Cancer types: definition, risks and how they are classified

Cancer, unfortunately, is a very frequently talked about disease today. According to estimates by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), in 2015 220,000 new cases were diagnosed in Spanish territory.

Likewise, the same institution affirms that the future is alarming, because taking into account the United Nations forecasts (UN), it is estimated that in 2020 246,713 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Spain, 97,715 in women and 148,998 in mens.

What is cancer?

Our bodies are made of millions of trillions of cells, which are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. These cells are grouped together to form the tissues and organs of our body, and among them we find a great diversity as they perform different functions. With this supplementation they cover the vital needs of an organism, such as the maintenance of the body structure, nutrition and respiration.

Cancer occurs when normal cells become cancerous, that is, they multiply uncontrollably and invade adjacent organs or tissues.

Types of cancer

Cancer can start anywhere in the body and are named and classified depending on different characteristics. But, What types of cancer are there? We will explain them to you below.

A) Types according to their prognosis (benign or malignant)

Although many people think that the word cancer and the term tumor are the same, they are not. Tumors can be benign or malignant. If the tumor is benign, the cells multiply uncontrollably but without spreading to other parts of the body. The benign tumor does not usually pose a risk to the life of the patient, but if it is not treated in time, it could turn into a malignant or cancerous tumor.

Malignant tumor or cancer occurs when uncontrolled cells spread to other areas of the body, which is called metastasis.

B) Types of cancer according to origin

Depending on the origin, cancers are given specific names. For example:

• Breast or breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Colon cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Kidney cancer

C) According to the type of fabric

The International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) has been in use for practically 25 years and is considered a prognostic and diagnostic tool to encode tumors and cancers.

Taking into account the third edition of this manual, there are six types of cancer:

1. Carcinoma

This is the most common type of cancer, and it originates from the epithelial layer of cells.. These cells are what line the entire surface of the body as well as the internal structures and cavities. Carcinomas can occur in different parts of the body, such as the lung, chest, prostate, and colon.

There are different types of carcinomas:

• Embryonal carcinoma: has its origin in the cells of the testes and ovaries.
• Carcinoma in situ: It is not yet in the initial phase nor has it been extended. They are removed with surgery.
• Carcinoma of unknown origin: its place of origin is not known.
• Invasive carcinoma: is one that has invaded other areas. It is called carcinomatosis.

2. Sarcoma

Sarcoma is a malignant tumor of the connective tissuesincluding: muscle, bone, cartilage, and fat.

Depending on the origin, there are different subtypes of sarcoma:

• Osteosarcoma: bone sarcoma
• Chondrosarcoma: sarcoma of cartilage
• Leiomyosarcoma: affects smooth muscles
• Rhabdomyosarcoma: impact on skeletal muscles
• Mesothelioma: affects the tissue that lines the lungs and chest cavity (pleura), the abdomen (peritoneum) or the sac that contains the heart (pericardium)
• Fibrosarcoma: affects fibrous tissue
• Angiosarcoma. has its effect on blood vessels
• Liposarcoma: sarcoma that affects adipose or fatty tissue
• Glioma: originates from brain or in the spinal cord. Arises from glial cells
• Myxosarcoma: Produced in primitive embryonic connective tissue)

3. Myeloma

Myeloma or multiple myeloma is a cancerous tumor that originates in the plasma cells of the marrow. Normal plasma cells are an important component of the immune system, as the immune system is It is made up of several types of cells that work together to fight disease and infection. For example, lymphocytes.

4. Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects around 5,000 people in Spain each year. Leukemia occurs when different cells become cancerous, affecting the bone marrow. Although it might seem that leukemia and myeloma (explained in the previous point) are the same, in reality they are not.

Even more questions may arise when hearing the name of a type of leukemia called myeloid leukemia. Well, multiple myeloma and myeloid leukemia involve different types of cells. Although the cells affected in leukemia are also generated in the bone marrow, these are not plasma cells.

Leukemias can be classified based on different criteria:

• Based on its history: "De novo", as there is no previous process; and "secondary", when there is a previous process (for example, blood disease) that leads to leukemia.

• Based on transformation and speed: "Acute leukemia", if the development is rapid; and "chronic leukemia", that is, slowly progressive.

• According to your place of origin: "Lymphoblastic", affect lymphocytes; and "myeloblastic" (myeloid or myelocytic), which affect the precursor cell of the myeloid series or red series, such as red blood cells and platelets.

5. Lymphoma

If there could be a question between leukemia and myeloma, the terms lymphoma and leukemia can also be confusing. But leukemia is often called liquid cancer because it affects the blood instead. lymphomas are known as solid cancers because they start in the lymph nodes.

Lymphomas are classified in two ways: Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. These types of lymphomas are different in behavior, spread, and treatment.

6. Mixed types

These cancerous tumors are characterized by the presence of two or more carcinogenic components. They are rare and can be caused by a poor prognosis. A mixed type cancer is, for example, carcinosarcoma, a mixture of carcinoma and sarcoma. That is, it is a cancer of the epithelial tissue and at the same time connective, bone, cartilaginous or fatty. However, there are other rare “mixed type cancers”, such as mixed mesodermal tumor, adenosquamous carcinoma or teratocarcinoma.

D) Types according to grade

According to the degree of evolution, cancer can be classified into 4 levels. The greater differentiation or abnormality and the greater or less speed of evolution, the greater number of degrees.

The degrees of this classification, proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), “should be considered as degrees of malignancy and not as stages of malignancy, regardless of whether certain grade III or IV tumors are the result of a malignant transformation of a pre-existing tumor ”, according to this institution. Therefore, based on grade, the WHO classifies tumors into:

1. Low grade or slow evolution

According to whether or not they have a circumscribed character

• Grade I: slow in evolution and circumscribed limits. Better prognosis than grade II
• Grade II: of slow evolution but with diffuse limits and imprecise extension. Lower prognosis than grade I

2. High grade and fast growing

According to the evolution of the prognosis and the degree of abnormality.

• Grade III: Anaplastic foci (poorly differentiated or undifferentiated cells) assign the label of grade III to an existing tumor, that is, it was low grade.
• Grade IV: It is the most serious and the undifferentiated cells occupy the entire large part or all of the tumor.