The neoplasm classification mainly depends on the cancer lesion staging and primary site. The cancerous disease type influences treatment prognosis and course. Learn about cancer types and which of them are the most common ones.
Cancerous diseases are distinguished by presence of abnormal cells, which divide and proliferate uncontrollably. This condition is caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins. Cancers may develop in any area of your body. This means that they form in different tissues in the human body. Sometimes, they also spread to other structures, metastasising. The location and the stage are important factors determining whether cancer is curable.
What are the cancer types?
The classification of neoplasms is based on a type of tissue from which they originate. They include:
- epithelial neoplasms;
- non-epithelial neoplasms.
The first group includes malignancies deriving from the epithelium – the basic tissue in the human body. It is found in almost all body systems and forms the skin. Examples of cancer from this group include breast, lung, and prostate cancer.
Non-epithelial neoplasms derive from other tissues: bones, vascular endothelium, pigment cells, and the haematopoietic system. This group includes: sarcomas, liposarcomas, melanomas, lymphomas, leukaemias, and gliomas.
A correct name for malignant epithelial neoplasm is carcinoma. In the case of this type, the classification also includes the stage. It can be:
- preinvasive,
- early invasive,
- infiltrating.
The preinvasive stage is the initial stage of cancer development. When the disease reaches the infiltrating stage, there is a high risk of metastasising to other tissues.
The most common neoplasms
There are over 100 types of malignant neoplasms. Some of them are quite common, while others are diagnosed very rarely. Their prevalence may differ depending on a population (e.g., the most common malignancies are different for women and for men) or on the geographical location.
The most common cancers are:
Breast cancer
It is a malignant neoplasm originating from breast epithelium. According to WHO data, in 2020, 2.26 million people had this disease. Carriers of the BRCA1/2 gene and women over 50 years of age are at particularly high risk of breast cancer.
Lung cancer
In 2020, 2.21 million cases of lung cancer were recorded. Its high incidence concerns men and women alike. The main risk factor is smoking. Other hazards include environmental pollution and occupational exposure to inhaling of hazardous substances.
Colon cancer
In 2020, colon cancer was diagnosed in 1.93 million people. Its prevalence is high in both sexes. The incidence increases with age.
Prostate cancer
As many as 1.41 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. It is a malignancy originating from prostate epithelium. The risk of its development increases with age and is also high in men predisposed genetically to its development.
Non-melanoma skin cancer
This type of cancer was diagnosed in 1.2 million people. The most common type of it is basal cell carcinoma, and the most important risk factor is excessive exposure to sun radiation.
The 5 deadliest cancers, and why there’s no cure?
In case of malignant neoplasms, the main cause of high mortality rates is too late detection of the disease. Many people do not have regular tests done that can detect cancer at its early stage. Frequently, symptoms appear when the neoplastic process is already at a very advanced stage. In such case, the number of available therapies is lower or they are ineffective.
According to data collected by The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) the most deadly cancers are:
Pancreatic cancer
In the case of pancreatic cancer, the 5-year relative survival rate is 11%. In most cases, the tumour is already inoperative at the moment of diagnosis.
Mesothelioma
The disease is characterised by its aggressive progress. The 5-year relative survival rate is 12%.
Gallbladder cancer
The 5-year survival rate is 19.4%. This cancer causes symptoms only at the advanced stage.
Oesophageal cancer
The 5-year survival rate for this cancer is 20.6%. The unfavourable prognosis results from the fact that this cancer is diagnosed at the advanced stage.
Lung cancer
The 5-year relative survival rate is 22.8%. However, it should be noted that it is lung cancer that is responsible for the largest number of deaths in the world. The unfavourable prognosis results from its late detection. Its symptoms are unspecific, so patients frequently disregard them.
5 Curable Cancers
The fundamental question for patients is whether a given cancer is curable. Not all cancer types are associated with high mortality rates. Many of them are actually characterised by a high survival rate.
Types of cancer with the most favourable prognosis include:
Prostate cancer
Even up to 96.8% of patients survives for 5 years. The prostate cancer grows slowly, and in most cases it is diagnosed at the early stage.
Thyroid cancer
Even 98.4% of patients survives for 5 years. The positive prognosis is associated with a slow growth of the tumour. Additionally, this cancer is usually diagnosed at the early stage, so the chances for the therapy to be successful are high. Frequently, the complete recovery is possible following the total thyroid resection.
Melanoma
In the case of melanoma, the 5-year survival rate is estimated as 93.7%. Due to its specific symptoms and simple screening tests, it can be found at the early stage.
Testicle cancer
Data published by SEER indicates that 95% of patients survive for 5 years. At early stages, this neoplasm is very responsive to treatment. Frequently, it is also successful for the advanced disease.
Early diagnosed breast cancer
Even 90.6% of women survives for 5 years, when breast cancer is diagnosed at the early stage. The favourable prognosis is associated with significant progress in medicine and development of effective treatment methods. Furthermore, the society’s awareness of breast cancer and a need to undergo screening tests is also higher.
A list of rare cancers
Some cancers are characterised by low incidence and prevalence. Rare neoplasms are those which prevalence is below 15 cases per 100 thousand people in the United States, and six cases per 100 thousand people in Europe. They represent about 22% of all neoplastic diseases.
The examples of rare cancers include:
Rectal cancer
Its incidence is estimated as 1.3 cases per 100 thousand people. Rectal cancer is slightly more common in women.
Nasopharynx cancer
Its incidence in the USA and the majority of other countries is below 1 case per 100 thousand people. However, it is much more common in China.
Kaposi’s sarcoma
It is a cancer of soft tissues. It manifests as lesions in mucosa, skin, and lymph nodes. Its incidence is 0.5 cases per 100 thousand people.
According to the classification, neoplasms can be divided into epithelial and non-epithelial ones. The first group originates from the epithelium, and the second from other body tissues. Certain types (like breast, lung and prostate cancer) are particularly common in the entire global population. However, there are also malignancies with incidence ranging between 1 and 2%. The examples of rare cancers include rectal cancer or Kaposi’s sarcoma. The cancer type influences the management and the prognosis.