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The different types of cancer include, Sarcoma, Carcinoma, Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Melanoma, Myeloma, among many others. Cancer cause the body's cells to modify, multiply and increase uncontrollably. Cancers are categorised either based on the type of fluid or tissue from which they occur or where in the body they first appeared.
- A carcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in epithelial tissue, which lines or covers the surfaces of organs, glands, and other bodily organs.
- A malignant tumour, known as a sarcoma, develops from connective tissues such as cartilage, fat, muscle, tendons, and bones.
- Lymphoma refers to a type of cancer that develops in the brain, breast, or nodes or glands of the lymphatic system.
- Leukaemia, often known as blood cancer, is a bone marrow malignancy that prevents the marrow from creating healthy red, white, and platelet blood cells.
- And, in the bone marrow's plasma cells, myeloma develops. Sometimes Myeloma cells gather in a single bone to create a single tumour known as a Plasmacytoma.
Key Terms: Cancer, Carcinoma, Sarcoma, Myeloma, Leukaemia, Melanoma, CT Scan, MRI, Biopsy, CNS Cancer
What is Cancer?
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Cancer is a condition in which cells begin to divide unnaturally and uncontrollably.
- It happens when a few of the body's cells grow out of control and spread to other bodily regions.
- With a few significant exceptions, such as leukaemia, the majority of cancer cells are found in the form of tumours.
- However, not every tumour is malignant. Moles are one type of tumour that stops growing and is not cancerous.
The top four risk factors for malignancies that can be prevented include smoking, excessive UV exposure from the sun and tanning salons, being overweight or obese, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Types of Cancer
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There are different types of cancer, including:
- Carcinoma
- Sarcoma
- Leukaemia
- Melanoma
- CNS Cancers
What is Carcinoma?
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The epithelial cells that line the skin and internal organs are the primary target of this cancer. Ovarian cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Lung cancer, and Skin cancer are a few of the organs where carcinoma occurs.
- Adenocarcinoma: It affects epithelial cells that produce mucus or fluid. Breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer are typical adenocarcinoma examples.
- Squamous Carcinoma: Human bodily organs, including the bladder, kidneys, lungs, intestines, and stomach, are lined with these cells.
- Basal Cell Cancer: This form of carcinoma affects the basal cells in the epidermis's lowest layer.
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma: Transitional epithelial cells that line the bladder, ureters, and some regions of the kidney are vulnerable to transitional cell cancer.
Read Also: Epithelial Tissue
Carcinoma
Causes of Carcinoma
Some of the main causes of Carcinoma are:
- UV light exposure to the skin is the main contributor to carcinoma (UV).
- Having an autoimmune condition like lupus.
- Weakened immunity
- Using medications that cause photosensitivity of the skin.
- H. papillomavirus (HPV).
Symptoms of Carcinoma
Some of the symptoms of Carcinoma include:
- Fatigue
- Lump under the skin
- Changes in the bowel system or bladder habit
- Changes in the skin, including yellowing of the skin, darkening or redness.
Treatment of Carcinoma
There are several treatments that can be followed for the removal of Carcinoma, including:
- Electrodesiccation and curettage
- Surgical removal
- Cryosurgery
- Therapeutic chemotherapy
- radiation treatment
- Laser treatment
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What is Sarcoma?
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Sarcoma is a type of cancer that is found in the bones or in the soft tissues of the body.
- The soft tissues that support tendons and ligaments, such as cartilage, adipose tissues, blood vessels, lymphatic tissues, and other supportive tissues, are where these cancer cells grow.
- Osteosarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans are among the most prevalent types of sarcoma in soft tissues.
Sarcoma
Sarcoma Symptoms
Some symptoms that can be seen in Sarcoma include:
- Lump under the skin.
- Bone pain.
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
Causes of Sarcoma
Sarcomas usually form when immature bone or soft tissue cells have DNA changes, thus developing into cancer cells which keep growing in an unregulated way.
What is Leukaemia?
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Leukaemia, often known as blood cancer, damages the bone marrow tissues, which are in charge of producing blood.
- The excessive synthesis of white blood cells is what causes Blood cancer or Leukaemia (Lymphoid cells and myeloid cells).
- As a result, the leukaemia patient cannot create enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen, enough normal white blood cells to fight infections, or enough platelets to help blood clot.
Leukaemia Cells
Check Out: Thrombocytes (Platelets): Definition, Coagulation & Homeostasis
Leukaemia Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of Leukaemia include:
- Extreme Fatigue
- Consistent Fever or Chills
- Frequent infections
- Losing Weight
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Enlarged Liver or Spleen
Causes of Leukaemia
Leukaemia occurs when blood cells mutate due to changes in DNA or Genetic material. DNA programs the cell to grow and die at a set rate. But in leukaemia, the mutations make the cells to continue growing and dividing.
As a result, RBC production gets out of control and in later stages, these genetically modified cells infect healthy blood cells in the bone marrow, leading to unhealthy White Blood Cells, Red Blood Cells and Platelets.
What is Lymphoma?
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Lymphoma is a type of cancer which affects the immune system's lymphocytes in the lymph nodes. There are two different types of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin lymphoma: B-cells are where Hodgkin Lymphoma forms at.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: It is a type of cancer that starts in the B or T cells.
Causes of Lymphoma
The causes of Lymphoma are:
- Suffering from immune system conditions including celiac disease, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis
- A weakened immune system brought on by HIV/AIDS or organ transplantation.
- A blood relative suffering from lymphoma
- Exposure to compounds that kill insects, such as benzene
Symptoms of Lymphoma
The several Lymphoma symptoms are:
- Enlarged Glands
- Breathing Difficulty
- Cough
- Sweats at Night
- Fever
- Loss of Weight
- Fatigue
- Itching
Lymphoma Treatment
There can be a variety of treatments for Lymphoma, including:
- Biologic Treatment
- Antibody Treatment
- Radioimmunotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Treatment
- Steroids
- Transplanting Stem Cells
- Surgery
What is Melanoma?
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Melanoma is a type of skin cancer targets melanin, the substance that gives skin its colour. Melanin is produced abnormally as a result of the melanocytes being damaged by this type of malignancy. Other pigmented tissues, such as the eyes, may also be impacted.
Melanoma Causes
Some of the many causes of Melanoma include:
- Exposure to UV radiation from the sun or tanning lamps
- Family history of Melanoma
- Blistering Sunburns
- Weakened Immun System
- Atypical Moles
Melanoma Symptoms
The symptoms of melanoma include:
- Change in the color of moles.
- Itching or bleeding
- A mole with an irregular shape.
What is Myeloma?
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The plasma cells in the different areas of the immune system that myeloma attacks. Multiple bone tumours are created by the dividing myeloma cells, which are afflicted plasma cells, in the bone marrow (Multiple Myeloma also called Kahler disease).
Causes of Myeloma
Although the actual reason is unknown, there are certain risk factors, such as:
- People over 65 years of age are at risk of developing Myeloma.
- Obese or overweight
- Exposure to radiation
- Exposure to the chemicals used in the production of rubber.
Symptoms of Myeloma
Some of the major symptoms of Myeloma include:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Bone ache
- Loss of weight
- Constipation
- Infections
- Thirst
Treatment of Myeloma
Some of the major treatments of myeloma are:
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Interferon
What is CNS Cancers
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The principal sites of origin for CNS (Central Nervous System) cancers are the brain and spinal cord.
Gliomas, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, primary CNS lymphomas, pituitary adenomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumours are a few types of CNS malignancies.
Symptoms of Cancer
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Numerous symptoms can be used to diagnose cancer. In other circumstances, symptoms may vary or they may be absent entirely. There are a few common signs:
- Irregular weight loss
- Persistent fever
- Ongoing discomfort in a specific location
- Fatigue
- Abnormal alterations in the skin (pigmentation, unusual hair growth, red or yellow skin, blotches etc.)
In addition to this, women should be aware of specific symptoms specific to their cancers:
- Changes of the breast's size, shape, or colour
- Bleeding at the end of the menstrual cycle
- Bloating or Stool with blood
Cancer by Cell or Tissue Type
General Cancer Causes
There isn't any concrete proof regarding its causes, just like the symptoms. Scientists have discovered a few things, though, that make this condition worse. Among the common elements are:
- Genetics
- Cigarettes and other related drugs
- Alcohol
- Enduring prolonged exposure to artificial radiation (like UV rays)
- Diet and way of life
- Long-term exposure to certain substances
- Infections
- Unhealthy surroundings
Prevention of Cancer
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There are different ways to prevent cancer.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Healthy eating is crucial. Consume fresh produce and avoid junk food. Frequent drinking increases the risk of developing cancer.
Maintain Body Weight
Losing weight and maintaining it will reduce the risk of developing cancers such as kidney, lung, colon, and breast cancer.
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise and physical activities reduce the chances of cancer.
Regular Medical Examinations
Getting frequent medical check-ups is one of the best strategies to reduce the chances of developing cancer.
Abstain from Tobacco
Any sort of tobacco consumption increases the risk of developing certain cancers.
Shield Skin from the Sun
Shield skin from UV rays.
Treatment of Cancer
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The type and stage of cancer determine the course of treatment. Thus, some of the common treatment for cancer include:
- Surgery (operations)
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
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Things to Remember
- Cancer is a group of condition that collectively cause the body's cells to change and multiply uncontrollably.
- Cancers are divided into groups according to the type of fluid or tissue from which they develop or the location in the body where they first showed up.
- Sarcomas are malignant tumours that originate from connective tissues such as cartilage, fat, muscle, tendons, and bones.
- A kind of cancer known as "lymphoma" manifests itself in the brain, breast, lymphatic system, nodes, or glands.
- Leukaemia is a bone marrow disease that hinders the marrow from producing healthy red, white, and platelet blood cells. It is often referred to as blood cancer.
- Myeloma develops in the plasma cells of the bone marrow.
Sample Questions
Ques. How do oncogenic viruses differ from protooncogenes? (Outside Delhi Set-I, Comptt. 2016) (1 mark)
Ans. Oncogenic viruses are cancer-causing viruses or external cancer-causing factors.
Proto-oncogenes: Identified in normal cells which when activated (under certain conditions) could lead to oncogenic transformation of cells / internal cancer-causing factor.
Ques. Write the differences between benign and malignant tumours. (Delhi Set-II, 2011) (5 marks)
Ans. The differencez between benign and malignant tumours are:
| Benign tumours | Malignant Tumours |
|---|---|
| Non-cancerous tumours | Cancerous tumours |
| Remains confined i.e. non-invasive in the body | Spreads to other parts of the body. |
| No metastasis in nature | Shows metastasis always. |
| Causes limited damage to body parts | Causes serious damage to body parts. |
| Its growth stops after reaching a certain size. | It shows indefinite growth throughout. |
| It is less dangerous to the body. | It is more dangerous to the body. |
Ques. How do cancers develop? (1 mark)
Ans. Cancer is brought on by certain genetic mutations that affect how our cells behave, particularly how they grow and divide. Accelerating cell division rates or residing in the normal control can result in gene mutation. Cancer can occasionally be brought on by genes we acquired from our parents.
Ques. (i) Cancer is one of the most dreadful diseases of humans. Explain ‘Contact inhibition’ and ‘Metastasis’ concerning cancer disease.
(ii) Name the groups of some genes which have been identified in normal cells that could lead to cancer and how they do so?
(iii) Name any two techniques that are useful to detect cancers of internal organs.
(iv) Why are cancer patients often given interferon as part of their treatment? R [Outside Delhi & Delhi Set-II, 2014] (4 marks)
Ans. (i) Contact with other cells inhibits the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Tumour cells reach distant sites, through blood circulation
(ii) Proto-oncogenes: When activated under certain conditions could lead to oncogenic transformation of the cells.
(iii) Biopsy/radiography / CT / MRI (Any two)
(iv) It activates the immune system and destroys the tumour.
Ques. List the various cancer kinds. (4 marks)
Ans. The following paragraphs address the five main cancer types:
- Cancers formed from epithelial cells are called carcinomas. It spreads to organs like the colon, pancreas, lungs, breast, and prostate.
- Sarcoma is a type of cancer that mostly impacts connective tissue.
- The hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells that leave the bone marrow and tend to mature in the lymph nodes and blood, respectively, are the source of lymphoma and leukaemia.
- Cancers that damage the ovarian and testicular germ cells are known as germ cell tumours.
- Blastoma is a type of cancer where the Embryonic tissue is the primary target.
Ques. What cancer detection techniques are available? Describe the methods used to treat cancer. (3 marks)
Ans. The following are the approaches used in cancer diagnosis and detection:
- Exam of the body (the doctor may feel the area of the body).
- Testing in a lab (it helps the doctor to examine your bones and organs in a non-invasive way).
- Radiography, computed tomography, molecular biology, and magnetic resonance imaging (magnetic radiation imaging).
- The two most popular methods for treating cancer are surgery, which includes the removal of tumours, and immunotherapy, which uses interferons to increase the death of cancer cells.
Ques. What do you mean by metastasis? (2 marks)
Ans. Metastasis is the word used to describe cancer cells moving from their original location to other sections of the body.
This procedure primarily takes place in the lymph or bloodstream. Rapid cell proliferation that occurs during metastasis harms the healthy tissues surrounding the malignant cells.
Ques. What is cancer diagnosed? (3 marks)
Ans. During metastasis, cancer cells spread from the area where they first developed and create new tumours throughout the body.
Metastatic cancer is a type of cancer that has progressed from its initial site to other sections of the body, and metastasis is the process by which cancer cells disseminate to other parts of the body.
Cancer, further, can be diagnoses using Imaging tests, including a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, ultrasound, bone scan and X-ray, among many other. During the time of a biopsy, your doctor is going to collect a sample of cells for testing in the laboratory.
Ques. What makes some viruses cause cancer in humans? (Outside Delhi Set-I, Comptt. 2013) (2 marks)
Ans. Oncogenic viruses, often known as oncoviruses, are viruses that cause cancer. Viral oncogenes are genes that they possess. By activating the normal protooncogenes found in normal cells into oncogenes, some viruses cause the oncogenic transformation of healthy cells into malignant cells, which causes cancer.
Ques. How do benign tumours often turn malignant? How does later cancer harm the human body? (Outside Delhi Set-I, Comptt. 2013) (4 marks)
Ans. If a benign tumour is not removed as soon as it is discovered, it could develop into a malignant one.
- The cells of the benign tumour can occasionally travel through the blood or lymph to different regions of the body, where they can spread, continue to develop, and form new tumours.
- Such tumour cells are referred to as malignant cells, and the tumour itself is referred to as malignant.
- Cancer is the term used to describe malignant tumours.
- A malignant tumour has uncontrollable development, the ability to invade nearby tissues, and the potential to spread to distant regions.
- These characteristics are not present in benign tumours.
- Malignant tumour cells destroy healthy cells by competing with them for essential resources, upsetting their regular metabolism, and disrupting normal cell growth.
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