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Cancer Awareness GuideGeneral information & support

Common types of cancer: a general overview

Cancers are usually named after the part of the body or type of cell where they begin. This is a broad, educational overview — not a diagnostic tool.

For information only - this is not medical advice. If you are worried about a symptom, talk to your doctor.

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) counts more than 100 types of cancer. Types are usually named for the organ or tissue where the cancer forms - for example, lung cancer starts in the lung - and are also described by the type of cell they started in (NCI: What Is Cancer?). The main groups by cell type are:

  • Carcinomas form in epithelial cells, the cells that cover the inside and outside surfaces of the body. NCI describes carcinomas as the most common type of cancer, and notes that most cancers of the breast, colon and prostate are a kind of carcinoma called adenocarcinoma.
  • Sarcomas form in bone and soft tissues, including muscle, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels and fibrous tissue such as tendons and ligaments.
  • Leukaemias begin in the blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow. They do not form solid tumours; instead, abnormal white blood cells build up in the blood and bone marrow.
  • Lymphomas begin in lymphocytes (T cells or B cells), white blood cells that are part of the immune system. The two main types are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Multiple myeloma begins in plasma cells, another type of immune cell, which build up in the bone marrow.
  • Melanoma begins in the cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Most melanomas form on the skin.
  • Brain and spinal cord tumours are named after the cell type and place they started. They can be benign or malignant.

Which cancers are diagnosed most often?

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists lung, breast, colon and rectum, and prostate cancers as the most common cancers worldwide, followed by non-melanoma skin cancer and stomach cancer. WHO also stresses that the most common cancers vary between countries (WHO cancer fact sheet). Your national cancer registry or health service publishes figures for your own country.

Why the type matters

WHO explains that a correct diagnosis is essential because every cancer type needs its own specific treatment approach. Alongside the type, doctors also describe how far a cancer has spread and how abnormal the cells look - see cancer stages explained. For how cancer begins in the first place, see what is cancer?

This overview is for general understanding only. If you have a concern about a specific symptom or risk, a doctor can advise you properly. You may also find our list of signs worth discussing with a doctor useful.

Sources

Last reviewed: 15 October 2026.

Common questions

Which cancers are most common?

WHO lists lung, breast, colon and rectum, and prostate cancers as the most common worldwide, but this varies by country, sex and age. Recognised health authorities publish up-to-date statistics.

How many types of cancer are there?

The US National Cancer Institute counts more than 100 types, usually named after the organ or tissue where the cancer starts.

What is the difference between a carcinoma and a sarcoma?

According to NCI, carcinomas start in epithelial cells that line the surfaces of the body, while sarcomas start in bone or soft tissues such as muscle, fat and blood vessels.