Cecum cancer is an oncological disease that occurs in 11% of people. Tumors of a benign nature often appear in this part of the intestine, and sometimes they are transformed into malignant.
Causes
At present, doctors have not yet studied the cancer of the cecum to the end, so only approximate reasons are known.
These include:
- Neoplasms of a benign and malignant nature.
- Digestive system diseases (polyps, ulcerative colitis and others).
- Nutrition with the use of animal fats and refined carbohydrates in large quantities.
- Lack of exercise.
- Heredity.
- Age over 48 years.
- Smoking tobacco products.
- The presence of papillomas 16 type.
- Frequent use of alcohol.
- Constant emotional stress.
- Long-term use of drugs.
- Work in production using harmful elements.
- Metabolic processes that occur in the body in the presence of excess weight and diabetes.
An unbalanced diet that does not contain a sufficient amount of vegetables and cereals greatly overloads the gastrointestinal tract. If the human body does not receive the required amount of fiber, then the fermentation process begins. Because of this, the process of producing carcinogenic elements that cause great harm to health is launched.
Bad habits disrupt normal blood circulation and disrupt the functioning of the vascular system.
A sedentary lifestyle leads to stagnation and constant accumulation of feces. This disrupts the intestines and reduces the absorption of beneficial elements by the intestinal walls.
Hereditary factor increases the risk of disease by about 34%.
Symptoms
Signs of cecum cancer:
- Blood and mucus in the feces.
- Discomfort and pain in the stomach, which can be given to the right side.
- Constant weakness.
- Fast fatiguability.
- Decrease in appetite.
- Stagnation of feces.
- The smell of feces becomes strong and unpleasant.
- The mode of visiting the toilet goes astray.
- The occurrence of bleeding.
- Severe weight loss.
- An increase in body temperature.
- Nausea.
- Bloating.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
The disease of cecum cancer, the symptoms of which are described above, is difficult not to notice. If even one symptom appears, consult a doctor.
In the photo you can see the cecum.
Stages of the disease
Doctors distinguish 5 stages of cecum cancer.
- Zero stage. The tumor is small in size. Only the upper layers of the walls of the colon are affected. Lymph nodes are not affected, metastases are absent.
- First stage. The tumor penetrated the second and third layer of the walls of the colon. Lymph nodes are not affected, distant metastases are not diagnosed.
- Second stage. A tumor formation damages the entire wall of the large intestine and penetrates the other side. Lymph nodes are not affected, metastases are absent.
- Third stage. A malignant lesion damages adjacent organs and tissues. Damage to the lymph nodes is recorded, and metastases are not determined.
- Cancer of the cecum 4 stages. Tissues and organs are affected by education. Lymph nodes are damaged, metastases are present.
Disease classification
Histological classification subdivides cancer of the cecum into the following types:
- Adenocarcinomas.
- Cricoid.
- Undifferentiated.
- Not classified.
- Squamous cell.
- Squamous glandular.
An oncologist treats cancer of the cecum.
Diagnosis of the disease
Doctors diagnose cecal cancer in many ways.
First of all, they produce palpation, auscultation and percussion. These methods allow you to determine the location of the tumor, its condition, the presence of fluid in the cavity (abdominal) and the presence of noise that appear when the obstruction of the intestinal tract is difficult.
Secondarily, sigmoidoscopy, irrigoscopy and colonoscopy are used. So, doctors conduct a visual examination, specify the size of the neoplasm and the place of its localization.
In the third place, ultrasound and CT are prescribed. They allow you to evaluate the spread of the tumor.
Only after carrying out all the procedures, doctors will be able to see a complete picture of the disease. Based on the results, they will make an accurate diagnosis.
Disease treatment
After the doctors confirm the diagnosis of cecum cancer, treatment begins immediately.
There are three main methods of therapy.
- Operational Method (Surgical). It is the main type of treatment that is used at any stage of the disease. During the operation, the formation of a malignant type with the application of an anastomosis is removed. The breadth of the surgical method depends on how the disease spread.
- The method of radiation therapy. It is used before surgery to reduce tumor tissue. Also, after surgery, it helps prevent re-development. This method has side effects, they occur in the form of liquefaction of the stool, nausea, vomiting and the appearance in the stool of blood and mucus.
- Chemotherapy method. This method is used as monotherapy, as well as in combination with the use of several drugs. These include drugs: "Fluorouracil" and calcium folinate, or "Fluorouracil" and "Mitomycin."
Sometimes doctors impose a bypass anastomosis. It is used when it is not possible to remove the tumor in the area of unaffected tissue. Anastomosis is used mainly in the last stages of the disease. The volume of surgical intervention increases when the formation of a malignant form extends to nearby tissues and organs. It is also used for damage to the lymph nodes.
Forecast
If treatment was carried out at a zero stage and was successful, then the survival rate predicted by doctors is 95%. Due to mild symptoms, the disease can not be diagnosed immediately.
When treatment is carried out in the first stage, the prognosis is 91%. This is due to the fact that cancer cells infect the second and third layers of the intestine.
If the treatment was carried out in the second stage, then the survival rate varies from 70 to 82%. It depends on how deep the tumor has grown in neighboring tissues.
Treatment at the third stage guarantees the patient's survival in only 42–63%. These indicators depend on how badly the organs near the tumor are damaged and whether the lymph nodes are affected.
Therapy at the last (fourth) stage guarantees survival of only 6–10% for 6–7 years after therapy.
The figures are from the study.
Prevention
In order to prevent the disease, you need to follow a few simple rules:
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Eat balanced.
- Get rid of bad habits.
- Move more and exercise.
- Keep track of your health.
If you have a hereditary factor, then visit your doctor regularly and take tests. So, with the appearance of a disease such as cancer of the cecum, the first or zero stages give a significant chance for a full-fledged further life, subject to timely treatment.
If you find signs of cecum cancer, then consult a doctor immediately. So, when confirming the diagnosis, you can start treatment, and you will have a better chance of recovery.