Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth that can spread to other parts of the body. The most common cancers vary by sex, with lung, prostate, colorectal, and stomach cancers most common in men, and breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancers most common in women. Cancer is caused by factors like chemicals, diet, infection, radiation, heredity, and hormones. Diagnosis involves medical tests to examine tissue samples. Prevention methods include diet, medication, and vaccination, while treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, palliative care, immunotherapy, and alternative medicine.