Oncologists achieve good results in the treatment of carcinomas, but it is worth taking care of your body by identifying the disease in a timely manner or preventing its occurrence.
The concept of "carcinoma"
Carcinoma is a malignant tumor that affects the internal organs and epithelial cells of a person’s skin. In any tissue structure where they are contained, this tumor can develop. The place of its appearance is mainly determined by the nature of the cells of which it consists.
Various types of carcinomas can develop in human organs. For example, it can be a squamous cell tumor or adenocarcinoma, which usually occurs in the cervix. Most often they can be found in the mammary gland in women, the prostate and lungs in men, as well as the colon and skin, regardless of gender.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that has slow and limited growth. It appears on the skin as a separate nodule, having a smooth surface of red or pink. The disease is characterized by the presence of a translucent pearl belt.
A tumor of this species may have a different amount of melanin pigment in its composition, which affects its shade. The central part of the nodule is crusted and ulcerated as it grows. Basal cell carcinoma may take the form of satellite nodes or ulceration, the center of which is covered with a crust.
A sign of this disease is also concomitant telangiectasia. In this case, the underlying tissue in the presence of a tumor is invaded and ulcerated. Invasive carcinoma has the following types:
- knotty;
- superficial;
- sclerosing;
- pigmented.
With this disease, metastasis occurs extremely rarely.
Squamous cell tumor
Squamous cell carcinoma is a tumor that consists of cells of the stratified squamous epithelium. Actually keratinization is present. Its cells are interconnected by desmosomes. Squamous cell carcinoma in the central part may contain concentric aggregates.
A tumor of this species is characterized by rapid growth and metastasis. It is the second most frequent occurrence and mainly develops in middle-aged and elderly people. Most often, squamous cell carcinoma occurs due to frequent exposure to the sun. It can also develop under the influence of other carcinogenic environmental factors.
This type of cancer in men is three times more common than in women. Mostly affected areas of the skin, which more than others were exposed to sunlight. Squamous cell tumor at the initial stage of development spreads locally, but subsequently can go to distant sites. It can be treated with radiation therapy or surgical excision of the affected area.
Causes of Carcinoma
To date, the causes of this disease are not known. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the factors that trigger carcinogenic mechanisms, which may be as follows:
- in the human body there is a hormonal imbalance;
- hereditary predisposition;
- a specific virus infection has occurred;
- industrial carcinogens.
The histological difference between normal and carcinoma-affected epithelial cells is the presence of a large nucleus. The structure of the tumor can be different and depends on the structural features of the epithelial tissue, from which it originated.
Squamous cell carcinoma develops if a malignant process affects tissues in contact with the external environment. If the cancer process has captured the epithelium of glandular tissues (carcinoma of the thyroid gland, prostate, bronchi), the disease will relate to adenocarcinomas.
Diagnosis of carcinoma
Symptoms of the disease depend on the histological structure of the tumor, its location and degree of metastasis. At an early stage, it practically does not manifest itself, like other malignant diseases. Diagnosis mainly depends on the location of the carcinomas. In oncology clinics, the following methods can be used:
- positron emission tomography (PET);
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- computed tomography (CT) ;
- radioisotope scanning;
- radiography;
- targeted biopsy with cytological and histological analysis;
- determination of tumor markers;
- endoscopic examination.
Carcinoma treatment
The method of treatment of the disease is determined individually depending on its stage and location. Surgical intervention is permissible if the tumor is small and metastasis has not occurred.
If a carcinoma consists of a large number of poorly differentiated cells that have an increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation, radiation therapy is used. It can also be used to eliminate metastases.
Chemotherapy is characteristic for the treatment of patients who have an advanced stage of the cancer process. Moreover, the operation is impossible.
Combined carcinoma treatment helps operative Israeli oncologists to achieve good results: surgical, radiation and chemotherapeutic.
Papillary cancer
Papillary carcinoma is a malignant tumor that affects the thyroid gland. It is found in 80% of cases of organ cancer. In most cases, papillary carcinoma responds well to treatment.
A fine-needle aspiration biopsy helps to make the most accurate diagnosis in this case . The size of the tumor can be up to several centimeters. Emerging formations are not encapsulated. Histological studies have shown that papillary carcinoma has the appearance of branching stems, which are covered with a cubic or cylindrical epithelium and have a connective tissue base.
In the center of this type of cancer, calcium deposits or cicatricial changes can be found. Often found bodies from basophilic and calcified masses. Cells are hormonally inactive and cannot capture radioactive iodine.
Thyroid carcinoma slowly develops through the lymphatic vessels. Metastasis occurs in the lymph nodes. The distant appearance of metastases is rare, which is possible in the presence of mixed papillary-follicular cancer and is produced precisely from the follicular elements of the tumor.
In a predominant number of cases, complete removal of the thyroid gland and lymph nodes is performed if they are affected by metastases. After the operation, radioactive iodine therapy is performed to eliminate the smallest foci of the tumor. After removal of the thyroid gland, the patient should take special hormonal drugs, without which his body would not function normally. To prevent recurrence of carcinoma , an ultrasound examination is required annually.
Cervical cancer
This disease can be diagnosed as cervical carcinoma and is one of the most common tumors that are relevant to the female genital area. Most often exposed to him at the age of 35 to 50 years. Regardless of age, this category includes girls who quite often change their sexual partners.
Uterine carcinoma can occur in the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as prolonged use of birth control hormonal drugs. The onset of sexual intercourse, which causes changes in unformed cells, has an adverse effect. In some women, changes in the structure of cells can cause protein components of semen. A malignant tumor will develop in the presence of such a bad habit as smoking.