Word parts
What it means
The most common type of cancer. It begins in epithelial cells, the cells that cover the body and line organs, glands and passages. Most breast, lung, colon, prostate and skin cancers are carcinomas. Examples include basal cell carcinomaBAY-sul SEL kar-sih-NOH-muhThe most common type of skin cancer, which starts in the basal cells at the bottom of the skin's outer layer.Full entry and squamous cell carcinomaSKWAY-mus SEL kar-sih-NOH-muhA cancer that starts in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells of the skin's outer layer and the linings of some organs.Full entry of the skin. Cancer that starts in bone or muscle is a sarcoma instead.
In a chart
"Biopsy confirms invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast."
At a glance
| Spanish | carcinoma |
|---|---|
| Also written | carcinomas |
Related terms
antineoplastic
A drug used to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or stopping them from growing and dividing.
cervical cancer
Cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
basal cell carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer, which starts in the basal cells at the bottom of the skin's outer layer.
squamous cell carcinoma
A cancer that starts in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells of the skin's outer layer and the linings of some organs.