There are four main types of cancer:

• Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer. They may start in the skin or tissues that line or cover internal organs, such as the bowels, cervix, lungs, kidneys, breasts, ovaries or prostate gland.
• Leukemias are cancers that start in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow.
• Lymphomas and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Lymphomas are cancers of the lymph system, which includes the spleen, lymph nodes, and lymph vessels. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells.
• Sarcomas are cancers that start in muscles, fat, blood vessels, bones, cartilage and other connective or supporting tissues. Cartilage is at the ends of your bones and grows to form new bone.

Cancer may be named for the part of the body where cancer started, such as breast cancer, lung cancer or prostate cancer. It may also be referred to by the type of tissue where the cancer started such as bone cancer or blood cancer.

Visit our list of specific cancers and cancer organization websites for more information.