Cancer

Cancer is runaway growth of abnormal, mutated cells

Cancer cells have mutations in their DNA that allow uncontrolled growth and division, dodge usual mechanisms of cell death, and can often spread throughout the body. This is, in part, why the disease is so difficult to treat, with a wide variety of mechanisms and types that poses unique challenges.

Breast, prostate, and lung cancer are the most common forms of the disease

Close to 1.8 million cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in the US, with more than 600,000 deaths (about 0.2% of the total population). This visualization tool offers a searchable database of aggregate statistics on common cancers by gender, race, state, and other demographic information.

Alcohol is responsible for 5% of cancer cases and 4% of cancer deaths in the US

Alcohol consumption is linked to at least eight different types of cancer, including liver, breast, and throat. The risk comes from ethanol, which turns into DNA-damaging acetaldehyde. Experts recommend limiting intake or quitting altogether to reduce long-term health risks.

Calculate your risk of developing cancer

Hosted by the National Cancer Institute, this tool provides interactive charts that display the likelihood of dying from various causes—including cancer—based on factors like age, sex, race, and smoking status. By contextualizing cancer risk among other potential health threats, users can create custom charts.

Chemotherapy slows cancer by interfering with cell division

Cancer cells divide much more frequently than most normal cells. Most chemotherapy drugs are designed to interfere with cell division, thereby targeting harmful cells while attempting to leave healthy cells alone.

Cancer is typically described by one of five stages

Stage 0 is in situ, meaning abnormal cells haven’t spread, while Stage 1 is further progressed but remains localized to the origin. Stage 2 and 3 show increasing tumor size and spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues. Stage 4 indicates metastasis, meaning cancer has spread to distant organs.

Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' has cancer rates 50% above the national average

Due to its proximity to Gulf oil production, an 85-mile stretch of highway linking Baton Rogue, Louisiana, and New Orleans is home to 25% of the country's petrochemical manufacturing. It's also one of the most polluted regions of the US, with cancer rates at 50% above average.

Explore the National Cancer Institute's archive on treatments

Cancer is a complex disease with many different types, each with its own pathology. The best treatment may depend on characteristics specific to each person—even if two people share the same type of cancer. No single overview of treatments exists, but this resource from the National Cancer Institute lets you explore different options, side effects, an A-to-Z library of cancer drugs, and much more.

The immune system is in a constant fight against mutations

At the heart of cancerous cells is the development of mutations—an ongoing and continuous process that happens frequently. So why don’t we get cancer immediately? The body’s immune system has developed intricate methods to detect and destroy cancer cells, catching the vast majority before they get the chance to evolve into tumors.

The HPV vaccine reduces cervical cancer rates by 90% or more

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. Almost all cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses. However, cervical cancer is both treatable and preventable—and we may be able to prevent most cases through vaccination.