Cancer Overview — Causes, Classification and Modern Treatment Approaches
July 13, 2026
A basic understanding of cancer: how cancer cells form, risk factors, tissue-origin classification and modern treatment approaches including immunotherapy and CAR-T.
## What is Cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by abnormal, uncontrolled cell proliferation — caused by accumulated DNA mutations over many years. Cancer cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread via blood or lymphatic pathways to distant organs.
## Causes and Risk Factors
Gene mutations may result from: environmental factors (smoking, radiation, chemicals), viruses (HPV with cervical cancer, HBV/HCV with liver cancer), lifestyle factors (obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol), family history and ageing.
## Classification by Tissue Origin
- **Carcinoma**: from epithelial cells (lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, ovarian cancer) - **Sarcoma**: from connective tissue (bone, muscle, fat) - **Leukaemia/Lymphoma**: from blood cells and lymph nodes - **Melanoma**: from skin pigment cells
## Modern Treatment Approaches
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy (Proton, BNCT, Gyro Knife), targeted therapy (TKI, monoclonal antibodies), immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1, CAR-T) and multimodal combinations. The current trend: personalised protocols based on tumour genomic profiling (precision oncology).
## HomeMed's Role
HomeMed connects Vietnamese patients with leading Chinese oncology centres applying precision oncology — NGS genetic testing and protocol selection tailored to each patient.
## Disclaimer
Information is for reference only. Diagnosis and treatment must be performed by qualified specialist physicians.