The odds of surviving cancer are better than ever, thanks to improved detection and treatment methods. But cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease, and comprehensive medical care is critical for increasing the likelihood of survival.

Cancer is a range of diseases caused by the growth and uncontrolled spread of abnormal cells. Of the 1.4 million new cases expected in 2008, most will occur in adults 55 and older.

Some of the more common cancers in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society, are:

Lung Cancer: About 215,020 new cases will develop in 2008, most caused by cigarette smoke, but some from radon, asbestos, radiation or air pollution. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women.

Prostate Cancer: Some 186,320 men this year will learn they have cancer of the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. The most frequently diagnosed cancer among males, it usually afflicts older men. African Americans are particularly at risk.

Breast Cancer: Except for skin cancer, cancer of the breast tissue is the most common cancer among women, but men develop it too. About 182,460 women and 1,990 men will be diagnosed with the disease this year. No one knows what causes breast cancer, and most who develop it have no family history of the disease, although an inherited genetic mutation is a risk factor.

Colon and Rectal Cancer: Treatable if caught early, cancers of the colon and rectum have been declining for 20 years thanks to improved screening. This year, about 108,070 cases of colon and 40,740 cases of rectal cancer will be detected.  A diet high in fat and low in fiber and heavy alcohol consumption have been linked to colon cancer.

Bladder Cancer: Cancer of the bladder, the organ which stores urine, afflicts whites more than people of other races, and more men than women. The exact cause is unknown, but age and tobacco use are major risk factors. This year, about 68,810 cases will be diagnosed.

Skin Cancer: More than 1 million cases of noninvasive skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell) are diagnosed each year. Most are curable. Another 62,480 people will learn this year that they have melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. The rate of melanoma is more than 10 times higher in white people than in African Americans. A family history of melanoma and the presence of atypical moles or many moles are major risk factors, as is excessive exposure to sunlight.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, has nearly doubled since the 1970s, and the cause is unknown. More common in men than in women, and in whites, this cancer is usually diagnosed in patients in their 60s. About 66,120 cases will be diagnosed this year.

Leukemia: This cancer of the blood cells affects 10 times more adults than children, males more often than females. Approximately 40,000 cases will be diagnosed this year. Among the primary forms:

• Acute Myeloid (myelogenous) Leukemia (AML)—13,290 cases (mostly adults)
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)—5,430 cases (mostly children)
• Chronic Lymphocyctic Leukemia (CLL)—15,110 cases (mostly adults)
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)—4,830 (mostly adults);
• Other Children’s Leukemia—885.

 Article provided by Caring Today magazine and www.caringtoday.com.