Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues.
Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor, which can be benign or malignant. Cells from malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer is not just one disease, but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer - most of them named for the organ or type of cell in which they
start. For example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer.
How We Can Help
At Mercy, we offer the very latest cancer treatments, but we also provide emotional and spiritual support for our patients and their loved ones.
If you would like more information about Mercy's Oncology-Hematology Center, please
click here.