The topic of the article is duodenal cancer and the first symptoms of the disease. Below this topic will be discussed in detail. We learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, as well as the forecasts that experts give. All you need to know about this cancer, read the article.
What is it about?
Duodenal cancer is a disease that occurs in men and women with the same frequency. It affects most often people after 55 years. Young people are also prone to pathologies of the 12-colon intestine, but these cases are rare.
Causes
To begin with, it is worth noting that the nature and causes of oncology for doctors are still a mystery. This means that doctors build certain assumptions, however, it is impossible to say that it is a particular factor that causes oncology. The primary, that is, the main causes are unknown even to science, but you can dwell on the secondary causes of cancer, that is, talk about risk factors. They can contribute to duodenal cancer.
Risk factors
It is believed that cancer can occur for a number of reasons. The following causes can contribute to cancer of the duodenum:
- tobacco and alcohol abuse, drug addiction;
- pancreatitis, diabetes or stones in the genitourinary system;
- eating foods of animal origin too often;
- genetics.
Other risk factors include the ecological situation of the environment, chemical exposure and the influence of carcinogens. The use of animal fats can also contribute to the appearance of a tumor, because as a result of this, cholecystokinin levels increase, and this, in turn, can lead to hyperplasia of the upper digestive tract.
Researchers recently discovered that some coffee components can also contribute to cancer. Therefore, excessive consumption of this drink should be added to possible reasons.
Pathogenesis
The development of oncology is distinguished by cancer of the papilla of the duodenum, as well as cancer of the bile duct. The tumor does not completely affect the intestine, but only a few sites. Most often these are the upper and lower horizontal parts, and the descending section. The clinical course of the disease largely depends on the location of the cancer.
Location
Cancer of the descending section of the 12-colon colon is very common, in about 75% of cases. It develops from the epithelium of the common mucous membrane. Establishing the exact location is always difficult, especially if the examination is carried out in the later stages. Duodenal cancer, the first symptoms of which may not immediately catch the eye, is dangerous because the treatment is difficult in itself, but in the last stages a person has little chance.
The upper horizontal part of the intestine is the site of cancer localization in only 12-15% of cases. Tumors in the lower horizontal part are also called infra-papillary cancer. Its frequency is up to 10%.
Symptoms
How does duodenal cancer manifest itself? The first symptoms are very similar to those that people experience with oncology of the stomach. In order to detect cancer on time, oncologists derived three groups of possible signs.
The first group falls under the phenomenon of intoxication. It is characterized by abdominal pain, loss of appetite, apathy and weight loss. Also, complete indifference to the outside world is noted.
The second group concerns the phenomenon of obstruction. It all starts when the tumor begins to put pressure on other organs. At this time, biliary hypertension begins, the liver increases in size, the feces become colorless. Jaundice may be observed. Doctors note abnormalities in the work of the cardiovascular system, kidney and liver failure may appear, as well as metabolic processes are disturbed.
The phenomenon of compression occurs in the last stages of the disease, when a person feels severe pain from the fact that the tumor presses on the nerve endings of the pancreas.
A difficult organ from the point of view of doctors is the duodenum. Where it is located and how it hurts, not all people know. The intestine is located directly under the stomach on the right side, above the navel. Cancer pain can be different, a lot depends on the stage of the disease and the location of the disease of the duodenum. You can find out where it is and how it hurts from the doctor if you suspect cancer.
Determining the disease yourself is not easy. Symptoms of duodenal cancer at an early stage cannot be detected, since the disease is asymptomatic. But after a while, a person begins to think about his health because regular stomach pains begin to torment him. How does duodenal cancer manifest itself over time? The main symptoms include severe abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, jaundice, fever, pruritus, and loss of appetite.
Advanced stage cancer
Cancer of the duodenal ulcer has a stage of 4. In the first three, treatment can still help the patient, but in the last stage it can not always be helped, because not everything depends on the treatment. However, there have been such cases.
It is worth talking about the symptoms of cancer in the later stages because at this moment it can provoke complications in the work of other organs. Most often, the disease manifests itself with general signs of intoxication. The following manifestations are also possible:
- temperature;
- dry mucous membranes;
- unwillingness to eat;
- vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea;
- yellowing of the skin;
- general weakness of the body;
- psychological problems.
Even if a person ignores all the symptoms and does not want to see a doctor, it is imperative to pay attention to such signs of the disease:
- vomiting after eating, after which it still seems that the stomach is full;
- blood in the stool;
- jaundice.
It is worth noting that the signs of duodenal cancer in men are the same as in women.
Diagnostics
To cure the disease, it is very important to start treatment on time, and for this it is necessary to detect cancer. Today, diagnostics are carried out by laboratory and instrumental methods. Analysis of tumor markers for cancer of the stomach and duodenum will help identify cancer cells on time. It is worth noting that tumor markers are substances that contribute to the development of cancer cells. Diagnostics consists of three stages:
- To begin with, an analysis of pathologies and a history taking is carried out. The doctor examines the patient, palpates the abdomen. The clinical complaints of a person, such as vomiting, pain, loss of appetite, are taken into account.
- At the second stage, a laboratory study of the patient is carried out, consisting of a general blood test, urinalysis and feces, a biochemical blood test and tumor marker.
- The third stage is an instrumental examination.
The last step is the most important in the diagnosis of duodenal cancer. The first symptoms may be erroneous or indicate another disease, but instrumental examination allows you to make an accurate diagnosis. The doctor performs an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, in which the esophagus, stomach, bile duct and 12-fingered intestine are examined. During the analysis, tissues are taken for biochemical analysis.
After that, the doctor directs the patient to chest x-ray and contrast radiography of the duodenum and stomach. Also, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound scan, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Along with this, the patient is examined by all specialists.
Treatment
Duodenal cancer is more and more common every year. How many live with such a disease is impossible to answer, because it all depends not only on what stage the treatment began, but also on the general state of the body’s health, its ability to withstand the disease.
Usually, treatment is carried out according to the classical scheme. First, the tumor is removed surgically. Partial removal of the duodenum may be required. Surgical intervention is recommended for people under 75 years old, but only on condition that there were no metastases.
After surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy is performed, which is necessary to consolidate the result. It is mandatory, as it guarantees the destruction of pathological cells and their growth.
Radiation therapy is most often carried out in the early stages of the disease, when it is possible to cure the patient without surgery.
At the end or at the beginning of treatment, therapy may be required that aims to relieve the patient's symptoms. At first it is needed to help a person undergo treatment, and in the end it is the final measure.
Surgery
Surgical treatment can have 3 options. Removal of part of the intestine is necessary in all three cases. The first situation, the most severe, occurs when the tumor spreads to the excretory duct and the duodenal nipple. In this case, the doctor removes not only part of the 12-palate intestine, but also part of the duct and head of the pancreas. If the tumor is small, a circular resection is performed, which means the removal of only the affected area of the organ with possible recovery. The third option is also called circular resection, but they resort to it when the intestine connects end to end, which is also possible.
Forecast
The doctor can predict the future of the patient if he knows when treatment began. The following factors are very important: the person’s age, the presence of metastases and inflammatory processes in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The situation worsens if metastases are found in the stomach, lymphatic system and bile ducts. Possible complications can lead to a malfunction of the genitourinary system. Sometimes there is stenosis of the 12-colon colon, regular bleeding. It is worth saying that the general prognosis for patients is unfavorable, but not hopeless. The problem is that detecting cancer in the early stages, when treatment helps almost guaranteed, is very difficult.
To protect yourself from this terrible disease and the occurrence of cancer of any other organs, you should abandon bad habits and review your diet. No matter how simple the tips may seem, they do work. Proper nutrition and smoking cessation and alcohol can protect a person from a number of diseases, and not only cancer.
We learned about what duodenal cancer, as well as everything about its course and treatment. Unfortunately, no one can be guaranteed to protect themselves from oncology. We have already talked about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but attentive attitude towards yourself and your body signals is no less important. Sometimes it’s better to go to the doctor once again and get checked.