We also see the difference in cancer rates in countries where life span is shorter than in United States. Americans above age of 65 have almost tenfold risk of developing cancer than their younger counterparts. There are many other illnesses that are due to errors in cell growth and result in accumulation of abnormal cells. Some of these illnesses are Benign , meaning that that they will not cause a major complication for the patients. Malignant illnesses on the other hand are the ones that can cause major complications and eventual death of a patient unless successfully treated.
Cancer can develop in any body organ or tissue, with the exception of hair and nails.
Most common cancers are Lung , Breast , Colon and Prostate cancers. Development and progress of a cancer takes place over a very long period of time. It may be years, from the time an error in a cell happens, until a patient would develop signs of cancer. Cancers have a tendency to spread to other tissues and organs. For example, a cancer that develops in the lung, can spread to the bones or to the brain .