There are over 200 types of cancer that are affecting different cells or organs in the body. Generally, cancer is classified depending on the organ the abnormal cell growth begins in. For example, cancer that begins in the breast is called breast cancer.

Cancerous cells can develop in the skin or tissues covering internal organs (carcinoma), in connective tissues (sarcoma), in the blood-forming tissue (leukaemia), in the immune system (lymphoma and multiple myeloma) and in the brain or spinal cord (central nervous system).

Cancer research is helping to reduce both incidence and mortality rates for all of these cancer types by finding better ways to prevent, diagnose, manage and treat the disease.

Types of cancer A-Z