Cancer types

Cancer is increasing all over the world, particularly in the developing world, but much cancer is preventable. Read about the lifestyle factors and causes of each cancer type, along with how they develop.

Bladder cancer

There’s strong evidence that drinking water containing arsenic increases the risk of bladder cancer

What causes bladder cancer?

Breast cancer

Learn about the differences between pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer and our strong evidence findings

What affects breast cancer?

Cervical cancer

The fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, accounting for 7% of all new cancer cases in females

Find out more about this cancer

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal is the third most common cancer worldwide and we have strong evidence on many exposures that affect risk

Find out more about this cancer

Endometrial cancer

Find out how physical activity and the consumption of coffee affect the risk of endometrial cancer

Learn more about endometrial cancer

Gallbladder cancer

We analysed 14 studies, with nearly 13m participants and almost 8,300 cases of gallbladder cancer

Understand gallbladder cancer

Kidney cancer

Kidney cancer contributed 2.4% of all new cancer cases globally in 2020

What leads to kidney cancer?

Liver cancer

Our strong evidence highlights the link between obesity, alcohol and liver cancer

Does coffee affect liver cancer?

Lung cancer

Not smoking is the best way to cut your risk of lung cancer – estimated to be responsible for nearly 1 in 5 cancer deaths globally

Understand lung cancer

Mouth, pharynx and larynx cancers

We analysed 25 studies globally, with more than 9m participants and nearly 8,000 cases of MPL cancers

Find out more about these cancers

Nasopharyngeal cancer

We analyse how certain lifestyle factors affect the risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer

What affects this cancer type?

Oesophageal cancer

There is strong evidence that being overweight or obese increases the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Understand oesophageal cancer

Ovarian cancer

Our strong evidence highlights the links between adult attained height, greater body fatness and cancer risk

Understanding ovarian cancer

Pancreatic cancer

Our strong evidence shows that greater body fatness and adult attained height increase the risk of pancreatic cancer

What affects pancreatic cancer?

Prostate cancer

Our strong evidence shows being overweight or obese increases the risk of advanced prostate cancer

Learn more

Skin cancer

Skin cancer is commonly associated with sun exposure, but learn about other lifestyle factors that affect skin cancer risk

Learn about skin cancer

Stomach cancer

Learn about our evidence on how alcohol, salt-preserved foods and being overweight or obese affect stomach cancer risk

All about stomach cancer?

Cancer trends

Understand the trends and the numbers behind the difference cancer types and where they’re prevalent

Latest statistics