World Cancer Day: These are the most common types of this deadly disease

Cancer has become one of the most frequently diagnosed illnesses across the globe in the past decade. Every year, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) organises the World Cancer Day on February 4 to raise awareness in the global community to put an end to the injustice of “preventable suffering” from cancer. This year, “I am and I will” is the theme and it acknowledges that everyone has the capacity to act in the face of cancer.

Breast cancer: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and is largely diagnosed in urban women. The formation of cancerous cells in the breasts leads to this cancer. The symptoms may include a lump in the breast, change in its size, shape or appearance, peeling or scaling of skin surrounding the nipple and redness of the skin over your breast.

Skin cancer: Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells. It generally develops in areas that are exposed to the sun, but it can also form in places that don’t normally get sun exposure. The cancerous cell begins in the specialised cells that make up the pigment to give our skin its original colour (melanin).

Lung cancer: Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest that take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale. The number of lung cancer cases among women has risen considerably in the last four decades. The cancerous cells begin to multiply rapidly in the lungs and spread to other parts. Smoking is surely one of the most common causes of this type of cancer, but it has been found that more than half of the women diagnosed with lung cancer never smoked.

Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperms. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Usually prostate cancer grows slowly and is initially confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.

Endometrial cancer (Uterine cancer): Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. It begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Endometrial cancer is sometimes called uterine cancer.