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The diagnosis and treatment of cancer remains a major challenge. There are many types of cancer, each having its own causative risk factors, clinical and pathological characteristics as well as treatments and prognosis. These factors, plus the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed, differ even between individual cases.

What is cancer?

Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and replace normal body tissue. Cancer cell can spread throughout the body. The word cancer is derived from the Greek word for crab, presumably because when this malignant tumour spreads into adjoining tissue, it resembles the claws of a crab reaching out.

How does cancer develop?

The organs of the body are made up of cells. Cells divide and multiply as the body needs them. When these cells continue multiplying when the body doesn't need them, the result is a mass or growth, also called a tumour.

These growths are considered either benign or malignant. Benign is a non invasive mass of normal cells and is considered non-cancerous and malignant is an invasive mass of abnormal cells and is considered as cancerous. This malignant development is due to specific cancerous cellular characteristics acquired through the influence of various complex factors (environmental, genetic, etc.). Benign tumours are rarely life threatening and do not spread to other parts of the body. They can often be removed. Malignant cells are disseminating and treatment is very often needed rather than tumors removal.

What is a solid tumour?

In discussing tumours that are malignant (cancerous), the term solid tumour is used to distinguish between a localized mass of tissue and tumours which affect circulating cells, part of the blood and the immune systems.

Different kinds of solid tumours are named according to the type of cells of which they are composed:
-    in terms of basic function of the cell (glandular, epithelial, ...). As an example sarcomas are cancers arising from connective or supporting tissues, such as bone or muscle and carcinomas are cancers arising from the body's glandular cells and epithelial cells, which line body tissues.
-    in terms of specific organ function (breast, pancreas, lung, ...).
i.e: Breast carcinoma, osteosarcomea (bone sarcoma).

What is "blood" cancer?

The major forms of "blood" cancer are lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. These cancers are formed either in the bone marrow or in the lymphatic tissues of the body. They affect the way the body produces blood cells and provides immunity .

All "blood" cancers involve an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells within bone marrow and then the blood.

Leukaemia literally means “increase of white cells in the blood”. There are many types of leukaemia, each of which is classified according to the exact blood cell type affected by the disease.

Lymphoma is a broad term encompassing a variety of cancers affecting the lymphoïd cells generally located in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps filter out bacteria and is important in fighting disease. In lymphoma, some of the cells in the lymph system are malignant and multiply uncontrollably.

The "blood" cancers all involve an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells within bone marrow and then the blood.

Leukaemia literally means “many white cells in the blood”. There are many types of leukaemia, each of which is classified according to the exact cell type affected by the disease.

Lymphoma is a broad term encompassing a variety of cancers affecting the lymphoïd cells generally located in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps filter out bacteria and is important in fighting disease. In lymphoma, some of the cells in the lymph system multiply uncontrollably.

Who gets cancer?

Cancer doesn't discriminate when it comes to race, sex or age — anyone can get cancer.
Ten to twelve million cases of cancer occur worldwide annually. There are 3 million new cancer cases per year in Europe (38 countries), with 2 million new cases in the EU25 alone. This represents 340 new cases / 100,000 people per year.
One in three men and one in four women will be directly affected by cancer in the first 75 years of life.

Dr. Anne Bancillon
MSL European Director
Medical Affairs
Cephalon Europe
(11/04/11)

1-    Association European Cancer Leagues. Cancer In Europe. Facts and Figures 2005.