How to Find Information About a Specific Cancer Type on cancer.ca

Updated

To find information about a specific cancer type on cancer.ca, use the "Search a cancer type" tool on the homepage or open the "Cancer types" section and browse the full list. Each cancer type page covers risks, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, outlook and treatment — the core information a newly diagnosed patient or family member needs to get oriented. If you also need human support, the site's services section connects you with information specialists and an online community.

Step-by-step: locating a cancer type

  1. Start at the homepage. The "Cancer types" section appears in the main navigation area of the homepage.
  2. Search or browse. Type the cancer name into the "Search a cancer type" field. If you prefer not to search, select "View all cancer types" to see the complete list and pick from there.
  3. Open the cancer type page. The page is organized around the topics listed in the site's own description: risks, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, outlook and treatments.
  4. Verify you have the right page. Check that the cancer name in the heading matches the specific type you're looking for — related subtypes may have separate pages.

Expected result: you land on a single page that walks through the disease from risk factors to treatment options, written for a general audience rather than clinicians.

What each cancer type page covers

Section What you'll learn Best for
Risks Factors associated with developing this cancer Understanding prevention and causes
Signs and symptoms What to watch for People noticing symptoms or preparing for a doctor's visit
Diagnosis How the cancer is identified and tested Patients awaiting or interpreting test results
Outlook Prognosis information Context after a diagnosis
Treatments Treatment approaches Preparing questions for a care team

This structure suits first-time readers: you can read top to bottom for an overview, or jump to the section matching your current stage in the cancer experience.

When to go beyond the cancer type page

The cancer type pages are informational. If you want to talk to someone, the site's "How we can help" area describes nationwide support for people with cancer, their loved ones and caregivers — including connecting with information specialists and an online community. The "Our stories" section collects first-person accounts, such as one on how financial and travel support helped when breast cancer treatment was far away, which can be useful when practical concerns (cost, travel, settling into a new country) matter as much as medical details.

Common sticking points

  • Search returns nothing: the search field shows a "no results" message when a term doesn't match. Try the general cancer name (for example, the organ or system) rather than a very specific subtype, or browse "View all cancer types."
  • You're unsure which type applies: start from the full cancer type list and compare names against the wording on your medical documents.
  • You need support, not just information: use the services section rather than staying on the informational pages.

The site is the public face of Canada's largest national cancer charity, which funds research and provides support services alongside its information pages — so the cancer type content and the help services are designed to be used together.