The Senator who served the state of Pennsylvania for longer than anyone in history – Arlen Specter – has lost his years-long battle with cancer. He died of complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in his Philadelphia home this morning.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, that’s made up of tiny tubes that run throughout the body. One subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) – mantle cell lymphoma – needs more treatment options and research is under way to find those solutions.

Melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – is increasing in this country for a number of reasons, including tanning beds. Some cancer patients are especially at risk and need to be especially vigilant of their skin.

If you’re familiar with Debra Winger, you may know she’s died from cancer at least a couple times – in her movies Terms of Endearment and Shadowlands . While cancer can make for heart-wrenching drama, such bleak portrayals of the disease are far from the truth.

One of the genes that helps to keep cancer from ever forming is the p53 gene. It works by blocking cancer cells from killing themselves. When p53 is messed up in some way, cancer cells go to town and wreak havoc.

People living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are at greater risk of various forms of cancer. In fact, when these cancers appear, it means the virus has turned into full-blown AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Benzene is a chemical that's used in a number of industrial processes. People who are exposed to this chemical in the workplace may have increased cancer risks.

Doctors have to carefully watch their diabetes patients for other serious health problems like kidney disease and heart disease. Now, it seems doctors should keep an eye out for blood cancers as well.

If certain changes can cause a cell to become cancerous, reversing those changes should return the cell to normal. It may be simple, but it's not easy.