What is cancer?

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    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Cancer is a collection of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell replication and growth.[1] Solid cancers form a harmful tumor from a specific type of tissue, while hematological (blood) cancers form from lymphatic and blood tissues.[2] As cancers grow, they become more malignant, and the most advanced cancers spread to other areas of the body in a process called metastasis. Some types of cancer can be treated with a high margin of success, while other cancers usually lead to death.[3]