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Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells grow uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissues. You might experience a range of symptoms, depending on the type and location of the cancer, including fatigue, fever, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, skin changes, or changes in bowel or bladder habits. Treatment options are varied and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. People living with cancer benefit from prioritizing self-care, personalizing their nutrition, practising mindfulness, connecting with support groups, and getting regular checkups as requested by your doctor.

FAQ

What are common types of cancer?

In the United States, the most common types of cancer include lung, breast, prostate, blood, and colorectal cancer. Most cancers are solid cancers that form tumors.

Cancer occurs due to abnormal cell division caused by gene changes. However, lifestyle factors like smoking, environmental exposures to toxins and radiation, malnutrition, and hormone therapy can increase your risk of cancer. Often, a cancer’s cause depends on the type.

Cancer prevention isn’t always possible. However, lifestyle changes like avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, regular screenings, and protecting yourself from sun and toxin exposure can reduce the risks. Catching cancer early can improve the disease’s outlook.

Doctors diagnose cancer through imaging tests like CT, MRI, and ultrasound scans, surgical or nonsurgical biopsies, and blood tests. Genetic testing can help doctors identify inherited types of cancers. These will vary depending on the type of cancer.

Many cancers respond to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Doctors may also request targeted therapy, hormone therapy, or bone marrow transplants, depending on the cancer. Research continues to find new cancer treatments.

Meet Our Experts In Cancer
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Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
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Walter Tsang, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Walter Tsang, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist, hematologist, and lifestyle medicine specialist. Inspired by the ancient Eastern philosophy of yang sheng ("nourishing li...
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Daniel Landau, MD

Daniel Landau, MD, is a distinguished board-certified hematologist-oncologist with a career that has spanned two eminent institutions: the Orlando Health Cancer Institute and the M...

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Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD

Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, is tenured professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is director emeritus of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center and...

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Justin Laube

Justin Laube, MD

Medical Reviewer

Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, a...

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Lisa D. Curcio, MD, FACS

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Lisa Curcio, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist. She is currently the medical director of breast surgery at Northern Dutchess Hos...
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Susan Bard, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sin...

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Noelle LoConte, M.D.

Medical Reviewer

Tawee Tanvetyanon, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer

Tawee Tanvetyanon, MD, MPH, is a professor of oncologic sciences and senior member at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florid...

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Jennifer Frediani

Jennifer Frediani, PhD, RD

Medical Reviewer

Jennifer K. Frediani, PhD, RD, ACSM-CES, is a nutrition scientist, exercise physiologist, and registered dietitian with over two decades of experience in clinical research, educati...

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Nimit Sudan, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Nimit Sudan, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist with UCLA. He is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA and serves as a lead physician at the Encino community practice. ...

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Tingting Tan, MD, PhD

Medical Reviewer

Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist at City of Hope National Medical Center.

Dr. Tan's research has been published in multiple medical and scientific journals, including...

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Thomas Urban Marron, MD, PhD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Thomas Marron, MD, PhD, is the assistant director of early phase and immunotherapy clinical trials at the Tisch Cancer Institute of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in N...
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Reyna Franco, RDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American Col...

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Conor Steuer, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Conor E. Steuer, MD, is medical oncologist specializing in the care of aerodigestive cancers, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies and an assistant professor in the department of ...

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Blair Murphy-Rose, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of Skincare Junkie. She is an accomplished cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist,...

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Ryland J. Gore, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Ryland Gore, MD, MPH, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon specializing in breast surgical oncology in Atlanta. She completed her general surgery residency at Rush Univ...
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Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Cancer. Cleveland Clinic. August 19, 2024.

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