Adenocarcinoma
What is an Adenocarcinoma?
An adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the glands that are present inside some of your organs. It can occur in many places, most commonly: colon, breasts, oesophagus, pancreas, lungs and prostate.
What is an Adenocarcinoma caused by?
Your glands make fluids to keep your organs stay moist in order for them to function. Adenocarcinoma occurs when your cells in that gland begin to grow out of control. They can also spread by various methods into other organs and harm healthy tissue.
What are the symptoms of Adenocarcinomas?
The symptoms of adenocarcinoma vary; depending on which organ the cancer starts in. Organ specific symptoms include:
Breast lump in breast cancer, coughing, coughing up blood, chest pain and breathlessness in lung cancer, change in bowel habits in colon cancer (This includes: blood in your stools, diarrhoea/ constipation, pain in your stomach or back passage, persistent bloating and experiencing the feeling of not having fully emptied your bowels) or blood in your vomit, urine, stools and cough may indicate adenocarcinoma.
Other general symptoms include weight loss and fatigue.
How is an Adenocarcinoma treated?
Adenocarcinoma can be diagnosed using a number of methods. These usually include: a physical exam, a history, blood tests, imaging tests and a biopsy.
Treatment depends on the type and the grade of adenocarcinoma. Surgery is usually the first method of treatment. It aims to remove the tumour and the tissue around it. This may have to be combined with other methods of treatment to make sure all of the cancerous cells have been removed. Chemotherapy drugs can kill certain types of adenocarcinoma. They can also slow the growth of the cancer or even cure your disease. Radiotherapy can also be used. This using high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells.
The side effects of cancer treatment are usually quite severe. They usually include: tiredness, nausea and hair loss.
