Cancer Knowledge Center
Cancer Academy
Foundational explainers for the first weeks after a diagnosis: how cancer is described, staged and treated.
About this topic
If you or someone close to you has just been diagnosed, the vocabulary alone can be overwhelming. The Cancer Academy is the foundational track: it explains what cancer is, how it is described and staged, and how treatment decisions are made.
Start here before moving on to the more specific hubs on cancer types, biomarkers and treatments. Every article is written in plain language and reviewed by our medical editorial team.
Featured articles
What Is Cancer?
A plain-language guide to what cancer is, how it develops, and the different types of tumours.
5 min readStart hereUnderstanding Your Diagnosis
Practical guidance on what to gather, which questions to ask, and how to plan next steps after a cancer diagnosis.
4 min readStart hereHow Cancer Treatment Works
An overview of the main types of cancer treatment, treatment intent, and how treatments are sequenced.
5 min readLatest articles
All articles in this topic
What Is Cancer?
Understanding Your Diagnosis
How Cancer Treatment Works
Reading Your Pathology Report
Cancer Staging Explained
What Is Metastatic Cancer?
What Are Cancer Biomarkers and Why Do They Matter?
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start if I know nothing about cancer?
Begin with "What is cancer?", then "Understanding your diagnosis" and "Cancer staging explained". Together they cover most of the vocabulary used in consultations.
What does stage mean compared with grade?
Stage describes how far the cancer has spread; grade describes how abnormal the cells look under the microscope. Both influence treatment.
Is metastatic cancer always incurable?
Not always. Some metastatic cancers are curable and many others are treatable for years as a chronic condition.
Related topics
Cancer Types
Overviews of common cancer types, how they are staged and what usually shapes treatment decisions.
Biomarkers
What molecular markers mean, how they are tested and how they influence targeted treatment options.
Patient Guides
Practical steps for the first weeks after a diagnosis, second opinions and organizing records.
Educational information only. GetOnco is software, not a medical provider, and does not diagnose disease or recommend treatments. Always discuss your situation with qualified healthcare professionals.