What it is

A fast-growing leukemia of immature lymphoid cells (“lymphoblasts”) in the bone marrow and blood; common in children but can occur at any age.

Risk factors

• Prior chemo/radiation (rare)
• Genetic syndromes (e.g., Down syndrome)
• Male sex; older age in adult ALL

Symptoms

• Fatigue, infections, fevers
• Easy bruising/bleeding
• Bone pain, enlarged lymph nodes

Diagnosis

• Blood counts & smear
• Bone marrow biopsy
• Immunophenotype, cytogenetics, molecular tests (e.g., BCR-ABL1)

Treatment

• Multi-phase chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy (TKI for Ph+ ALL)
• Immunotherapy (bispecifics/CAR T)
• Stem cell transplant in select cases

What it is

Rapidly progressive leukemia of immature myeloid cells; more common in adults.

Risk factors

• Older age
• Prior chemo/radiation (therapy-related AML)
• Benzene exposure
• Preexisting MDS

Symptoms

• Anemia, infections
• Bleeding/bruising
• Bone pain

Diagnosis

• Bone marrow biopsy
• Flow cytometry
• Genetics (FLT3, IDH1/2, NPM1)

Treatment

• Combination chemotherapy
• Targeted agents (FLT3/IDH)
• Transplant in fit/high-risk cases

What it is

Rare cancer of the adrenal cortex; may cause hormone excess (Cushing syndrome, virilization).

Risk factors

• Genetic syndromes (Li-Fraumeni, MEN1)

Symptoms

• Weight gain, hypertension
• Hirsutism/virilization
• Abdominal mass/pain

Diagnosis

• Hormone tests
• CT/MRI
• Pathology after surgery

Treatment

• Surgery
• Mitotane
• Chemo/radiation in select cases

What it is

Cancer of the anal canal; many cases linked to HPV infection.

Risk factors

• HPV, receptive anal intercourse
• Smoking
• Weakened immunity

Symptoms

• Rectal bleeding
• Pain, lump
• Change in bowel habits

Diagnosis

• Anoscopy/biopsy
• Imaging for staging

Treatment

• Chemoradiation (organ-sparing standard)
• Surgery for select cases

What it is

Most common skin cancer; slow-growing, rarely metastasizes but can invade locally.

Risk factors

• UV exposure
• Fair skin
• Radiation, immunosuppression

Symptoms

• Pearly/pink bump
• Non-healing sore

Diagnosis

• Skin exam & biopsy

Treatment

• Excision or Mohs
• Topicals/PDT for superficial
• Hedgehog inhibitors for advanced

What it is

Usually urothelial carcinoma starting in bladder lining.

Risk factors

• Smoking
• Chemical exposures
• Chronic irritation

Symptoms

• Blood in urine
• Urgency/frequency

Diagnosis

• Cystoscopy/biopsy
• Imaging

Treatment

• TURBT + intravesical therapy (BCG)
• Cystectomy for muscle-invasive
• Chemo/immunotherapy

What it is

Primary tumors like osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, chordoma (distinct from bone metastases).

Risk factors

• Hereditary syndromes (rare)
• Prior radiation

Symptoms

• Bone pain/swelling

Diagnosis

• Imaging + core biopsy

Treatment

• Chemotherapy
• Limb-sparing surgery
• Radiation for select types

What it is

Primary CNS tumors (gliomas, meningiomas, medulloblastoma, ependymoma) can be benign or malignant.

Symptoms

• Headache, seizures
• Focal neurologic deficits

Diagnosis

• MRI/CT
• Biopsy/resection

Treatment

• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemo/targeted/TTFields

What it is

Cancers starting in ducts/lobules; subtypes by ER/PR/HER2 and genomic features.

Risk factors

• Age
• Family history/BRCA
• Hormonal factors, density

Symptoms

• Lump, skin/nipple change
• Discharge

Diagnosis

• Mammogram/US/MRI
• Core biopsy; receptors

Treatment

• Surgery + radiation
• Hormone/chemo
• HER2-targeted; immunotherapy (TNBC)

What it is

Cancer of the cervix, most often caused by persistent high-risk HPV.

Risk factors

• HPV
• Smoking
• Immunosuppression

Prevention

• HPV vaccine
• Pap/HPV screening

Treatment

• Surgery (early)
• Chemoradiation
• Immunotherapy in select settings

What it is

Often begins as polyps that can turn cancerous over years.

Risk factors

• Age ≥45
• Family history
• IBD, diet, obesity

Screening

• Colonoscopy
• FIT/FOBT, FIT-DNA

Treatment

• Surgery
• Chemo
• Targeted (anti-VEGF/EGFR)
• Immunotherapy for MSI-H/dMMR

What it is

Myeloproliferative leukemia driven by BCR-ABL1 (Philadelphia chromosome).

Symptoms

• Often incidental
• Fatigue, splenomegaly

Treatment

• TKIs (imatinib & newer)
• Monitor molecular response

What it is

Metastatic cancer where the origin site cannot be identified after standard workup.

Diagnosis

• Pathology + IHC
• Imaging; selected genomics

Treatment

• Systemic therapy guided by pathology/genomics

What it is

Non-invasive breast cancer confined to the ducts.

Diagnosis

• Mammogram (microcalcifications)
• Core biopsy

Treatment

• Surgery ± radiation
• Endocrine therapy for ER+

What it is

Cancer of the uterine lining; often presents early with bleeding.

Risk factors

• Obesity
• Unopposed estrogen
• Lynch syndrome

Diagnosis

• Endometrial biopsy

Treatment

• Hysterectomy ± nodes
• Radiation/chemo as indicated

What it is

Adenocarcinoma (often with Barrett esophagus) or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Risk factors

• GERD/Barrett
• Smoking, alcohol (SCC)

Diagnosis

• Endoscopy/biopsy
• Staging scans

Treatment

• Neoadjuvant chemoradiation + surgery
• Systemic therapy/immunotherapy

What it is

Rare gynecologic cancer; biologically overlaps with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Treatment

• Surgery + chemotherapy

Risk factors

• H. pylori
• High-salt diets
• Smoking

Treatment

• Perioperative chemo + surgery
• Targeted/IO in select cases

What it is

Mesenchymal tumor (often KIT or PDGFRA mutated).

Treatment

• TKIs (imatinib, etc.)
• Surgery for resectable disease

What it is

Lymphoid cancer with Reed-Sternberg cells; often curable.

Symptoms

• Painless lymphadenopathy
• Fever/night sweats/weight loss

Treatment

• Chemo ± radiation
• Immunotherapy in relapsed disease

What it is

Melanoma arising from uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, choroid).

Treatment

• Radiation (plaque)
• Enucleation in select cases

Risk factors

• Smoking
• Obesity
• HTN; hereditary syndromes

Treatment

• Partial/radical nephrectomy
• Immunotherapy/targeted therapy

Risk factors

• HBV/HCV
• Cirrhosis, alcohol, NAFLD

Treatment

• Resection/transplant/ablation
• Embolization
• Targeted/immunotherapy

Risk factors

• Tobacco smoke
• Radon
• Occupational exposures

Treatment

• Surgery (early NSCLC)
• Chemo/radiation
• Targeted & immunotherapy

What it is

Diverse group of B-, T-, or NK-cell lymphomas (indolent to aggressive).

Treatment

• Chemo-immunotherapy (e.g., R-CHOP)
• Targeted/IO; CAR T in select cases

Risk factors

• UV exposure
• Fair skin/many nevi
• Family history

Treatment

• Surgery (SLNB as indicated)
• Immunotherapy
• BRAF/MEK targeted (BRAF+)

Risk factors

• Asbestos exposure

Treatment

• Surgery in select
• Chemo
• Immunotherapy

Risk factors

• BRCA1/2
• Family history

Treatment

• Surgery + platinum chemo
• PARP inhibitors (selected)

Symptoms

• Painless jaundice
• Weight loss

Treatment

• Surgery (Whipple) if resectable
• Chemo; selected targeted/IO

Screening

• PSA ± DRE (shared decision)

Treatment

• Active surveillance (low-risk)
• Surgery/radiation
• ADT ± novel agents, chemo

What it is

Retinal tumor in children; may be inherited (RB1).

Treatment

• Focal therapies, chemo
• Enucleation in select cases

Main forms

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

Prevention

• Sun protection
• Avoid tanning beds
• Skin checks

What it is

Heterogeneous group of mesenchymal malignancies (e.g., liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma).

Treatment

• Surgery
• Radiation/chemo
• Targeted therapy in subtypes

What it is

Germ cell tumors (seminoma & nonseminoma); highly curable.

Symptoms

• Painless testicular mass

Treatment

• Orchiectomy
• Chemo/radiation (by type/stage)

Main types

• Papillary/follicular (excellent prognosis)
• Medullary
• Anaplastic (rare, aggressive)

Treatment

• Surgery ± radioactive iodine
• TSH suppression
• Targeted therapy for advanced

What it is

Rare uterine cancers from muscle or stromal tissue.

Treatment

• Surgery
• Chemo/radiation in select

Risk factors

• HPV
• Lichen sclerosus

Treatment

• Surgery
• Radiation/chemo as indicated

What it is

Common childhood kidney cancer; excellent outcomes with multimodal therapy.

Treatment

• Surgery + chemo
• Radiation for select stages