Cricoid (or cricoid) cancer is a malignant neoplasm in the stomach that occupies the second place among all gastrointestinal tumors. The first is adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
With the disease, any part of the digestive organ is affected, then the tumor grows, spreading over all its layers. This neoplasm is extremely malignant. Metastases in other organs quickly appear.
Description of the disease
In this disease, there is a special transformation of cancer cells, from which the name "cricoid cancer of the stomach" derives. Atypical cells that fill the glandular epithelium accumulate a substance such as mucin. This substance under normal conditions can protect cells from bacteria, but it may happen that mucin becomes too much. As a result, the cell nucleus will be compressed, and its displacement closer to the membrane will occur. When histology is performed, atypical cancer cells in the form of a ring are detected.
Cricoid gastric cancer is a cancer that is characterized by endophytic growth. Atypical cells spread inward, with the mucous, then the muscle and serous layers of the organ being captured.
The growth of the neoplasm is carried out not only in depth, but also in breadth, since the tumor has no clear boundaries. That is why it is extremely difficult to choose the optimal method of therapy.
Tumor cells quickly spread through the body through lymphatic fluid. Almost half of the patients diagnosed with cricoid cell carcinoma showed tumor growth in all layers of the stomach. This type of oncology can be treated, but only if it is detected early, before the appearance of metastases.
This type of cancer most often occurs in young women. Oncologists cannot explain this yet.
Main reasons
Cricoid cancer of the stomach occurs for the same reasons as other types of cancer. Here, the violation of the diet and junk food have a primary effect on the stomach. Risk factors include:
- special addiction to spicy, salty, smoked, pickled and highly fried foods;
- irregular, dry food, cold or too hot food;
- excessive drinking.
All this constantly irritates the gastric mucosa, the structure of cells changes, their functions are violated. Because of this, cancer cells form from normal cells.
In addition to nutrition, there are a number of causes of cricoid cancer of the stomach:
- heredity - oncologists confirmed the development of this type of cancer in cases where relatives were ill with oncology;
- detection in the gastric juice of Helicobacter pylori - in this regard, there is a constant inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which provokes a chronic disease, after which cancer is possible;
- the presence of unfavorable living conditions - if some chemical elements are present in the soil layer (as it happens in some regions of our country), then these carcinogens accumulate in plants that a person eats;
- bad habits - not only alcohol, but also smoking can provoke cancer (tobacco tar decomposes, after which a large number of carcinogenic elements are formed, and they negatively affect all organs and systems of the body).
In addition, a person may develop a precancerous condition. It can be very dangerous.
Precancerous conditions include the presence of polyps in the stomach, dysplasia, atrophic gastritis. These pathologies must be cured, otherwise there is a risk of their transformation into a cancer.
How does the disease manifest itself?
Often the disease in the first two stages does not manifest itself at all. That is why cricoid cancer of the stomach is detected in the 3rd and 4th stages. Symptoms occur when the tumor grows in width and depth.
The main symptoms of this type of cancer are:
- fast satiety after eating, heaviness in the abdomen due to a tumor;
- the appearance of nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, constipation;
- belching with air, frequent heartburn;
- constant tiredness, drowsiness;
- fever.
Digestion worsens, metabolism is disturbed. The body lacks vitamins and minerals. Hemoglobin level drops. Hair loss and dryness, pallor of the skin, weakness are observed. A person experiences constant aching pain in the stomach, which does not depend on food intake.
He has an aversion to meat and fish dishes. For this reason, there is a sharp weight loss. A tumor in the cardiac region causes dysphagia, that is, a feeling of a lump in the throat. If the small intestine suffers, peristalsis is also impaired. If the tumor is too large, then this threatens complete obstruction, which requires emergency surgical intervention.
Sometimes the cancer breaks up, then it is fraught with stomach bleeding. Also there is lethargy, depression, sleep disturbance. Most often this happens already at the 3rd stage.
And how does the cricoid cancer of the stomach of stage 4 manifest itself? The 4th stage is characterized by a complete lack of appetite, severe cachexia, ascites. The patient often lies. There are metastases in other organs, therefore, other symptoms join in with everything, because the vital systems cease to function normally.
Stages
There are several stages of cricoid cancer:
- zero - the presence of cancer cells in the surface layer of the stomach;
- first - the mucous membrane suffers;
- the second - the outer layer is affected;
- the third - the tumor spreads to all layers and neighboring organs (to the diaphragm, liver, kidneys, pancreas, peritoneum, spleen), lymph nodes are affected;
- fourth, foci are found in distant organs.
Diagnostics
For treatment to be successful, it must be timely. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first indisposition from the stomach (pain, dyspepsia, severity, heartburn). In addition, it is useful to undergo regular physical examinations and comprehensive examinations regularly.
To detect cricoid cancer of the stomach, it is necessary:
- donate blood for analysis (including tumor markers) - this is how inflammation is detected in the body, low hemoglobin, failures in the heart and liver;
- perform a gastroscopy and a simultaneous biopsy (in this case, a tube with a camera at the end is inserted into the stomach, all changes in the mucosa are clearly visible, then a small piece for histology is specially plucked off);
- conduct an ultrasound examination of the peritoneal organs - it allows you to identify inflammation and secondary foci of cancer;
- get an x-ray with a contrast agent to notice changes in the stomach;
- perform computed tomography, due to this metastases are detected and the area of the malignant process in the body is determined.
Cricoid carcinoma of the stomach: treatment
Therapy for this type of cancer consists in a surgical operation to remove the tumor itself, part of the stomach, and lymph nodes. In the late stage of the disease, the secondary focus is also removed. Then chemotherapy is prescribed. It can be prescribed before surgery, which can lead to a decrease in the area of the malignant process. This is important for a diagnosis of cricoid cancer of the stomach. Chemotherapy after surgery improves prognosis. Microscopic foci of cancer are thus destroyed very high quality.
Palliative therapy with anticancer drugs is also used to alleviate the patient's condition. So you can extend his life.
Radiation therapy is used quite rarely. The area of malignant processes is too large for irradiation. With the help of special drugs, they reduce pain, improve the digestive process, protecting the heart and kidneys.
Here's how to treat cricoid stomach cancer in hospitals.
Life forecast
This type of cancer has an aggressive course with a disappointing prognosis. And only early detection, as well as timely treatment will allow you to survive for 5 years after surgery. The odds are 85%.
If the 3rd stage of the disease was detected, then the survival rate for 5 years is only 40%. At this time, metastases appear in other organs, which cannot be overcome with modern treatment methods. This is the sign of cricoid cancer of the stomach.
The prognosis after surgery for detecting a disease at the 4th stage is poor. Death often occurs suddenly. But if you carry out maintenance therapy, you will be able to live a few more months with cricoid cancer of the stomach. You can live 5 years after surgery, but the chance is 5-10%.
Dr. Wallock's Tips
World-famous Dr. Wallock suggests treating cricoid cancer of the stomach with a diet. He recommends including beta-carotene, vitamin E and the trace element selenium in the diet. This will help, in his opinion, reduce mortality from oncology. Enriching food with nutrients can heal and prevent many other dangerous diseases.
Conclusion
A healthy and complete diet is the key to a long life. It is also necessary to minimize all bad habits. This is especially true for people with a hereditary predisposition. If there are chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to treat them, as well as to be examined prophylactically (at least once a year). And do not completely rely on the alternative treatment of cricoid cancer of the stomach.