Cancer

Our information is here to support anyone affected by cancer. Here you can find out about types, causes, symptoms and treatments. There's also information about coping and living with cancer.

Cancer - an overview

What causes cancer? What are the different types? And how is it treated? The answers to these questions and more in our overview of cancer.

Common cancer words

Medical terms can be confusing so we’ve put together a list of some common cancer terms with explanations of what they mean.

See the list

How cancer develops

Your body is made up of many different types of cells that form your tissues and organs. These cells normally grow and divide in a controlled way. This is how your body grows and repairs itself. However, cancer cells don’t stop dividing – they carry on growing. Often they form lumps, called tumours. Watch our video for more info.

How cancer develops

Find more information about different types of cancers and their treatments in our A-Z below

Staying healthy...

Healthy eating

Healthy eating is especially important if you have cancer. Take a look at our tips to help make sure you're eating as well as you can.

See the tips

Healthy mind

Dealing with your emotions is an important part of your treatment and recovery. We explain how you can work through them.

Learn more

Guidance and advice from our experts on coping and living with cancer

[Animation] Cancer prevention and awareness

Being aware of potential cancer symptoms and attending screening appointments can save your life. Find out about simple checks you can do at home and what cancer screening programmes are available here in the UK.

Find out more

Cancer treatment: how does it affect fertility?

Worries about fertility (your ability to have a baby) can be top of the list for many people diagnosed with cancer. Here we describe how cancer can affect fertility, and the options that may be available to help with this.

Find out more

Cancer treatment: coping with hair loss

Cancer treatments can come with a whole host of side-effects. But losing your hair is one of the most well-known, the most visible and often, the most upsetting. If you’re about to have cancer treatment, it can help to know what to expect and how to prepare for potential hair loss.

Find out more

Gynaecological cancer – all you need to know

Gynaecological cancers are cancers that start in the cervix, ovaries, womb, vagina or vulva. Here we answer some common questions about gynaecological cancers.

Find out more

HPV home testing kits – all you need to know

Cervical screening tests (smear tests) that you can do yourself at home are currently being trialled in certain areas of the UK. But who can get a test kit and how easy is it to do? Here we'll aim to answer some of the key questions around HPV self-tests.

Find out more

Uncovering the biggest cancer myths

Get the facts on whether deodorant, burnt food or an injury could cause cancer.

More about cancer myths

About our health information

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Cancer

Our information is here to support anyone affected by cancer. Here you can find out about types, causes, symptoms and treatments. There's also information about coping and living with cancer.

Cancer - an overview

Common cancer words

Find more information about different types of cancers and their treatments in our A-Z below

A

B

C

E

G

L

M

O

P

R

S

T

W

Staying healthy...

Healthy eating

Healthy mind

Guidance and advice from our experts on coping and living with cancer

[Animation] Cancer prevention and awareness

Cancer treatment: how does it affect fertility?

Cancer treatment: coping with hair loss

Gynaecological cancer – all you need to know

HPV home testing kits – all you need to know

Uncovering the biggest cancer myths

About our health information

Legal disclaimer