One in three people will be affected by cancer at some stage in their life. We've more information on the most common types affecting people in the UK along with the general treatment, diagnosis process and care you'll receive if you're diagnosed.
Cancer
Treating cancer
The diagnosis, treatment and care available will be different with each individual case, but we've a general outline of some of the stages you may go through and things you should consider.
- What is cancer? - cancers harm the body’s health in a number of ways
- Cancer screening - the most common screening programmes available in the UK
- Smear tests - regular testing for cervical cancer is essential for all women
- Tests to diagnose cancer - find out what's involved when testing for cancer
- Chemotherapy - explaining this common treatment for cancer
- Radiotherapy - treating and managing cancer through radiation
- Cancer surgery - the most frequently used and successful cancer treatment
- Drug trials for cancer - the positive and negative points of taking part
- Who's who in cancer treatment - the different professionals involved
- Cancer recovery - understanding what cancer recovery can involve
Types of cancer
The most common types of cancer, their potential causes, main symptoms and possible treatments.
- Bladder cancer - signs of this common cancer can be spotted at an early stage
- Bone cancer - most cases are caused by a primary cancer elsewhere in the body
- Bowel cancer - with early diagnosis bowel cancer is one of the most treatable
- Brain cancer - treatments depend on the type and location of the tumour
- Breast cancer - the most common form of cancer in women in the UK
- Breast cancer in men - this condition affects men too
- Cervical cancer - regular smear tests can detect the early stages
- Colorectal cancer - with early diagnosis bowel cancer is one of the most treatable
- Endometrial cancer - cancer of the womb rarely occurs before the menopause
- Kidney cancer - blood in the urine is an early symptom
- Laryngeal cancer - cancer of the larynx commonly develops on the vocal chords
- Leukaemia - a term used to describe a number of cancers of the blood cells
- Lung cancer - nine out of ten cases in the UK are caused by smoking
- Childhood lymphoma - this disease attacks the system that helps the body fight infection
- Adult lymphoma - what is a lymphoma and how is it treated?
- Multiple myeloma - a cancer of the bone marrow
- Oesophageal cancer - signs and symptoms of this cancer are often related to swallowing food
- Oral cancer - cases are on the increase, particularly among people under 40
- Ovarian cancer - this cancer is difficult to diagnose, but there are symptoms
- Pancreatic cancer - has few signs or symptoms
- Prostate cancer - a healthy, low-fat diet may help prevent prostate cancer
- Retinoblastoma - a malignant tumour that develops at the back of the eye
- Skin cancer - most types of skin cancer are easily avoided
- Stomach cancer - it's more common in men, particularly in late middle age
- Testicular cancer - self-examination is key to early diagnosis and treatment
- Vulval cancer - is most common in women over the age of 50
- Womb cancer - the majority of cases, if caught early, are successfully treated by surgery
Cancer care and support
Discovering you've got cancer can be devastating. We've got practical advice about the support you might be entitled to and the organisations who are there to help you cope.
- Dealing with a cancer diagnosis - finding the way forward after diagnosis
- Dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis - coming to terms with such a difficult situation
- Cancer support groups - the help and advice support groups can give you
- Cancer and your rights - find out about your rights
- Financial help for people with cancer - the benefits you may be entitled to
- Supporting someone with cancer - how to support someone with cancer
- Physical health care for cancer - the professionals who can help with your cancer care
- Emotional support for cancer - where to go to get the support you might need
Cancer - useful contacts
Find details of organisations who can provide further information or support.
See also
Around the BBC
Elsewhere on the web
bbc.co.uk navigation
BBC links
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