The human body is made up of millions of cells. Although the basic structure of each cell is similar, the overall structure varies depending on the function of that cell. There are several different types of cells in the body that are classified based upon the tissue where they are found and their function. Cancer, the abnormal growth of cells, can occur in any type of cell. Each type of cancer cell has its own name and characteristics.
Carcinoma
Epithelial cells are the cells that make up skin. These cells not only cover the entire outside of the body, but they also cover the inside of the body lining body cavities and organs. Cancer that begins in epithelial cells is known as carcinoma. Because of the abundance of epithelial cells, carcinomas are the most common type of cancer cell. Carcinomas account for 85 percent of all cancers according to Cancer Help UK.
There are different types of epithelial cells. Squamous cells are the flat cells that appear on the surface. Cancer of these cells is known as squamous cell carcinoma. Epithelial cells also line the tissues of the glands. This type of cell is known as adenomatous cells, and cancer of these cells is adenocarcinoma.
Sarcoma
Sarcoma is the name for the type of cancer cell that occurs in connective tissue cells. Connective tissues are those that support the body including cartilage, tendons, bones, muscles and the fibrous tissue in the organs. There are two main types of sarcomas; osteosarcoma is the name for cancer cells that form in bones and soft tissue sarcoma occurs in all other types of connective tissue. Cancer Help UK reports that sarcoma cancer cells make up less than 1 percent of all cancers.
Leukemia
Leukemia is the type of cancer cells that forms in blood cells. Specifically leukemia is cancer of the bone marrow, since this is where new blood cells are produced, and blood. There are four different types of leukemia. Myelogenous leukemia cells are those that form from the bone marrow cells that produce red blood cells, some white cells and platelets. Lymphocytic leukemia cells are those that form in the bone marrow cells that produce lymphocytes, a specific type of white blood cell. Both myelogenous and lymphocytic leukemia can be either acute or chronic.
Lymphoma
Lymphomas are closely related to leukemia, as together they are known as the blood cancers. Lymphoma cancer cells are those that affect the cells of the lymph system. Lymphomas account for approximately 7 percent of all cancers and are the most common type of cancer in children, according to Cancer Help UK. Together, blood cancers account for an estimated 9.5 percent of all cancer deaths, as reported by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Glioma
Another type of cancer cell is the glioma. Glioma is cancer of the glial cells, which are the nerve cells in the brain. This type of cancer is more commonly known as a brain tumor.
