come together and become swollen in the liver or in the lymph
nodes causing pain and leading to nausea.
• If the leukemic cells invade the central nervous system, then neurological symptoms (notably
headaches) can occur. Uncommon neurological symptoms like migraines, seizures, or coma can
occur as a result of brain stem pressure. All symptoms associated with leukemia can be attributed
to other diseases. Consequently, leukemia is always diagnosed through medical tests.
Figure 12: Common symptoms of chronic or acute leukemia.
Classifications:
 Acute Leukemia:
Characterized by a rapid increase in the number of immature blood cells. The crowding that
results from such cells makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. Immediate
treatment is required in acute leukemia because of the rapid progression and accumulation of the
malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the
body. Acute forms of leukemia are the most common forms of leukemia in children.
 Chronic Leukemia:
Characterized by the excessive buildup of relatively mature, but still abnormal, white blood cells.
Typically taking months or years to progress, the cells are produced at a much higher rate than
Page 18 of 24

normal, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells. Whereas acute leukemia must be treated
immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure
maximum effectiveness of therapy. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can
occur in any age group.
Leukemia is also classified by following two division,
 In lymphoblastic or lymphocytic Leukemias:
The cancerous change takes place in a type of marrow cell that normally goes on to form
lymphocytes, which are infection-fighting immune system cells. Most lymphocytic leukemias
involve a specific subtype of lymphocyte, the B cell.
 In myeloid or myelogenous Leukemias:
The cancerous change takes place in a type of marrow cell that normally goes on to form red
blood cells, some other types of white cells, and platelets.
Germ cell tumor:
A germ cell tumor (GCT) is a neoplasm derived from germ cells. Germ cell tumors can be cancerous or
non-cancerous tumors. Germ cells normally occur inside the gonads (ovary and testis). Germ cell tumors
that originate outside the gonads may be birth defects resulting from errors during development of the
embryo. Germ cell tumors are broadly divided in two classes:
• The germinomatous or seminomatous germ cell tumors (GGCT, SGCT) include only germinoma
and its synonyms dysgerminoma and seminoma.
• The nongerminomatous or nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT, NSGCT) include all
other germ cell tumors, pure and mixed.
Affected Organs:
Despite their name, germ cell tumors occur both within and outside the ovary and testis.
• Head
o Inside the cranium — pineal and suprasellar locations are most commonly reported
o Inside the mouth — a fairly common location for teratoma
• Neck
• Mediastinum — account for 1% to 5% of all germ cell neoplasms
• Pelvis, particularly sacrococcygeal teratoma
• Ovary
Page 19 of 24

• Testis.
Sign and symptoms:
• Swollen abdomen without weight gain in other parts of the body.
• Bleeding from the vagina after menopause (when you are no longer having menstrual periods).
• Cause pain in the scrotum.
• May cause chest pain, breathing problems, cough and fever.
• Headache, nausea, vomiting, memory loss, lethargy, difficulty walking, inability to look upward,
uncontrolled eye movements or double vision.
Blastoma:
A blastoma is a type of cancer, more common in children, that is caused by malignancies in precursor
cells, often called blasts. Examples are nephroblastoma, medulloblastoma and retinoblastoma. The suffix
"-blastoma" is used to imply a tumor of primitive, incompletely differentiated (or precursor) cells, e.g.,
chondroblastoma is composed of cells resembling the precursor of chondrocytes. Blastomas usually occur
in children. Many types of blastoma have been linked to a mutation in tumor suppressor genes. For
example, pleuropulmonary blastomas have been linked to a mutation of the coding for p53. However, the
mutation which allows proliferation of incompletely differentiated cells can vary from patient to patient
and a mutation can alter the prognosis. In the case of retinoblastoma, patients carry a visibly abnormal
karyotype, with a loss of function mutation on a specific band of chromosome 13. This recessive deletion
on the rb gene is also associated with other cancer types and must be present on both alleles, for a normal
cell to progress towards malignancy. Thus, in the case of common blastomas, such as retinoblastomas, a
practitioner may go directly into treatment, but in the case of rarer, more-genetically-linked blastomas,
practitioners may karyotype the patient before proceeding with treatment.
Types of Blastomas:
• Hepatoblastoma
• Medulloblastoma
• Nephroblastoma
• Neuroblastoma
• Pancreatoblastoma
• Pleuropulmonary blastoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Glioblastoma Multiforme
Page 20 of 24

Sign and symptoms of Blastomas:
 In Pleuropulmonary Blastoma,
• Sudden, stressful breathing may be caused by air escaping from the lung cysts into the
chest cavity. This is called pneumothorax, meaning there is air in the chest cavity.
However, there are many other causes of pneumothorax.
• Symptoms of PPB may be exactly the same as symptoms of pneumonia, a
lung/respiratory infection. These symptoms may include generally feeling unwell, cough,
fever, and pain in the chest. Even when a chest x-ray is done, it may be first interpreted
as pneumonia. It is common for children with PPB to have been treated for two to three
weeks for pneumonia before more tests show that they do not have an infection, but
likely have a tumor in the chest.
 In Neuroblastoma:
• Large lump or swelling in the child’s abdomen.
• Weight loss
• If the child is old enough, he or she may complain of feeling full or having
belly pain.
• But the lump itself is usually not painful to the touch.
• Tumors that press against or grow into the blood and lymph vessels in the abdomen
or pelvis can stop fluids from getting back to the heart. This can sometimes lead to
swelling in the legs and, in boys, the scrotum.
• Can cause problems urinating or having bowel movements.
• Can cause swelling in the face, neck, arms, and upper chest (sometimes with a bluish-
red skin color).
• It can also cause headaches, dizziness, and a change in consciousness if it affects the
brain.
• The tumor might also press on the throat or windpipe, which can cause coughing and
trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Neuroblastomas that press on certain nerves in the chest or neck can sometimes cause
other symptoms, such as a drooping eyelid and a small pupil.
Page 21 of 24

• Pressure on other nerves near the spine might affect the child’s ability to feel or move
their arms or legs.
• Constant diarrhea
• Fever
• High blood pressure (causing irritability)
• Rapid heartbeat
• Reddening (flushing) of the skin
• Sweating.
Conclusion:
There are over 100 types of different cancers that are occurred in human body. Animals are also
affected by this disease. Though it is a difficult disease, there has no matter of fear and anxiety
because it is treatable with proper diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. So proper
knowledge should be distributed among mass population to remove superstitious and fear about
cancer especially in the developing countries like ours. Advanced research has been going on to
develop new and effective treatment for cancer with minimal side effects. It is hoped that the
cancer will be fought very cheaply, effectively and the death rate will be very lower in future.
Page 22 of 24

References:
• "Cancer Fact sheet N°297". World Health Organization. February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
• "Defining Cancer". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
• "Cancer - Signs and symptoms". NHS Choices. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
• "Obesity and Cancer Risk". National Cancer Institute. January 3, 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
• Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Kunnumakara AB, Sundaram C, Harikumar KB, Tharakan ST,
Lai OS, Sung B, Aggarwal BB (September 2008). "Cancer is a preventable disease that requires
major lifestyle changes". Pharm. Res. 25 (9): 2097–116. doi:10.1007/s11095-008-9661-9.
PMC 2515569. PMID 18626751.
• World Cancer Report 2014. World Health Organization. 2014. pp. Chapter 1.1.
ISBN 9283204298.
• "Heredity and Cancer". American Cancer Society. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
• "How is cancer diagnosed?". American Cancer Society. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
• Kushi LH, Doyle C, McCullough M; et al. (2012). "American Cancer Society Guidelines on
nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy
food choices and physical activity". CA Cancer J Clin 62 (1): 30–67. doi:10.3322/caac.20140.
PMID 22237782.
• Parkin, DM; Boyd, L; Walker, LC (6 December 2011). "16. The fraction of cancer attributable to
lifestyle and environmental factors in the UK in 2010.". British journal of cancer. 105 Suppl 2:
S77–81. doi:10.1038/bjc.2011.489. PMID 22158327.
• World Cancer Report 2014. World Health Organization. 2014. pp. Chapter 4.7.
ISBN 9283204298.
• www.wikipedia.com
• www.google.com
Page 23 of 24

• B. Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th ed.). New York, Garland Science (2008),
web: NCBI Bookshelf.
Page 24 of 24

Different types of cancer occured in human body.

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (17)

Similar to Different types of cancer occured in human body.

Similar to Different types of cancer occured in human body. (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Different types of cancer occured in human body.