These are the organs and tissues, respectively, that produce substances ranging from hormones to digestive juices.
Most breast, colon, esophageal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas.
The same is true of a large proportion of lung cancers.
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This article discusses the types, symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of adenocarcinoma.
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Types of Adenocarcinomas
For many people, the termadenocarcinomabrings lung cancer to mind.
Some types may have early symptoms, such as a lump in the breast.
Others may remain largely without symptoms until the disease is advanced and has spread (metastasized).
Causes for a specific case of adenocarcinoma are often not exactly clear.
However, certain risk factorssuch as age, race, and sexmay increase the chances of getting it.
It may also include lifestyle factors, like smoking, drinking alcohol, and lack of physical activity.
Below are symptoms and causes based on the punch in of adenocarcinoma.
This includesfamilial adenomatous polyposis, a rare condition involving a mutation in the APC gene.
Lynch syndromeis the most common cause of hereditary colon cancer, including for individuals under 50.
Almost all cases of prostate cancer are in males over the age of 40.
If you have any of the symptoms above, check with your doctor.
Early diagnosis can help to increase the chance of successful treatment.
Diagnosis
There are a variety of tests used to screen for adenocarcinoma.
These include imaging likemammograms, lab tests such asprostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, and procedures such ascolonoscopy.
A screening test does not confirm the presence of cancer, however.
An official adenocarcinoma diagnosis is made based on an examination of cells under a microscope.
This involves abiopsyto extract a tissue sample.
Biopsy
Having a biopsy done does not necessarily mean you have cancer.
It means your healthcare provider wants to assess your cells or tissue for signs of damage or disease.
They review biopsy samples and can often identify adenocarcinomas based on their physical structure.
Pathologists use staining to show areas of importance as well as to highlight contrast.
Positive stains are absorbed by the cancer cells and negative stains outline the cells.
With that said, there are variations as adenocarcinomas progress.
The pathologist will run other tests to reveal other characteristics of the cancer.
Treatment usually includes one or more of the following procedures or medications.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapyis a drug treatment plan to eliminate the fast-growing cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapyuses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells.
Surgery
Surgery involves using instruments, including scalpels or lasers, to remove tumors.
Youll receive anesthesia to keep you from feeling pain during the surgery.
This may involve the surgeon taking out the tumor along with surrounding tissue orlymph nodes.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapyuses drugs or other methods to allow your immune system to fight cancer.
There are two main types of immunotherapy: passive and active.
Passive Immunotherapy
Passive immunotherapy uses lab-made antibodies (proteins) to help develop an immune response.
This includesmonoclonal antibodies (MABs), which can target specific cancer cells.
Another approach is to take lymphocytes from the tumor to createtumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)in the lab.
The TILs are then returned to the body to fight cancer cells.
Active Immunotherapy
Active immunotherapy activates your bodys immune system to fight cancer cells.
Cancer cells are examined in the lab to find their antigen, a substance that triggers an immune response.
Active immunotherapies stimulate your own immune system to target these specific antigens.
Cancer vaccinesare an example of active immunotherapy.
These boost the immune systems ability to destroy cancer-specific antigens.
Normally, the checkpoint stops the immune cell from attacking other cells when it binds to another specific protein.
Checkpoint inhibitors can block the binding process to improve the bodys immune response to cancer cells.
Hormone therapy can be used to decrease the size of a tumor prior to surgery.
It can also improve the chances of remission and kill cancer cells that have returned.
There are two main kinds of hormonal therapies.
One blocks hormone production and the other modifies hormone behavior.
Hormonal therapy works differently for breast and prostate cancer.
Breast Cancer Hormone Therapy
Both estrogen and progesterone may cause the growth of some breast cancer cells.
Breast cancer cells that are sensitive to hormones have proteins called hormone receptors.
These receptors become activated when hormones bind to them.
Hormone therapy for breast cancercan only be used in cases of disease involving hormone receptors.
Treatments can include blocking estrogen production and/orovarian function.
Other treatments involve blocking the effects of estrogen, such as anti-estrogen drugs.
Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy for prostate cancermay include lowering androgen levels through androgen-deprivation therapy.
The goal is to keep androgen from stimulating prostate cells to grow.
It may also include drugs that lower the testosterone produced by the testicles.
Smoking is a risk factor thats associated with most adenocarcinomas.
Regular tests like mammograms and colonoscopies can help detect adenocarcinomas.
A biopsy is needed to confirm it, and treatment depends on the key in of cancer.
They can provide the answers you need and give you advice on where to get additional support.
These cells produce substances like hormones, digestive juices, and breast milk.
Some cause early symptoms and signs, while others dont.
As an example, a small lump can be an early sign of an adenocarcinoma in the breast.
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