Cancer Health Center

Health & Medical Cancer & Oncology

By Health & Medical Last updated Saturday, May/25/2019

Symptom Checker Physician Directory

Sign In Sign Up Subscribe

My ProfileWelcome

Common Conditions

View All

Symptom Checker

Health Concern On Your Mind?

See what your medical symptoms could mean, and learn about possible conditions.
Get Started

Resources

Second Opinion
Read expert perspectives on popular health topics
Communities
Connect with people like you, and get expert guidance on living a healthy life
Insurance Guide
Get ready for changes to your health care coverage
Physician Directory
Find a doctor in your area

Pain Coach

Track your pain levels, triggers, and treatments. Set goals and get tips with our app.Download

Find Information About:

Drugs & Supplements

Get information and reviews on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Search by name or medical condition.

Drugs Basics & Safety

Having trouble identifying your pills?

Enter the shape, color, or imprint of your prescription or OTC drug. Our pill identification tool will display pictures that you can compare to your pill.
Get Started

My Medicine

Save your medicine, check interactions, sign up for FDA alerts, create family profiles and more.
Get Started

Drug News

Diet, Food & Fitness

Beauty & Balance

Living Well

Pregnancy App

The big day is coming! Get organized and track baby's weekly development.Download

Family and Pregnancy Centers

Pregnancy

Parenting

Pets

News

View All

WebMD Health Experts and Community

Talk to health experts and other people like you in WebMD's Communities. It's a safe forum where you can create or participate in support groups and discussions about health topics that interest you.

Second Opinion

Read expert perspectives on popular health topics.
Community

Connect with people like you, and get expert guidance on living a healthy life.

Answers

Got a health question? Get answers provided by leading organizations, doctors, and experts.
Get Answers

Newsletters

WebMD Home Cancer Health Center

Email a Friend

Print Article

Cancer Health Center

Tools & Resources

HER2 Positive Breast Cancer

Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Breast Cancer Symptoms

What to know.

Breast Cancer

Sorting the myths from the facts.

Breast Cancer Reconstruction Surgery

What you need to know.Slideshow

Previous Slide
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Next Slide

Cancer Overview

Cancer, also called malignancy, is an abnormal growth of cells. There are more than 100 types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. Symptoms vary depending on the type. Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.

Get News Updates | RSS Help

latest headlines

Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Tied to Possible Alzheimer's Risk

But experts caution that study doesn't prove cause-and-effect relationship between the two

Read Full Article

WebMD Health Community
Community. Experts. Support.

Discussions

Top Search Terms for Cancer

1

Skin Cancer Pictures

2

Testicular Cancer

3

Colon Cancer

4

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

5

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms

6

Leukemia

7

Breast Cancer Treatment

8

Stomach Cancer Symptoms

9

Thyroid Cancer

10

Testicular Cancer Symptoms

11

Peritoneal Cancer

12

Esophageal Cancer

Understanding Cancer -- Diagnosis and Treatment

How Is Cancer Diagnosed?

The earlier cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of its being cured. Some types of cancer -- such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles, prostate, and rectum -- may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening measures before the symptoms become serious. Most cases of cancer are detected and diagnosed after a tumor can be felt or when other symptoms develop. In a few cases, cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of evaluating or treating other medical conditions.

Cancer diagnosis begins with a thorough physical exam and a complete medical history. Laboratory studies of blood, urine, and stool can detect abnormalities that may indicate cancer. When a tumor is suspected, imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and fiber-optic endoscopy examinations help doctors determine the cancer's location and size. To confirm the diagnosis of most cancers , a biopsy needs to be performed in which a tissue sample is removed from the suspected tumor and studied under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Understanding Cancer -- Diagnosis and Treatment