The Four Major Categories of Cancer

The types of cancers are classified according to the tissue from which they originate. The following list identifies the major cancer groups:

• Carcinoma: Cancer arising from epithelial tissue (for example, basal cell carcinoma)

• Sarcoma: Cancer arising from connective tissue, muscle, or bone (for example, osteosarcoma)

• Lymphoma: Cancer arising from lymphoid tissue (for example, Burkitt’s lymphoma)

• Leukemia: Cancer of the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow (for example, acute lymphocytic leukemia)