Understand Cancer & Explore Agents

A plain-English overview of cancer biology, then jump straight to a guide for your cancer type. Educational only; not medical advice.

Browse Cancer TypesSee Protocols

What is cancer?

Cancer is a group of diseases where some cells grow and divide uncontrollably, crowding out healthy cells. These cells may form a mass (a tumor) or spread to other places in the body (metastasis). Different cancers behave differently. Some are slow-growing, others aggressive, and treatment depends on the cancer type, stage, and biology.

Inside cells, growth signals like AKT and mTOR can get stuck “on,” while safety checks such as p53 can fail. Tumors may build new blood vessels (angiogenesis), adapt to low oxygen via HIF-1α, or evade immune cells like NK cells. Understanding these patterns helps explain why certain medicines or therapies are used, and why timing and combinations matter.

Always coordinate plans with your licensed care team. This site is educational and does not provide medical advice. Decode terms anytime in the Glossary.

Open the cancer-type guide

Educational only; not medical advice.

This page is currently being updated with more cancer types. Check back soon!