Types of Cancer
The Top Invasive Cancers Reported in South Africa (NCR 2024)
Males:
| Type of Cancer | Lifetime Risk | More Information | |
| 1. | Prostate | 1:17 | Prostate cancer |
| 2. | Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) | 1:26 | |
| 3. | Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the skin | 1:50 | |
| 4. | Colorectal | 1:88 | Colorectal cancer |
| 5. | Lung | 1:145 | Lung cancer |
| 6. | Melanoma (all forms) | 1:177 | Melanoma |
| 7. | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) | 1:218 | NHL |
| 8. | Bladder | 1:232 | |
| 9. | Oesophagus | 1:219 | |
| 10. | Stomach | 1:273 |
The Top Invasive Cancers Reported in South Africa (NCR 2024)
Females:
| Type of Cancer | Lifetime Risk | More Information | |
| 1. | Breast | 1:28 | Breast cancer |
| 2. | Cervical | 1:39 | Cervical cancer |
| 3. | Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) | 1:48 | |
| 4. | Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the skin | 1:109 | |
| 5. | Colorectal Cancer | 1:139 | Colorectal cancer |
| 6. | Uterus (womb) | 1:135 | Uterine cancer |
| 7. | Melanoma (all forms) | 1:296 | Melanoma |
| 8. | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) | 1:320 | NHL |
| 9. | Vulva | 1:347 | Vulval / Vulvar cancer |
| 10. | Lung | 1:309 | Lung cancer |
Download PDF: Incidence Cancer per Population Group (National Cancer Registry 2024)
Types of Cancer:
- A
- Adamantinoma
- Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
- Adrenal Gland Cancer
- Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
- Anal Cancer (Anus)
- Angiosarcoma
- Appendix Cancer
- B
- Bile Duct Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Bone Cancer – Giant Cell Tumour of Bone
- Brain & Central Nervous System Cancer
- Breast Cancer (female) – see Women’s Health section for additional info
- Breast Cancer (female) Metastatic
- Breast Cancer (female) – Paget’s Disease
- Breast Cancer (male) – see Men’s Health section for additional info
- C
- Carcinoid Tumours
- Cervical Cancer – see Women’s Health section for additional info
- Childhood and Teen Cancer
- Chondrosarcoma
- Chordoma
- Colorectal Cancer
- Connective Tissue Cancer
- D
- Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans
- Desmoplastic Small Round-Cell Tumour
- Duodenal Cancer
- E
- Ear Cancer
- Epitheloid Sarcoma
- Ewing’s Sarcoma
- Ewing’s Sarcoma (Soft Tissue)
- Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma
- Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma
- Eye Cancer
- Eye (Ocular) Melanoma
- F
- Fallopian Tube Cancer – read more about Women’s Health…
- Fibromyxoid Sarcoma
- Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma
- G
- Gallbladder
- Gastrinoma
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour
- Gestational Trophoblastic Disease – read more about Women’s Health…
- Giant Condyloma Acuminatum (Buschke–Löwenstein Tumour)
- Gliosarcoma
- Gum Cancer
- Gynaecological Sarcomas
- H
- Heart Cancer
- Haemangiosarcoma
- Human Papilloma Virus Infection & Cancer
- I
- Insulinoma
- Intestine (small)
- J
- K
- Kaposi Sarcoma
- Kidney Cancer
- L
- Laryngeal Cancer (Larynx)
- Leiomyosarcoma – Uterine Leiomyosarcoma
- Leukaemia – Adult Hairy Cell
- Leukaemia – Erythroid (Adult Acute)
- Leukaemia – Lymphoblastic – ALL (Adult Acute)
- Leukaemia – Lymphoblastic – CLL (Adult Chronic)
- Leukaemia – Megakaryoblastic
- Leukaemia – Myelofibrosis
- Leukaemia – Myeloid – AML (Adult Acute)
- Leukaemia – Myeloid – CML (Adult Chronic)
- Leukaemia – Myelomonocytic (Adult Acute)
- Leukaemia – Myelomonocytic – CMML (Adult Chronic)
- Leukaemia – Promyelocytic – APL (Adult Acute)
- Lip Cancer
- Liposarcoma
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Lymphoma – Aids Related
- Lymphoma – Anaplastic Large Cell
- Lymphoma – Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell (AITL)
- Lymphoma – Burkitt
- Lymphoma – Diffuse Large B Cell
- Lymphoma – Follicular
- Lymphoma – Hodgkin’s
- Lymphoma – Mantle Cell
- Lymphoma – Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT)
- Lymphoma – Nodal Marginal Zone
- Lymphoma – Non-Hodgkin’s
- Lymphoma – Non-Hodgkin’s: Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis
- Lymphoma – Non-Hodgkin’s: Richter’s Syndrome
- Lymphoma – Non-Hodgkin’s – Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia
- Lymphoma – T-Cell: Mycosis Fungoides
- M
- Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour
- Melanoma
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Mesothelioma – find support resources for patients & loved ones…
- Mesothelioma – Peritoneal
- Mouth
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myxofibrosarcoma
- Myxoinflammatory Fibroblastic Sarcoma
- N
- O
- Oesophageal Cancer (Oesophagus)
- Oligodendroglioma
- Osteosarcoma
- Ovarian (Ovary) Cancer – read more about Women’s Health…
- Ovary (Germ Cell Tumour)
- Ovary (Teratoma of the Ovary)
- P
- Paget’s Disease of the Scrotum – read more about Men’s Health…
- Palate Cancer
- Pancoast Tumour
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours
- Paranasal Sinus & Nasal Cavity
- Parathyroid Cancer
- Penile Cancer – read more about Men’s Health…
- Peritoneal Cancer Primary (PPC)
- Pharangeal Cancer (pharynx or throat)
- Phyllodes Tumour – read more about Women’s Health…
- Pineoblastoma
- Pituitary Gland Cancer
- Pleural Cancer
- Polycythaemia Vera
- Prostate Cancer – read more about Men’s Health…
- Q
- R
- Rectal Cancer
- Retroperitoneal Sarcoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma Adult
- S
- Salivary Gland Cancer
- Sarcoma
- Skin Cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma | Kaposi Sarcoma | Malignant Melanoma | Merkel Cell Carcinoma | Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma | Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Spitz Naevi (usually present in toddlers and children) and can mistakenly be thought to be malignant melanoma because of the close resemblance | Albinism & Cancer Risk | Solar Radiation and Skin Cancer | Climate Change Heatwaves and its Effect on the Incidence of Skin Cancer | Dangers Sunbeds
- Solitary Fibrous Tumour
- Somatostatinoma
- Spinal Cord Cancer
- Spindle Cell Sarcoma
- Spleen Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Synovial Sarcoma
- T
- Teen and Childhood Cancer
- Testicular Cancer | Endodermal Sinus Tumour of the Testicles – read more about Men’s Health
- Thymoma
- Thyroid Cancer – Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer | Hürthle Cell Thyroid Cancer | Medullary Thyroid Cancer
- Tongue Cancer
- Tonsils Cancer
- Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase (TRK) Fusion Cancer
- U
- Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma
- Unknown Primary Cancer (CUP)
- Ureteral Cancer (Ureter)
- Urethral Cancer (Urethra)
- Uterine Cancer (Uterus) – read more about Women’s Health…
- V
- Vaginal & Vulvar Melanoma
- Vaginal Cancer (Vagina) – read more about Women’s Health…
- Vaginal Clear-Cell Adenosarcoma – read more about Women’s Health…
- Vascular Sarcoma
- Von Hippel-Lindau Disease
- Vulvar / Vulval Cancer (Vulva) – read more about Women’s Health…
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
Has Cancer Touched Your Life?
Cancer affects many South Africans, through diagnosis of family, friends, colleagues or self.
We want you to know that you are not alone and that we would like to support you and your loved ones, regardless of how cancer has touched your life.
Support Resources for cancer Survivors & Loved Ones
Find additional online resources for cancer Survivors (anyone who has heard the words ‘you have cancer’), caregivers or loved ones, and about coping with cancer.
Disclaimer
CANSA does not provide treatment, and if any abnormalities are detected during screening, then you will be referred to an appropriate specialist or healthcare professional.
CANSA does not prescribe or provide medication, as it is not authorised to do so.
However, CANSA nurses, are able to provide free clinical advice with regards to management of side effects of cancer, side effects of cancer treatment and pain management – please email info@cansa.org.za to arrange to chat to a nurse. Our trained social workers can provide free, cancer specific, psychosocial support and counselling to all affected by cancer…
