Different Cancers

Cancer attacks different parts of the body, and the part of the body affected is reflected by a different type of cancer. Carcinoma or cancers with malignant tumors form in epithelial cells, or cells that are the lining of a body cavity, and the surface of any organ. The most common of these cancers are breast, prostate, lung, and colon.

Sarcoma is a malignant tumor that forms in connective tissue or mesenchymal cells. It can form in fat, bone, and cartilage. One of the more common sarcomas is of the lymphatic system. Lymphoma and leukemia are cancers of the blood and hematopoietic or blood producing cells.

A germ cell tumor is a tumor that occurs in locations where cells can divide into a cell containing only 1/2 of the genetic material. In adults, this type of cancer is found in the testicles or the ovaries. It can also occur in unborn children, babies, or younger children. The common locations for a germ cell tumor in a child are the tip of the tailbone or on the midline of the body. A blastoma or blastic tumor is the most common childhood cancer. The tumor itself looks like immature or embryonic tissue, and it is normally malignant.

These are just the most basic listings of the types of cancers. A true list can be found online at Cancer.gov. What you will find is that the most common way to name a cancer is to use the part of the body affected and the general type of cancer. If you are confused by the name of a cancer, by all means, look it up.