Doctors and researchers recognise that there are more than about how many different types of cancer in the world, based on the tissue or cell of origin and specific behaviour of the disease?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: More than about 100 different types of cancer

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Cancer is not a single disease but a large group of diseases characterised by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancers can arise in almost any tissue of the body, and each type can behave differently, require different treatments, and have different outcomes. General science and health questions often ask about the approximate number of recognised cancer types to emphasise the diversity and complexity of the disease. This question asks for a rough minimum figure used to describe how many different types of cancer exist worldwide.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options provide several numbers, all below or around one hundred.
- The wording of the question mentions “more than about how many different types,” which indicates an approximate lower bound, not an exact fixed number.
- Medical sources frequently state that there are over one hundred different types of cancer.
- We assume a general knowledge level, not a specialised classification table.


Concept / Approach:
Because cancer can develop in many different organs and tissues, and because doctors classify cancers based on the cell type, location, and behaviour, the total number of recognised cancer types is large. Common references often state that there are more than one hundred different types of cancer. These include cancers of the breast, lung, colon, skin, blood, brain, and many more subtypes within each category. New subtypes continue to be identified as research advances. The smaller numbers listed in the options, such as 56, 76, or 96, underestimate the diversity that is typically quoted in educational materials. Therefore, the best answer among the given options is that there are more than about 100 different types of cancer.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall general health information that cancer is described as a group of over one hundred diseases rather than just a few types. Step 2: Understand that cancers are named not only by the organ they affect but also by the specific cell type and subtype, which increases the count. Step 3: Compare the options and recognise that 56, 76, and 96 are all below one hundred and are therefore too low to match the “over one hundred” description. Step 4: Identify the option that states more than about 100 different types of cancer, which aligns with common educational statements. Step 5: Select “more than about 100 different types of cancer” as the correct approximate figure.


Verification / Alternative check:
Cancer information resources produced for the public often include statements such as “There are more than 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.” Lists of cancers provided by major cancer organisations include many categories like carcinoma, sarcoma, leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple subtypes under each. This reinforces the idea that the exact number can vary depending on classification, but it clearly exceeds one hundred distinct types or subtypes. No widely used source suggests that there are as few as 56 or 76 types.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- More than about 56 types of cancer underestimates the known variety and does not match the commonly quoted “over one hundred” figure.
- More than about 76 types of cancer is still significantly lower than the “over one hundred” description used in health education materials.
- More than about 96 types of cancer is close but still does not convey the widely cited threshold that there are more than one hundred different types.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners may treat the question as asking for an exact number and try to memorise a specific figure, but the reality is that the number of recognised cancer types can change over time as classifications evolve. The important takeaway is that cancer is highly diverse, with well over one hundred different types. Remembering the phrase “over 100 types of cancer” helps in answering such questions correctly without getting lost in minor numerical differences below that level.


Final Answer:
Doctors and researchers recognise More than about 100 different types of cancer worldwide.

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