Causes, symptoms and treatment of adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm that is formed from glandular cells. This tumor affects most organs, therefore it is quite "popular" - almost all clinical specialists encounter it in their practice.
Typical localization, reasons
Occurrence, progression, diagnosis and treatment of adenocarcinoma are among the most pressing issues in oncology.
In most cases, an adenocarcinomatous tumor is detected in certain organs:
- prostatic gland (prostate);
- lungs. Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most typical tumors of this organ;
- pancreas – in 80% of cases, adenocarcinoma is detected as a malignant tumor;
- large intestine (especially its terminal sections - in particular, the rectum) - in more than 95% of cases of its malignant impression, an adenocarcinomatous tumor is detected;
- esophagus;
- liver.
How dangerous is adenocarcinoma? The prognosis depends on the stage, the size of the impression, the presence of metastases.
The exact reasons that trigger the uncontrolled division of glandular cells and lead to the development of adenocarcinoma are unknown. A number of factors have been identified that do not directly cause the development of this disease, but contribute to its appearance and further progression. Basically it is:
- smoking – lung adenocarcinoma develops more often against its background. But smoking can contribute to the development of this tumor in any organ;
- alcohol abuse – is considered a provocateur for the formation of the described pathology in the stomach and intestines;
- viral hepatitis - contribute to the development of adenocarcinomas of the liver;
- inhaling or entering the body through the gastrointestinal tract of oncogenic chemicals;
- burdened heredity;
- ionizing radiation. Adenocarcinoma metastases are also formed faster against its background.
The last three factors contribute to the faster development of adenocarcinoma of any localization.
Symptoms
Symptoms of adenocarcinoma are local and general. Local symptoms are very different and depend on which organ was affected. With different localizations of adenocarcinoma, different symptoms will appear:
- liver - nausea, vomiting, digestive disorders are characteristic;
- lungs – cough, shortness of breath, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes appear;
- prostate - disturbed urination
and so on.
Sometimes non-specific general symptoms can appear earlier than local symptoms (this affects the timeliness of diagnosis and, accordingly, the operation to remove adenocarcinoma). Among the general symptoms, the most characteristic are:
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- general weakness;
- flabby;
- deterioration of working capacity;
- loss of interest in people and events.
Diagnostics
The choice of instrumental examination methods for adenocarcinoma depends on its localization. The diagnosis of this disease is actively used:
- Ultrasound of internal organs - when the liver and pancreas are affected;
- X-ray of the chest - with a pathological process in the lungs;
- colonoscopy - when the large intestine is affected
and so on.
A tissue biopsy of the affected organs is also performed, followed by a macroscopic and microscopic evaluation.
Of the laboratory methods, the following are informative:
- general blood test - it reveals signs of anemia (decrease in the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin), a sharp increase in ESR;
- histological examination - the tissue structure of the biopsy is studied under a microscope;
- cytological study - the cellular structure is studied under a microscope.
Treatment of adenocarcinoma
The leading method of adenocarcinoma treatment is surgical. In the initial stages of the disease, the neoplasm can be removed completely, with the progression of the tumor with its germination in the surrounding tissues, the radicality depends on the degree of germination.
Radiation and chemotherapy are also involved - after surgery to remove adenocarcinoma, or even before surgical treatment.
Forecast
The prognosis for life and health depends on the stage of the disease, the presence of complications and concomitant diseases. With timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, the five-year survival rate is as follows:
- at the initial stage - 90%;
- in the second stage - 75%;
- in the third stage - 50%;
- in the fourth stage - 15%.
Prevention
There is no specific prevention, since the true causes of the development of the pathology are unknown. You can reduce the risk of developing adenocarcinoma by following the following recommendations:
- regular preventive examinations (even in the absence of any complaints);
- exclusion from life of factors capable of provoking the development of a malignant process - ionizing radiation, effects of oncogenic chemicals on the human body, and so on;
- healthy lifestyle.
On the website Dobrobut.com, you can make an appointment for a consultation with the specialists of our clinic, they will tell you more about this disease - treatment methods, rehabilitation after adenocarcinoma, and so on.
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