Oncology is now one of the most common diseases. Cancer can occur in absolutely any organ of a person. The danger of cancer is that it is almost impossible to detect them at an early stage. If this happens, then in very rare cases. Symptoms appear already in the later stages, when treatment and recovery are difficult, and sometimes useless.
Intestinal adenocarcinoma is one of the most common types of malignant neoplasms that occurs in the colon and small intestine. And such a defect is formed from glandular cells, the mucous membrane. As this tumor develops, the muscle and serous layers are affected. Moreover, such a neoplasm is able to germinate even through the intestinal membrane.
How does colon cancer develop?
Most glandular cancer affects people at the age of 50. As for the severity of the disease and further prognosis, they directly depend on how much the intestinal wall was affected.
Intestinal adenocarcinoma affects, as a rule, not only the thick, but also the small intestine. But the vast majority of this type of cancer is still manifested in the colon. Moreover, in women, the disease is in 4th place in the frequency of development of all possible types of cancer.
Kinds
Adenocarcinoma varies in its degree of change in the following subspecies:
- moderately differentiated;
It is worth emphasizing that low-grade intestinal adenocarcinoma is the most difficult. Such a tumor can choose a place of dislocation in any part of the intestine, but most often it is detected in the rectum.
As for the small intestine, in this case the tumor is detected much less frequently. If, on the whole, all cases of the appearance of such a pathology are divided, then the duodenum is affected in half of the cases. If we compare men and women, then the stronger sex is more prone to this ailment. The vast majority of such a defect is detected between the ages of 50 and 60 years.
Stages
As for the staged development of this disease, the entire period is divided into such intervals:
- the first stage affects only the mucous membrane;
- in the second stage, all layers of the organ are affected;
- in the third stage, lymph nodes are already involved in such a defective process;
- and at the fourth stage, foci of metastases begin to appear, such a stage is the most dangerous for humans.
In case of bowel adenocarcinoma, the stages are determined by the TNM system, which reveals the size of the tumor, how much the lymph nodes and the presence of foci of metastases were affected.
How is this disease manifested?
Unfortunately, intestinal adenocarcinoma is a very dangerous disease, which, developing, practically does not betray itself. As a rule, such a defect is formed against the background of chronic inflammation of the colon, and therefore a person takes its manifestation as an exacerbation of his illness. In the vast majority, adenocarcinoma makes itself felt when metastases have already appeared.
As for the early signs, the following can be attributed to them:
- problems with regular stools;
- blood impurities in the feces;
- mucous discharge with blood fragments at the beginning of bowel movement;
- if the disease progresses, then the person has sharp or dull pain in the intestine;
- over time, pain becomes more pronounced;
- at the last stage, intestinal bleeding may open, anemia develops and general intoxication of the whole organism occurs.
This is the manifestation of colon adenocarcinoma. The prognosis is often disappointing.
The more this disease attacks, the more a person begins to get tired, such weakness appears due to cancer intoxication. A violation of the normal digestion of food leads to the fact that a person begins to lose weight dramatically.
The more this disease progresses, the more side effects appear in a person; at the last stage, body temperature can rise to 38 degrees. The form of feces also varies greatly, and constipation alternates with diarrhea and has a strong fetid odor.
Often the patient begins to feel that he has not completely emptied his intestines. As a result, convulsive muscle contraction occurs and false urge to excrete bowel movements appears. In addition, a person can go to the toilet up to 20 times a day with the mandatory release of mucus and blood. This is dangerous intestinal adenocarcinoma.
When metastases appear in the gallbladder and in the liver, then visually a person begins to observe the manifestation of jaundice. And in the case when the tumor grows strongly, it is able to block the intestinal lumen, as a result there is a violation of defecation, and the pain only intensifies in the stomach, and symptoms are added in the form of nausea and vomiting.
As you know, one of the main functions of the colon is the accumulation and retention of feces, which affect the tumor, as a result of which it ulcerates. If this condition begins to develop, then impurities of purulent secretions and blood will also be added to the feces.
What factors provoke the onset of this disease?
Colon adenocarcinoma can appear due to various factors. Experts have identified and identified the following reasons that can trigger the development of this defect, namely:
- the presence of polyps in the intestine;
It is worth noting that cancer can degenerate from benign tumors. And the defeat of this duodenal defect is primarily due to the fact that it is affected by bile and pancreatic juice.
In addition, intestinal adenocarcinoma (treatment will be discussed below) can be triggered by the following factors:
- regularly getting stress;
- hereditary predisposition.
It should also be emphasized that in some cases, the manifestation of two malignant tumors at once is possible - this is cancer of the colon and small intestine.
Colon adenocarcinoma most often appears in those people who do not follow a diet or suffer from fistulas in the anus. It is also worth noting that it often provokes the development of this disease and the use of chemicals in work and at home.
Symptoms by which a defect can be detected
Adenocarcinoma can declare itself by the following symptoms. If the cancer has appeared in the small intestine, then the symptoms will be as follows:
- steadily manifested pain in the upper abdomen;
- alternating constipation with liquid feces;
As intestinal adenocarcinoma (stages 3 and 4) grows, a person may show signs of intoxication. And a symptom such as loss of appetite or a complete rejection of food will become the norm. If the case is complex enough, bleeding may occur. When the fourth stage of this defect occurs, a cancerous tumor affects all neighboring organs of a person.
With adenocarcinoma, ulcers on the wall of the small intestine can develop, such neoplasms can provoke the opening of bleeding.
As for colon adenocarcinoma, there are several distinguishing features, namely:
- pain is deployed in the lower abdomen;
- appetite is completely absent;
- in feces there is a large amount of mucus and blood fragments;
- sometimes in the feces you can find purulent discharge.
If the right intestinal walls were affected, then bleeding occurs hidden. And if the tumor is deployed in the left, then dark red blood will be present in the feces. And as for one of the most common signs of such a disease, this is a false urge to empty the intestines.
If a person has at least one of the above signs, this is a signal to immediately seek help. Do not risk your own life and ignore such signs.
Important: if a person develops a highly differentiated intestinal adenocarcinoma, then the most common complaint is bleeding from the anus.
Diagnosis of colon adenocarcinoma
A diagnosis such as colon cancer is established on the basis of the following manipulations:
- examination of the rectum by palpation;
- instrumental examination.
As a rule, more than 70% of all colon cancers are located in the lower intestine, therefore, they can be detected using the method of palpation or sigmoidoscopy. If the location is high, the specialist uses colonoscopy. And in order to perform the sampling of material for histological examination, the doctor resorts to colonoscopy, which helps to take a sample.
To evaluate the size and shape of the tumor, an X-ray contrast study of the colon is used. And to identify metastases using ultrasound. This method is also indicated if endoscopy cannot be performed.
In addition to the above methods, the patient must pass the following tests:
- analysis of feces for occult blood ;
- general tests for blood and urine.
When the attending physician will have on hand all the results of the examinations, only in this case he will be able to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma: Diagnosis
The most important role in the diagnosis of such a neoplasm is played by the following types of examinations, namely:
- examination of the passage of the contrast element;
As for such techniques as enteroscopy and colonoscopy, in this case, using the first technique, only the initial section of the intestine can be examined in detail, and using the second method, the thermal section.
Also, if this defect is suspected, blood and urine tests are prescribed. In some cases, the specialist may prescribe an additional examination, depending on the degree of damage to the small intestine.
How is treatment tactics selected and what are the prognoses for the patient?
You can get rid of this type of neoplasm only by resorting to surgical intervention. But before conducting such a procedure, the patient must undergo a full examination.
If cancer was detected in the small intestine, then a wide resection is performed. For duodenal cancer, its complete removal is recommended. And if there is an additional need, they can also perform a resection of the stomach.
Often such surgery is combined with chemotherapy. And with inoperable cancer, chemotherapy is the only chance a person has. During surgical intervention at the 1st and 2nd stages, a five-year survival threshold overcomes 40% of patients.
If a colon cancer is diagnosed , surgery is also prescribed. Moreover, if the tumor is low, then a colostomy is formed. This makes it possible to extend a person’s life.
If the time of the rectum was diagnosed, then irradiation is necessary before and after surgery. This technique allows you to achieve maximum results.
As for the colon adenocarcinoma in the first stage, the five-year survival threshold overcomes 90% of all patients. In the second stage, such results are reduced to 80%. And when the third and fourth stages are detected, only five half of all patients overcome the five-year threshold.
Unfortunately, due to the long and inconspicuous development of this ailment, people often die, because such a defect is diagnosed at a stage when medicine can help little.
Preventative measures
How can intestinal cancer be prevented? Adenocarcinoma occurs for the following reasons:
- inflammatory processes that develop in the intestine;
- insufficient amount of plant fiber;
- problems with regular stools;
If you carefully monitor your own health and timely identify, as well as get rid of all of the above problems, then a person can prevent the development of this ailment. It is very important to monitor your own diet and minimize the consumption of fatty and spicy foods.
As for the elderly, as mentioned above, they are most susceptible to this ailment, so you should not avoid regular examination by a coloproctologist. Do not ignore this specialist, because it is he who can save your life. Then, in the early stages, intestinal adenocarcinoma can be detected. The prognosis after surgery will be good.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, a cure that can completely defeat cancer does not yet exist. Modern medicine has methods and drugs that are effective only in the initial stages. But when such a disease is diagnosed already at a late stage, then the chances become small. That is why time should be devoted to this problem, because timely detection of cancer gives a great chance that a person will cope with the disease and be able to continue living. More often you need to pay attention to your body and undergo an annual examination in good faith.
We examined the disease of intestinal adenocarcinoma, the prognosis is described.