Cancers are a group of diseases characterized by the abnormal growth of cells. If unchecked, the disease may continue to progress, ultimately leading to premature death. Cancers can arise anywhere in the body and affect people from all age groups, socio-economic backgrounds, and races. Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 14.1 million new cancer cases, 8.2 million cancer deaths, and 32.6 million people living with cancer in 2012 worldwide. In India, approximately 470,000 new cases of cancer are detected annually, and cancer is responsible for about 350,000 deaths each year.
There are several major types of cancer: