National Health Council — Voluntary Health Agency Guide

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving the lives of cancer patients, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

About the condition(s):

Cancers are usually named after the part of the body from which they originate. They occur when cells in a part of the body grow and divide out of control, which creates a mass of tissue called a tumor. If the cells that are growing out of control are normal cells, the tumor is called benign (not cancerous). If, however, the cells that are growing out of control are abnormal and don't function like the body's normal cells, the tumor is called malignant (cancerous). These cells can travel to other parts of the body and form new tumors, a process called metastasis.