Common cell cancer types 

There are over 100 cancer types. They are normally named according to the organs they affect or the areas they form in. Cancer types may also describe the types of cells that formed the cancer, such as a squamous cell (a form of skin cell) or cells that line hollow organs and glands – helping to protect or enclose organs, also refers to the cells that make up the outer layer of the body, known as epithelial cells.  

The following lists some of the categories of cancer in the specific cell types:  

Carcinoma  

These are the often the most prevalent types of cancer. Epithelial cells form these types of cancer. These are the cells, as mentioned above, that are responsible for covering the outer and inner surface areas of the body.  

Carcinomas that starts in varying epithelial cell kinds have specified names: 

Adenocarcinoma, being a type of cancer that develops in the fluid-producing epithelial cell types. Tissues such as these are known as glandular tissues. The majority of cancers of the colon, prostate and breast are often adenocarcinomas.  

Basal cell carcinoma starts in the epidermis lower layer, or basal layer, which is the outside layer of a person's skin. It first appears as a small bump, looking like a flesh coloured mole that doesn’t seem to go away. These little growths can sometimes be darker in colour or be pink or red patches that are scaly. Check with your doctor should you notice any of these on your body. 

Squamous cell carcinoma (sometimes called epidermoid carcinomas) develops in the squamous cells, this is where the epithelial cells lie just under the outer skin surface. These types of cells also occur in other organs such as the lungs and bladder. They look a lot similar to the scales of fish when looked at through a microscope.  

Transitional cell carcinoma develops in epithelial tissue types known as urothelium or transitional epithelium. This type of tissue can be formed in the bladder lining, uterus and parts of the kidney as well as some other organs. It is made up of tiny layers of epithelial cells that vary in size. It forms a few of the cancers of the uterus, bladder and kidneys.  

Sarcoma  

These types of cancers form in the soft tissues and bone such as muscle, fat, lymph vessels, fibrous tissue and lymph vessels.  

Other types of cell cancers that start in specific cell types are listed below, some of these have previously been mentioned under common cancer types, others will have their own articles linked:  

• Leukaemia 
• Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma 
• Melanoma
• Brain and spinal cord tumours