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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer also has the ability to spread throughout your body.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. But survival rates are improving for many types of cancer thanks to improvements in cancer screening and cancer treatment.

DS01076

May 10, 2008

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