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Naming and classifying cancer
There are lots of different names for different cancers – it can be very confusing. Names are often based on the type of cell involved and which organ the cancer started in. This also helps doctors understand how the cancer is likely to behave. The same names are used all over the world.
Eighty five percent of malignant tumours are carcinomas that develop in epithelial cells which are the covering and lining cells of the body.
For instance, squamous cell carcinomas come from cells in the skin or lining of the cervix or mouth. Adenocarcinomas develop from glandular cells in the lining of the bowel or colon, or in the airways of the lung.
Sarcomas develop in connective tissue such as bone (osteosarcoma) muscle (rhabdomyosarcoma) and fatty tissues.
Cancers from the blood forming tissues in bone marrow are called leukaemias (from white blood cells) or lymphomas (from lymph tissue).
Each organ in your body is made up of different types of cells – and each type can have a different type of cancer. These cancers are all different – they behave and spread differently, and each needs their own type of treatment.
Cancer staging
Staging of a cancer describes how much the cancer has spread – and is usually assessed when cancer is diagnosed. It helps with decisions about treatment. The TNM system is commonly used for solid tumours. It’s based on the size and degree of invasion of the primary tumour (T), the number of lymph nodes containing cancer cells and their location (N) and the presence or absence of distant metastases (M).
Some cancers use other staging systems. Ask your doctor to explain your own cancer to you.
Find out more
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Read About cancer
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