Cancer Types
Plain-language, evidence-based guides to cancer types, staging, treatments, side effects, and more. Every claim cited. Every page reviewed.
Browse by Cancer Type
Select a cancer type to read its plain-language guide. Each page covers symptoms, staging, treatment options, side effects, and questions to ask your doctor.
Most common cancer in women. Ductal, lobular, inflammatory types. ER/PR/HER2 status explained.
Non-small cell and small cell. Screening, biomarkers, treatment pathways.
Often diagnosed late. BRCA connections, staging, and treatment options.
HPV link, screening importance, prevention and treatment.
Rising in younger adults. MSI testing, screening guidelines.
Common in younger women. Papillary, follicular types.
Most common gynecologic cancer. Symptoms, staging, treatment.
Detection, staging, immunotherapy advances.
Understanding diagnosis, staging, and emerging treatments.
Risk factors, staging, treatment options.
Blood cancer types: acute and chronic leukemias explained.
Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas: types and treatment.
Screening, staging, treatment options, and survivorship.
H. pylori risk, diagnosis, surgery, and multimodal treatment.
Early detection, surgical options, targeted and immunotherapy.
Hepatitis and cirrhosis risks, staging, surgery, transplant, and targeted therapy.
Oropharyngeal, laryngeal cancers. HPV, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Acid reflux, Barrett's esophagus, surgery, chemoradiation, and immunotherapy.
Germ cell tumors, highly curable. Chemotherapy, fertility preservation options.
Primary brain tumors, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and tumor treating fields.
Soft tissue and bone cancers. Limb-sparing surgery, chemotherapy, and multimodal treatment.
Plasma cell cancer. Proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and CAR-T therapy options.
Carcinoid tumors, hormone-secreting cancers, somatostatin analogs, and targeted therapy.
Asbestos-related cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and multimodal treatment approaches.
HPV-related cancer, chemoradiation-based treatment, sphincter preservation.
Rare biliary cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy.
HPV and non-HPV pathways, surface-preserving surgery, laser therapy options.
Rare male cancer, HPV-related, function-preserving surgery, immunotherapy advances.
Blood cancer, urgent treatment needed, modern remission and survival improving.
Rare skin cancer, immunotherapy breakthrough, improved outcomes with checkpoint inhibitors.
Hormone-producing tumors, transsphenoidal surgery, hormone management important.
Chest mediastinal tumor, myasthenia gravis association, multimodal treatment approach.
Understanding Cancer Staging & Grading
Before diving into a specific cancer type, it helps to understand how doctors classify and describe cancer. Here are the three core systems you will encounter.
TNM Staging System
The TNM system is the most widely used method for describing how far a cancer has spread. T (Tumor) measures the size and extent of the main tumor. N (Nodes) describes whether cancer has reached nearby lymph nodes. M (Metastasis) tells whether cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. Together, these three letters create a stage (I through IV) that helps your care team plan treatment.
Grading (Grade 1–3)
Grading describes how abnormal cancer cells look under a microscope compared to healthy cells. Grade 1 (low grade) cells look most like normal cells and tend to grow slowly. Grade 2 (intermediate) cells look somewhat abnormal. Grade 3 (high grade) cells look very different from normal cells and tend to grow and spread more quickly. Grading helps predict how aggressive a cancer may be.
Biomarkers
Biomarkers are specific molecules found in tissue, blood, or other body fluids that tell your care team more about the behavior of your cancer. Common examples include ER/PR (hormone receptors in breast cancer), HER2 (a protein that can promote cancer growth), PD-L1 (used in immunotherapy decisions), and BRCA1/BRCA2 (gene mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancer). Biomarkers help guide which treatments are most likely to work for your specific cancer.
What Every Guide Includes
Every cancer type guide on StopMyCancer follows the same thorough, evidence-based structure so you always know what to expect.
Plain-Language Summary
A one-paragraph overview anyone can understand — no medical degree required. What this cancer is, where it starts, and who it commonly affects.
Diagnosis & Staging
How this cancer is found, what tests are involved, and what the stages mean. From screening to biopsy to TNM classification.
Treatment Options
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy — explained in terms you can actually follow.
Side Effects
What to expect from treatment, how to manage common side effects, and when to contact your care team. Honest, practical, no sugar-coating.
Questions to Ask
Copy-paste lists of questions for your oncologist, surgeon, and care team. Walk into every appointment prepared and ready to advocate.
Sources & Review
Every claim cited from clinical guidelines and major cancer centers. Pages are regularly reviewed and updated as evidence evolves.
Sources & References
All content is grounded in evidence from major cancer organizations and peer-reviewed research.
- World Health Organization. "Cancer Fact Sheets." who.int
- American Cancer Society. "Cancer A-Z." cancer.org
- National Cancer Institute. "Types of Cancer." cancer.gov
- NCCN. "NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology." nccn.org
- Sung H, et al. "Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide." CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2021.
Last reviewed: January 2025. This content is educational only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team.