A diagnosis can make life feel suddenly unfamiliar. You do not have to understand every medical term today.
Start with the cancer name you know. Each guide explains the diagnosis in plain language, outlines common tests and treatment decisions, introduces supportive and integrative care, and helps you prepare useful questions for your oncology team. Clear information cannot remove uncertainty, but it can help the next conversation feel more manageable.
These plain-language groups help narrow the complete A–Z list.
Every cancer guide is visible here. Select a name to open the guide, or use the filters to narrow the detailed cards below.
Choose the diagnosis you know. You do not need to know its medical category.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer of blood and bone marrow in which abnormal lymphoid precursor cells accumulate. It occurs in children and adults and can involve B-cell or T-cell lineages. Possible…
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rapidly progressing cancer in which abnormal myeloid precursor cells accumulate in blood and bone marrow. It is most common in older adults but can occur at any age.…
Bladder cancer begins in the urinary bladder, most often in urothelial cells lining its inner surface. Tumors are broadly grouped as non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive because depth strongly affects treatment. Blood in urine is the…
Primary bone cancer begins in bone and is different from cancer that spreads to bone from another organ. Major types include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chordoma, each with distinct age patterns and treatment.…
Brain and central nervous system tumors arise in the brain, spinal cord, or related tissues and may be benign or malignant. Their effects depend heavily on location, growth rate, and pressure on critical structures.…
Breast cancer begins when cells in breast tissue grow out of control. Most cases arise in ducts or lobules, and disease may be noninvasive or invasive. It can occur in women and men, though…
Cervical cancer forms in the cervix, most often after a persistent infection with a high-risk human papillomavirus causes precancerous cell changes. Screening and treatment of precancer can prevent many cases, and HPV vaccination lowers…
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a usually slow-growing cancer of mature-appearing lymphocytes, most often B cells, found in blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. It mainly affects older adults and is sometimes discovered…
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a blood and bone marrow cancer driven in most people by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene, usually carried on the Philadelphia chromosome. It commonly develops in middle-aged or older adults…
Colorectal cancer begins in the colon or rectum, usually after abnormal growths called polyps develop in the lining. Most cancers are adenocarcinomas. Screening can find precancerous polyps or cancer before symptoms appear. Possible signs…
Endometrial cancer begins in the inner lining of the uterus and is the most common uterine cancer. It differs from uterine sarcoma, which starts in muscle or supporting tissue. Abnormal uterine bleeding is the…
Esophageal cancer begins in the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The main types are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which differ in typical location and risk factors. Progressive trouble…
Head and neck cancer is an umbrella term for cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, nasal cavity, sinuses, and salivary glands. Most are squamous cell carcinomas, but site and subtype strongly shape care.…
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, usually identified by characteristic malignant cells in involved tissue. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common form; nodular lymphocyte-predominant disease has different biology and management.…
Kidney cancer includes several tumors, most commonly renal cell carcinoma arising in kidney tubules. Clear cell, papillary, chromophobe, and other subtypes differ in biology and treatment. Many tumors are found incidentally on imaging. Blood…
Leukemia is a broad group of cancers that begin in blood-forming tissue, usually bone marrow, and lead to abnormal blood cells. Major categories are acute lymphoblastic, acute myeloid, chronic lymphocytic, and chronic myeloid leukemia.…
Primary liver cancer starts in the liver; hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common adult type, while intrahepatic bile duct cancer follows a distinct pathway. Many cases arise in a liver already affected by cirrhosis…
Lung cancer starts in lung tissue and is divided mainly into non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. These groups behave differently and use different staging and treatment approaches. A persistent cough, coughing blood,…
Melanoma is a cancer of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells found mainly in skin. It is less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers but is more likely to invade nearby tissue or…
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the mesothelium, the thin lining around organs. It most often arises in the pleura around the lungs and less often in the peritoneum of the abdomen. Asbestos exposure…
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells that usually involves multiple areas of bone marrow and can produce an abnormal monoclonal protein. It may damage bones, kidneys, blood-cell production, or immune function. Possible…
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is an umbrella term for many cancers that begin in lymphocytes. Most arise from B cells; others arise from T cells or natural killer cells. Subtypes range from indolent diseases that…
Non-melanoma skin cancer most often refers to basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, cancers that begin in the skin’s basal or squamous cells. They commonly occur on sun-exposed areas and may look…
Oral cavity cancer begins in the lips or front of the mouth, while oropharyngeal cancer begins in the tonsils, base of tongue, soft palate, or nearby throat. Most are squamous cell cancers. Tobacco and…
Ovarian cancer includes several diseases arising in or associated with the ovaries. The most common is epithelial cancer, which is managed together with fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers because they share biology and…
Pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas, an organ that supports digestion and blood-sugar control. Most cases are exocrine ductal adenocarcinomas; pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are biologically different and require separate management. Early pancreatic cancer often…
Prostate cancer forms in the prostate gland, most often as adenocarcinoma. Many tumors grow slowly, while others are aggressive and can spread, commonly to bone. Early disease may have no symptoms and may be…
Sarcoma is a broad family of cancers that arise in bone or soft tissues such as muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and connective tissue. There are many subtypes with different biology, age patterns,…
Soft tissue sarcoma is a diverse group of cancers arising in muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood or lymph vessels, nerves, tendons, and related tissues. Tumors can occur anywhere, commonly in the limbs, trunk, abdomen,…
Stomach, or gastric, cancer usually begins in mucus-producing cells of the stomach lining and is most often adenocarcinoma. Early symptoms can resemble common digestive problems, while later disease may cause persistent pain, vomiting, bleeding,…
Testicular cancer most often begins in sperm-producing germ cells and is classified broadly as seminoma or nonseminoma because treatment differs. A painless testicular lump or swelling is the most common presentation, though discomfort, heaviness,…
Thyroid cancer begins in the thyroid gland and includes differentiated papillary and follicular cancers, medullary thyroid cancer, and aggressive anaplastic cancer. Many thyroid nodules are not cancer. A neck lump, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing…
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These guides provide general educational information. They cannot determine a diagnosis or treatment plan. Discuss symptoms, test results, and treatment decisions with qualified clinicians who know your situation.
