What is carcinoma?
Medical statistics are such that 10 million people a year around the world diagnose this disease. The first place in the source of the lesion is occupied by the lungs, and the second is a breast tumor. Then there are lesions of the intestines, liver, stomach, in which there is back pain. If earlier the disease was observed in elderly people, now the time period has moved, and cancer affects any person, regardless of age, gender, social status.
Carcinoma is divided into the form of formations, the degree of differentiation, as well as the direction of growth. The initial stages of carcinoma do not have pronounced symptoms.
Causes of Carcinoma
The causes of the lesions are blurred and are a list of items that are easy to find in any major city. A significant influence is exerted by the patient's lifestyle before the oncology manifestation:
bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle;
unbalanced diet, overweight;
radiation or an excess of received ultraviolet rays;
living in a polluted area or working with harmful substances.
A special role is played by the hereditary arrangement. If relatives had malignant tumors, especially mammary glands, then you should be very careful about your health and respond to any manifestations of any disease.
Types of carcinoma
Mutating cells infect any organ in the human system, with the breakdown of formations, the body is poisoned by toxic substances. There are enough reasons for this, they are listed above. Spreading, the disease covers more area, disrupting the functioning of the body systems, internal organs and endometrium.
Carcinoma Classification:
Basal cell. The skin is damaged, metastases do not form. However, deep germination damages organs. Location - open areas of the body, often exposed to ultraviolet rays: face, hands, neck. Indirect causes of the disease: a weak immune system and prolonged use of dosage forms.
Squamous cell. It consists of epithelial cells, spreading metastases throughout the body. Most patients with this type of tumor are fair-skinned people. If the epithelium is capable of forming horny matter, this is a differentiated variety of squamous cell carcinoma. When formation is impossible, the cancer is called non-keratinized. Often there is a microinvasive cancer of the cervix, formed precisely from squamous tissues.
Neuroendocrine. A neoplasm of the epithelial glandular cells that are in the digestive system. Rarely found in the lungs, ovaries, or thymus. The most poorly studied type of neuroendocrine carcinoma is cancer, formed from Merkel cells that make up human skin. Violation of the composition of these cells leads to a deterioration in touch and the occurrence of basal cell carcinoma. A rare form of cancer has an aggressive course and rapid spread to the lymph nodes. It is formed on the face, neck, head in the form of a cone.
Light cell. 85% of the tumors of this type disrupt the functioning of such an organ as the kidneys. The rate of development of cancer cells is high, metastases are formed in any organ remotely. Altered epithelium of the kidney causes renal failure, pain appears in the lumbar region.
Primary peritoneal. Aggressive form of cancer affecting the lining of the peritoneum. Symptoms are similar to ovarian cancer, which may lead to an incorrect diagnosis. 75% of such tumors are found when the disease has reached stage 3, the remaining 25% - in the fourth. The neoplasm is divided into a clear cell, serous or mucinous type of adenocarcinoma. Especially women in the postmenopausal period are affected.
Mucoepidermoid. Disrupts the salivary gland without manifestation. Therefore, this cellular form is detected by doctors in the last stages. Outwardly, it resembles a knot from 5 mm to 12 cm in size. Despite the size of the tumor, the disease is cured. Check the presence of affected glands using cytological analysis.
Cervical, or cervical cancer. If the lesion was on the neck, squamous cancer is diagnosed. In violation of the cervical canal - is called adenocarcinoma. The disease develops within the body, i.e. intraepithelial or invasive - with the release of the affected organ.
Bronchial. It affects the lungs. In 20% of cases of this species, a small-cell type of carcinoma is formed with an unfavorable prognosis. This type of disease is often manifested in smokers or workers in hazardous industries. However, for those who live in an environmentally polluted place, this form of the disease is possible.
Papillary. Thyroid formation affecting people of all ages. The cause of the manifestation is a hormonal imbalance. It lends itself to hormone therapy.
In addition to these types, malignant cancer is divided into subspecies, according to the place of localization, manifesting symptoms and prognosis of survival. Much depends on the degree of maturity of the cancer cells. Therefore, an additional classification is highlighted, where glandular carcinoma happens:
highly differentiated;
moderately differentiated;
low grade.
If the structure of the tumor is close to healthy cells, this is a high degree of differentiation. If the difference between a healthy cell and a patient is high, we are talking about a low-grade degree. The complexity of the low-grade degree consists in the maximum variety or in the same set of affected cells. Despite the difficulties, there is mucous, solid, small cell, fibrous and other forms of low-grade cancer.
Benign neoplasms
Separately, it is worth noting the concept of "adenoma". This is the name of a benign neoplasm of glandular tissue. With a hormonal disorder, the adenoma develops into a malignant tumor.
Most often, the tumor is localized in the zone of the prostate, but also forms in other organs. Prostate adenoma - there is no metastatic phase, but it is characterized by a transition to adenocarcinoma.
Adenoma of the stomach and intestines is an acquired disease in people who previously suffered from gastritis, did not eat well or had a genetic predisposition. Digestive adenoma is called a polyp. A single tumor is removed surgically, with multiple polyps, electrocoagulation is used.
Fibrous breast adenoma is a mobile formation. Women often independently detect changes in the area of the mammary glands. In the stage of rapid development, the tumor is removed. Up to this point, they are just watching her.
Endometrial adenoma in the uterus - the growth of the endometrium to the formation of a cyst or polyp. Accompanied by bloody discharge between menstruation, cramping pains. This type of adenoma is seen on an ultrasound scan, removed by curettage of the uterus. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus is a scourge of women who have no sex, there were no births and pregnancies, and there is also a hormonal malfunction. As the tumor grows, the woman externally resembles a pregnant woman, her stomach grows, and back pain appears. Fetid vaginal discharge suggests that the tumor is breaking down.
Considering the adenoma of the lower extremities, it is noticeable that its degeneration resembles rheumatism. For this reason, the patient often ignores the first signs, skipping a favorable treatment for the disease. With growing pains, the legs become inactive, swelling occurs. With the last stage of the disease, fractures that become chronic are more common. The defeat overtakes the feet, legs, heels, femoral joints, cancer of the upper extremities is less common.
Spinal adenoma is rare. Most often, the patient encounters a cancerous tumor that manifests itself as pain in the back. A biopsy will determine the nature of the occurrence of the neoplasm and help to draw up the correct treatment for the patient.
Cancer stages
Having recognized the diagnosis, patients are interested in the stage and prognosis of the development of the disease. In this case, the stage does not indicate life expectancy. The doctor sets an estimated date, which depends on many factors. Thus, the first stage does not guarantee a complete cure, as the last 4 stage does not mean inevitable death from cancer.
The division into cancerous stages comes from the prevalence of altered cells. Therefore, to clearly indicate the location of the tumor and its complications in the form of metastases, it is customary to use a classifier.
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) has provided its own codes for neoplasms. The staging system is abbreviated as TNM. Each letter has a specific meaning: T - tumor, N - metastases in the lymph nodes, M - damage to distant organs. Each letter is assigned a digital and letter designation that accurately defines all the parameters of the disease. Consider the numbers:
T0-4 - divided by the size of the tumor, starting from the smallest and ending with a large area of the lesion.
N0-3, where 0 - damage to the lymph nodes did not occur, 1-3 - lymph nodes are affected. Gradation indicates the size of the damaged areas.
M0-1, where 0 - metastases were not detected, 1 - distant metastasis occurred.
If the doctor writes in the diagnosis of T3N0M0, this indicates the presence of cancer cells in the patient of the third stage of the lesion.
Deciphering the stages of cancer:
Stage 1 The tumor is small, continues to develop, without going beyond the scope of the organ, without metastases. With early diagnosis, it is easily treated.
2 stage. The tumor increased in diameter, single metastases in the lymph nodes went. Exits beyond the affected organ are not observed.
3 stage. The carcinoma reaches large sizes, goes beyond the limits of the organ, there was a lesion of nearby tissues. There is metastasis in the lymph nodes.
4 stage. Affected cells begin to wander around the lymphatic and circulatory systems, affecting far away organs. The occurrence of intoxication worsens the general condition of the patient. This degree of cancer cannot be completely cured, doctors achieve stable remission, prolonging the patient's life, reducing severe pain. The doctor will not be able to say exactly how long the patient will live.
Accordingly, the sooner the patient seeks medical help and the doctor makes the correct diagnosis in the early stages of the disease, the higher the chances of a complete cure or achievement of stable remission, excluding the spread of the affected cells from the tumor throughout the body.
Symptoms of the disease
Identify the general and local symptoms of the manifestation of the tumor. General signs of the disease indicate the condition of the patient as a whole, local - fix the symptom of the damaged organ.
Local signs:
skin and mucous membranes change, ulcers appear, color, structure externally become different from healthy membranes;
bleeding of the affected organ;
breathing problems and difficulty swallowing food;
cough mixed with sputum and blood;
pain in the affected area;
the genital organ hurts during sex, intermenstrual bleeding, blood loss after intercourse;
urinary incontinence, frequent urination, bowel movements with a modified color and structure;
violations of the timbre of the voice, as well as partial loss of vision, smell, hearing;
nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness.
Common symptoms of the disease that patients experience:
loss of appetite, followed by aversion to food;
weight reduction;
weakness, fatigue, drowsiness;
fever, increased sweating at night;
anemia and jaundice.
Common Diagnostic Methods
For a more accurate diagnosis, the oncologist, after palpation and a general medical history with the patient's complaints, prescribes a series of examinations where the tumor parameters are checked:
analysis of feces and urine to determine the bacteriological source for the overall picture of the disease;
taking tumor markers;
biopsy cancer research;
Ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI, PET;
endoscopy, electroencephalography.
Carcinoma treatment
The resulting diagnosis will help establish a complete picture of the course of the disease. The oncologist prescribes a course of treatment for the patient, taking into account the location of the tumor, its stage and the general condition of the patient.
In order to achieve cure or persistent remission, the following types of therapeutic measures are used:
surgical intervention;
radiation or chemotherapy;
embolization of tumor vessels;
cryodestruction;
radiotherapy, hormone therapy;
experimental treatment.
To achieve the best effect, doctors prescribe several types of treatment to help.
Surgery
This type of treatment is permissible up to stage 4 cancer. The last stage is not amenable to surgical intervention due to the defeat of many organs. If surgery is prescribed, then, depending on the complexity, doctors will remove part or all of the damaged organ with the capture of adjacent tissues.
For example, if a carcinoma has damaged the breast, the mammary gland is completely removed. Cancer of the cervix also leads to the complete removal of the organ, including the woman’s vagina and uterus. They undergo surgery and lymph nodes to avoid relapse of the disease.
Chemotherapy
Such therapy is aimed at removing damaged areas in cancer that remain in the body after surgery. Cytostatics are often administered intravenously; there is also a tabletted course of treatment. Chemotherapy can be prescribed before surgery to reduce the area that will subsequently be removed. Taking drugs is aimed at decaying the tumor while maintaining healthy cells. Unfortunately, chemicals exhibit side effects. Therefore, along with treatment, the patient is supported by immunomodulators and vitamins prescribed by the doctor.
Chemoembolization of arteries
Consonant with chemotherapy by the method of exposure, however, the distinguishing feature of the method is the introduction of the drug into the body. Medicines are delivered directly to the main artery, which supplies nutrients to the tumor. Loss of nutrition leads to a stop and destruction of the tumor site. A de-energized neoplasm, without receiving nutrients, dies.
Disease Complications
The complications that a malignancy entails are the leading cause of death among people affected by cancerous tumors. The consequences include:
internal bleeding;
fistulas in the hollow organs;
penetration into other organs of affected cells;
inflammatory process in the peritoneum;
swelling of the brain or lung;
blood poisoning;
overlapping of the bronchi, ureters;
bowel obstruction;
compression of nerve endings, blood vessels;
disruption of the heart muscle and breathing;
complete poisoning of the body, exhaustion;
coma with suppression of the central nervous system.
Repeated relapses and metastases in distant organs enhance the destructive effect on the body. The patient weakens, the immune system stops working at full strength. Such processes lead to the death of the patient.
Forecast and Prevention
Even if the doctor announced to the patient the duration of his life, do not forget that this is an approximate scenario for the development of the disease. It all depends on the general condition of the patient, his psychological mood, location and available diseases. Taking into account the components of the anamnesis, a preliminary forecast is made, indicating a possible development of the disease. The initial stages are easily treatable, but difficult to diagnose. The last stages are incurable, the doctor maintains the stability of the patient's condition.
Clinical recommendations as a preventative measure:
To be examined by doctors as a preventative measure.
If symptoms occur, seek the advice of oncologists. Especially if such cases have already been recorded in the family.
Do not self-medicate.
Change your lifestyle and give up bad habits.
Engage in physical education, establish proper nutrition and be attentive to the body.
Prevention reduces the risk of cancer. A decrease in the production of ultraviolet rays by the skin of a person reduces the likelihood of healthy cells grow into cancer.