Common Types of Cancer
This section provides information on the various different types of cancer.
- Bowel Cancer
The bowel consists of two parts, the upper part called the small bowel and the lower part called the large intestine, which ends in the rectum just above the anus or back passage.
- Gynaecological Cancer
Cancer occurs almost equally in men (51.5%) as in women (48.5%). However, the cells affected by cancer are different in the two sexes. Gynaecological cancers are those affecting the ovaries, womb, cervix, vulva and vagina. One woman in 20 will develop a gynaecological malignancy and 1 in 40 will die of the disease.
- Haematological Cancer
The haematological cancers - leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma - are cancers arising from abnormal blood or bone marrow cells. They are rare diseases, accounting for less than 5% of all registered cancers, but have been of great interest because of major advances in treatment over the last 25 years.
- Skin Cancer
There are two main types of fully developed skin cancer, which both occur in the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis).
- Urological Cancer
Urological cancer includes tumors of the kidney, bladder, prostate, testicles and penis. All except penile cancer are becoming commoner, though as yet the reasons why are poorly understood.