The 10 Most Common Forms of Cancer

Ahead of cancer treatment, it’s not uncommon to feel as though you’ve been singled out. You’re facing a long road to recovery, sometimes with little help or hope, and it’s hard not to feel alone. You’re not alone though. Cancer, in its many forms, is increasingly common. It is estimated that more than 1.6 million Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year. And for many, cancer treatment is highly successful. What follows is a brief look at the 10 most common forms of cancer. Each includes an estimate of the number of new cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S. in 2012, and is broken down into male/female patients. All statistics are supplied by the American Cancer Society, Inc. 1. Prostate Total: 241,740 rnMale: 241,740rnFemale: N/A Despite it being the most common form of cancer, cancer of the prostate is actually difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Due to its slow-growing nature, it is not often recognized until it reaches a size at which it presses against the urethra. However, prostate cancer treatment can be very successful, and often requires just surgery and no chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Prostate cancer is most common in males over the age of 50. 2. Breast Total: 229,060rnMale: 2,190rnFemale: 226,870 It is commonly thought that breast cancer only affects females. As you can see from the figures above, this is untrue. It is, however, more common in females. Breast cancer manifests itself as a lump in the tissue of the breast. In order to treat this form of cancer it is necessary to remove the lump. In cases where the tumor is particularly large or the cancer spreads, a mastectomy (the removal of the entire breast) may be necessary. 3. Lung & Bronchus Total: 226,160rnMale: 116,470rnFemale: 109,690 It is estimated that 244,180 new cases of cancers of the respiratory system will be diagnosed in 2012. Most of these will fall under the term ‘lung cancer’. Lung cancer is the biggest threat to both men and women with the split at nearly 50 percent. Lung cancer treatment generally takes the form of surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, depending on the severity and location of the affected area. 4. Colon Total: 103,170rnMale: 49,920rnFemale: 53,250 A person’s digestive system is at threat from a variety of cancers, including stomach, rectal and liver cancer. The most common though is colon cancer. It has been established that a fatty diet, red meat, alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise are all contributing factors in the emergence of colon cancer. In cases where the cancer is localized to the colon, keyhole surgery can be used to remove the growth. In more severe cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be required. 5. Melanoma-skin Total: 76,250rnMale: 44,250rnFemale: 32,000 More commonly known as skin cancer, melanomas of the skin appear as darkened areas on the flesh. The most common cause of a melanoma is overexposure to UV rays from the sun or sunbeds. If diagnosed early enough, skin cancer treatment consists of a small operation. For more severe cases, the usual treatment methods can be utilized, as can skin grafting in some instances. 6. Urinary Bladder Total: 73,510rnMale: 55,600rnFemale: 17,910 Urinary bladder cancer is the most common form of cancer to affect the urinary system, followed closely by kidney and renal pelvis cancer (see below). More common in men than women, urinary bladder cancer has been linked with smoking. Tumors not found in the bladder’s muscle layer can be treated via a technique called ‘transurethral resection’. 7. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Total: 70,130rnMale: 38,160rnFemale: 31,970 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is the name given to any form of blood cancer that contains a lymphoma (cancer of the lymphocytes) that is not considered a Hodgkin Lymphoma (containing the Reed-Sternberg cell). It is most likely to affect men and women over the age of 60, although it can affect people of all ages. Typical treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunology and HSCT. 8. Kidney & Renal Pelvis Total: 64,770rnMale: 40,250rnFemale: 24,520 As with urinary bladder cancer (see above), kidney and renal pelvis cancer – which actually takes the form of a number of different carcinomas – affects the urinary system. Unlike with many other forms of cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy do not work as methods of cancer treatment. Instead, surgery and a variety of other techniques are used, including cryotherapy (freezing). 9. Thyroid Total: 56,460rnMale: 13,250rnFemale: 43,210 More common in females, thyroid cancer affects the thyroid gland in the neck which is responsible for releasing energy and various hormones. The most common form of thyroid cancer treatment is surgery, while radiation therapy is used in more severe cases. 10. Uterine Corpus Total: 47,130rnMale: N/ArnFemale: 47,130 Uterine corpus cancer is one of two cancers affecting the uterus, the other being uterine cervix cancer. The corpus is the main body of the uterus and as such, corpus cancer affects about four times as many women as cervix cancer. In terms of cancer treatment, the womb is most commonly removed surgically.