Doctors can detect some types of adenocarcinoma during regular tests like mammograms and colonoscopies. They can also notice abnormal growths or changes during physical exams.
Some adenocarcinoma cancers aren’t curable. However, doctors can often relieve symptoms and prolong survival with treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Risk factors vary by type of adenocarcinoma but include smoking and certain genetics.
The most common type of cancer starts in epithelial cells that line the insides of your organs. Adenocarcinoma, which is a subtype of carcinoma, forms in glandular epithelial cells that secrete mucus or other fluids. It can develop in many different body areas. For example, it can grow in the lining of your colon and rectum (the large intestine), or in the glandular tissue in the lining of your stomach. It can also form in the lining of your lungs, or in the glandular tissue in the wall of your bladder. It may also spread to other parts of the body, which is called metastasis.
The symptoms of adenocarcinoma vary depending on which part of your body is affected and how advanced the cancer is. For example, adenocarcinoma of the colon usually causes symptoms like bowel pain and stools that are hard or bloody. But in the early stages, it can be difficult to notice any symptoms.
That’s because adenocarcinoma often grows quietly in the lining of your organ. It’s often discovered only when doctors examine you or when you undergo a screening test, such as a colonoscopy.
If the adenocarcinoma is located in your breasts, it can cause a lump or change in the shape or size of your nipple. It can also cause pain or bleeding in your nipple or armpit. Adenocarcinoma of the lungs can lead to breathing problems. It can also spread to your lymph nodes, which are in the area of your lungs where the cancer started.
Adenocarcinoma can spread through the bloodstream or the lymph system, which is why it’s important to have regular screening tests and visit your doctor if you think you might have any signs or symptoms of cancer. A doctor can take a sample of your tumor or growth, called a biopsy. This is sent to a lab, where it’s tested for the presence of cancer cells. The results of the biopsy can help doctors determine if the cancer is only in one place or has spread, which is called staging. They can also help decide on a treatment plan.
Adenocarcinoma forms in glandular tissue that lines certain organs and makes and releases substances like mucus and digestive juices. It’s the most common type of cancer that affects the colon, breasts, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and prostate.
A doctor can’t detect most adenocarcinoma until it has progressed to an advanced stage. Symptoms may include pain, weight loss, diarrhea, or bleeding. Some adenocarcinomas spread from the location where they first started to other parts of the body, which is called metastasis.
It’s important for a doctor to diagnose adenocarcinoma quickly and correctly, because it’s a very serious disease. Your doctor will check for symptoms and do a physical exam. They might also order lab work, like a complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel, and urinalysis. They might also use imaging tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI, to find the area of a tumor and see if it’s spreading.
If they suspect adenocarcinoma, doctors will use a biopsy to take a sample of the cancerous tissue and examine it under a microscope. During the biopsy, doctors can also assess a tumor’s grade. This is based on how abnormal the cancer cells look and how fast they grow and spread. Adenocarcinomas that are well-differentiated have a lower risk of spreading and growing.
Depending on the location of the cancer, how far it has spread, and your overall health, doctors will develop a treatment plan. This could include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or both.
Surgery for adenocarcinoma is often a last resort, because it can cause severe side effects. However, it might be the best option if the tumor is small or in an early stage. Surgical removal can help reduce the risk of the cancer spreading. In some cases, doctors can remove the entire tumor and part of the surrounding healthy tissue. They might also perform a biopsy on the surrounding tissue to confirm the diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment.
The treatment options for adenocarcinoma depend on the organ or body part where the cancer starts and how far it has grown. To find out whether the adenocarcinoma is in just one area or has spread to other areas, doctors need to do a biopsy. During this procedure, doctors remove a small piece of tissue from the affected organ or body part and examine it under a microscope to see if it’s cancerous. A biopsy can also show if the cancer cells started at the spot where they were removed or if they came from somewhere else in the body, which is called metastasis.
If the cancer has spread, a doctor may also use tests such as a CT scan or an MRI to find out how far the adenocarcinoma has gone. These tests provide detailed, three-dimensional X-ray or magnetic resonance pictures of the affected area. They can help doctors see the adenocarcinoma, any other tumors, and other structures in the area.
Adenocarcinoma often forms in glands that line your organs and secrete fluids. It can happen in the lining of your colon, your breasts, your lungs, or your pancreas.
You’re more likely to get adenocarcinoma of the pancreas if you smoke or have smoked in the past. It’s less common to have this type of cancer in the lungs, but it can happen. It usually starts in the lining of the lower part of your lungs and grows more slowly than other lung cancers.
Doctors can treat most adenocarcinomas when they are in the early stages and haven’t spread very far. They may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments.
Some types of adenocarcinoma can be treated with medicines that kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. They can be taken by mouth or shot into a vein (IV).
Other treatments include surgery to remove the cancer or nearby tissue. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing. Chemotherapy is a combination of drugs that kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. Newer drugs can target genetic features of cancer cells and help the immune system attack them.
Like other cancers, adenocarcinoma develops in glandular epithelial cells that line the inside of different organs in your body. It can affect the colon, breasts, lungs, pancreas and esophagus, among others. Adenocarcinoma can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. When adenocarcinoma spreads to the brain, it is called metastatic adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinomas form for many reasons. Scientists don’t always know why these tumors grow. But they can identify risk factors that increase your odds of getting them. Some of these are genetic, while others involve environmental or lifestyle factors you can control. For example, adenocarcinoma that develops in the lung is most often found in smokers, and smoking is the primary risk factor for all forms of the disease.
Most adenocarcinomas grow very slowly and do not cause symptoms. That’s why most of them are diagnosed in late stages. The places where they grow are tucked away deep inside your body, so problems tend to appear only after a long time has passed. This is why it’s important to visit your doctor for any unusual or persistent health problems.
When adenocarcinoma is diagnosed, your doctor will do tests to diagnose it and determine how far it has already spread. The exact tests your doctor uses depend on the type of adenocarcinoma. They may include imaging scans, blood tests and other diagnostic tests.
Your doctor will also give you advice about how to reduce your risk of developing adenocarcinoma. This includes not smoking or being around secondhand smoke. You should also get your home tested for radon gas, which can lead to lung cancer.
Because adenocarcinoma can spread so quickly, it is very important to follow your doctor’s treatment plan carefully. You should attend follow-up appointments even if your adenocarcinoma is in remission. This is especially true if your adenocarcinoma was in the lung or colon. Adenocarcinoma in these areas can recur months or years after your treatment. This is called late recurrence. Newer therapies are helping to prevent this from happening. They do this by identifying specific mutations in the cancer cells and targeting them with treatments that target these mutations.
Cancer starts when cells grow out of control and harm healthy tissue. Adenocarcinoma is one type of cancer that begins in glandular cells in different organs in the body. It can happen in the colon, breasts, esophagus, pancreas, or lungs.
A doctor can diagnose adenocarcinoma by taking a sample of the tumor or area where you have symptoms. They will look at it under a microscope to see if there are cancer cells.
While the name “adenocarcinoma” may evoke thoughts of lung cancer, this type of cancer can develop anywhere in the body that has glands. For example, it can happen in the prostate or the lining of the colon. In some cases, adenocarcinoma may not cause any symptoms. In others, it may be discovered by doctors during routine screening tests, like mammograms or colonoscopies. In these situations, the doctor will feel your organs for any signs of swelling or growth.
Adenocarcinoma develops in cells that line the inner parts of your organs, called glandular epithelial cells. These cells usually secrete fluids that help to digest food or lubricate your joints. When these cells start to grow and develop mutations, they can form tumors. These tumors can also spread to other parts of your body, including your bones, lymph nodes and blood vessels. Cancer cells that spread to other areas are referred to as metastasis. Most adenocarcinoma that has spread to other organs is diagnosed through blood tests and imaging studies, such as CT scans or MRIs.
Carcinoma, which is the most common cancer, grows in epithelial cells that line the inside or outside of organs. Adenocarcinoma, a subtype of carcinoma, develops in glandular epithelial cells that secrete mucus or digestive juices. Cancer cells can grow and spread in different areas of your body, depending on the type of adenocarcinoma that developed.
Adenocarcinoma can affect the lungs, colon, prostate, breasts and pancreas. It can also form in glandular tissue in your liver. When cancer cells spread to other parts of your body, they are called metastases.
Some adenocarcinomas spread to other parts of the body because the cancer cells break off from their original tumor site and travel through your bloodstream or lymph system. They may also be carried through the airways of your lungs and find new places to grow.
If you have adenocarcinoma, your doctor will probably recommend surgery to remove the tumor and some surrounding tissue. Chemotherapy and radiation are often used in combination with surgery to kill cancer cells and prevent them from coming back.
Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in glandular cells that line your organs. It can happen in your colon, breasts, esophagus, prostate, pancreas, or lungs.
The first step to diagnosing adenocarcinoma is to get a biopsy. This is when your doctor removes a small sample of tissue from the affected organ and checks it under a microscope. This will show if there are cancer cells and how far they have spread.
Your doctor may also use a CT scan or an MRI to help find the location of the tumor and check how fast it is growing. They can also show if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of your body.
The vomiting that comes with adenocarcinoma can be caused by a number of things. It can be from minor intestinal upset, from eating plants or spoiled food, from an infection or from some other illness such as liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid disease, or a stomach or intestine problem. It can also be from taking some medications like aspirin or NSAIDs or from having certain health conditions such as diabetes or chronic constipation.
Adenocarcinoma occurs when cells in glandular epithelial tissues that line your organs start to grow out of control and then spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. This can happen in your colon, breasts, pancreas, lungs, and prostate. It may also form in the glandular tissue that lines the lining of your intestines or stomach.
A cancer in these areas may cause symptoms like loss of appetite, diarrhea, or a clay-colored stool. You may also experience pain or have a lump in the affected area. If you smoke or have had previous radiation therapy, you are at a higher risk of developing these cancers.
A doctor can diagnose adenocarcinoma by taking a sample of the affected tissue and examining it under a microscope. The biopsy can reveal if the cancer is localized or metastatic, which means it has spread to other parts of the body. The stage of the cancer determines what treatment options your doctor will recommend. Symptoms may vary depending on what part of the body is involved.
In most cases, your doctor will do a biopsy to check for cancer. This involves removing a small piece of tissue from the area where the doctor thinks cancer may be growing and sending it to a laboratory for examination under a microscope. The results of the biopsy will tell your doctor whether the cells are just in that one organ or have spread to other parts of the body.
If the adenocarcinoma has spread to other tissues, it is called metastatic adenocarcinoma. Metastatic adenocarcinoma refers to tumors that start in glandular tissue, like milk ducts, the colon, and the lungs, and then spread to other areas of the body.
Cancer can spread to other parts of the body by growing and pressing on nearby tissue or spreading through your bloodstream and lymphatic system. For example, adenocarcinoma that starts in the colon and then spreads to your liver is treated as metastatic colorectal cancer and not as liver cancer.
Breathing difficulty is one of the first symptoms that can be associated with cancer. The discomfort comes when you can’t get enough oxygen into your lungs, usually with a sensation of tightness in the chest. Sometimes this feeling is only mild and may be caused by things like strenuous exercise, high altitude or a stuffy nose.
If the shortness of breath is more severe and interferes with your daily activities, contact your doctor right away. They may recommend breathing exercises or strategies to help improve air flow. In some cases, they will also prescribe supplemental oxygen to increase the amount of oxygen in your blood.
In order to diagnose lung adenocarcinoma, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and a complete lab workup including complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel and urinalysis. Imaging such as computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered to get detailed pictures of the inside of your body. A biopsy will also be performed. A sample of tissue will be taken and tested under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the stage of the adenocarcinoma.
If your bowel movements are loose and watery, you may need to go to the bathroom more often. The diarrhea may last a short time or it may be long-term. It is important to drink lots of fluids if you have diarrhea.
Cancer cells can grow and damage the lining of your digestive tract, which can cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. The treatment you are receiving for your cancer can also cause diarrhea. This is because the cancer treatments can kill the cells lining your colon and intestines.
You can help relieve the symptoms of diarrhea by eating a diet of bland foods that are low in fiber. These include apricot, apple and pear juice, gelatin, broth and rice. You should avoid acidic foods such as tomato, orange and pineapple juices.
It is rare for adenocarcinoma to cause diarrhea. However, there is one report of a 46-year-old female developing paraneoplastic diarrhea secondary to lung adenocarcinoma. This was the first time that this complication of adenocarcinoma had been described. The diarrhea improved and resolved after surgical resection of her tumor.
If you see blood in your stool, it’s important to seek medical care. Bleeding anywhere in your gastrointestinal tract can be a sign of serious illness, including cancer. The color of your stool can help doctors determine where the bleeding is coming from.
A bleed in your upper GI tract, like your esophagus or stomach, may look dark and tarry because it’s digested before leaving the body. A bleed in your lower GI tract, such as hemorrhoids or colon cancer, is more likely to be bright red.
If your bowel movements are regular, you can usually dismiss occasional traces of blood. But if your symptoms are new and unexplained, or if you notice that the bloody stools are becoming more frequent, talk to your doctor. They may recommend a routine blood test or use an endoscope to examine your colon for polyps that could be precancerous or cancerous. Newer stool tests, such as fecal immunochemical or FIT tests, can detect occult (hidden) blood in your stool and don’t require a special diet.
Adenocarcinoma forms in glandular tissue that lines certain organs and makes and releases mucus, digestive juices and other fluids. It can spread to other places in the body and harm healthy tissue.
Several tests can help doctors diagnose adenocarcinoma. A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue for testing. Doctors can also use a procedure called MRI to create 3D images of the body.
Adenocarcinoma grows in glandular tissue and forms cancerous tumors. It can affect different parts of the body, including the breasts, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and prostate. Sometimes the tumors can spread from the original site to other organs (metastasize).
Symptoms vary depending on where in the body the tumors are and how advanced they are. Most of the time, adenocarcinoma isn’t symptomatic until it is in later stages and has spread to other parts of the body. It is important for patients to learn their early symptoms and visit a doctor right away.
Cancers that form in glandular tissues usually grow very slowly. That’s why they don’t cause symptoms until they get large enough to press against other structures or interfere with blood flow to nearby tissues. In addition, adenocarcinoma can be difficult to diagnose. This is because the cancerous cells often look a lot like normal cells, and they tend to hide from the immune system.
The first step to diagnosing adenocarcinoma is taking a detailed medical history from the patient, including any family history of cancer. This will help doctors identify potential risk factors and develop a treatment plan.
Next, doctors will use imaging tests to find adenocarcinoma and determine its stage. For example, a CT scan or an MRI can provide 3D images of the inside of the body and can highlight abnormal masses that may indicate a tumor. They can also be used to monitor how a tumor changes over time or to see if it responds to treatment.
A biopsy can also detect adenocarcinoma. A doctor will take a sample of an abnormal mass or growth, and a pathologist will examine it under a microscope to check for cancer cells. This will also show if the tumor started at that location or moved from another area of the body. In addition, a tumor biopsy can help determine how advanced the cancer is. During this process, the doctor can use image guidance to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
In adenocarcinoma, tumors form in glandular tissue. This tissue lines the inside of organs, such as the stomach, lungs, colon and pancreas. In some cases, adenocarcinoma affects the epithelial tissues that line the skin. This type of cancer is more common in smokers and those who have been exposed to toxins at work. It can also affect people with a family history of the disease.
Most of the time, adenocarcinoma grows slowly and doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. This may be why it can take so long for doctors to diagnose the condition. It’s important for patients to tell their doctor right away if they notice a change in their health, especially if it’s an ongoing problem or doesn’t go away.
When a doctor suspects that a patient has adenocarcinoma, they may do several tests to confirm the diagnosis. They will need to find out where the adenocarcinoma started and what stage it is in. They will also need to know what else the patient has had going on in their life, such as smoking or whether anyone in their immediate family has a history of cancer.
A doctor can determine where the adenocarcinoma originated by doing a biopsy. During a biopsy, a healthcare professional removes a small amount of tissue from the affected area and sends it to a lab for testing. A doctor can perform a biopsy through various methods, depending on where the adenocarcinoma is located and how much tissue needs to be removed. Some biopsies are done using a needle, while others are performed through more invasive procedures like colonoscopies or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Once the adenocarcinoma has been analyzed in the lab, a physician will be able to see what kind it is and what stage it is in. They can then figure out the best treatment options for the patient.
If a patient has metastatic adenocarcinoma, it means that the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. For example, if it has spread to the liver, physicians will treat it as lung adenocarcinoma metastatic to the liver rather than treating it as hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). They will also do a biopsy on the metastases and determine what the origin of the cancer was at its original site.
Cancer is a disease that affects many parts of the body. The treatment options depend on where the tumor is, how much it has spread and how healthy you are. There are several different treatments for adenocarcinoma. These include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan after doing tests to check for the type of cancer and how far it has spread.
The first step in diagnosing adenocarcinoma is taking a sample of the tissue from the area where you have symptoms. The sample will be sent to a lab to see if the cells are cancerous. This is called a biopsy.
Your doctor may use a thin needle to remove a sample from the affected area or might perform a more invasive procedure, such as a colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in cases of gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. A pathologist will then examine the tissue under a microscope to determine if you have cancer and, if so, what type. They will also look at the cell type to find out how fast it is growing and if it has spread to other parts of your body.
Adenocarcinoma is a subtype of carcinoma, which is the most common type of cancer overall. Carcinoma starts in epithelial cells, which are found in the linings of internal organs and in some other parts of your body, such as your skin.
There are two types of adenocarcinoma, well-differentiated and poorly differentiated. Your doctor will determine which you have based on how abnormal the cancer looks under a microscope and how quickly it is growing.
If you have adenocarcinoma, your doctor will treat it by removing the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. They may also use drugs to kill any remaining cancer cells and to stop them from growing. They may give you radiation to destroy any areas of your body where the cancer has spread. They might also use other procedures or medicines, such as chemo, to help with your symptoms. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about any concerns you have about your health. You can ask for a second opinion or for a support group. You can also join an online community for people with adenocarcinoma or other cancers.
Cancer is a disease that starts in glandular epithelial cells that line the inside of body organs and secrete fluids like mucus, digestive juices or breast milk. Adenocarcinoma develops from these cells and may spread to other parts of the body, killing healthy tissue as it does so.
Adenocarcinoma can affect any part of the body, but it is most common in the lungs, pancreas and esophagus. In some cases, the cancer does not cause any symptoms, and it is only diagnosed when the patient has a chest x-ray or CT scan done for another medical reason or when the doctor listens to the esophagus for signs of trouble.
It is not clear why adenocarcinoma forms, but certain risk factors can increase the chances of getting the disease. These include a family history of the disease, smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke and inherited genetic mutations. For example, people with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes like familial adenomatous polyposis have an increased risk of developing colon adenocarcinoma.
The most common treatment for adenocarcinoma is surgery to remove the tumor. It is also sometimes treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to destroy the cancerous tissue. A newer type of treatment, immunotherapy, targets the genetic features of the cancerous cells and helps the body’s natural defenses fight the disease.
Some adenocarcinomas grow so fast that they eventually spread to other parts of the body. They can travel through the bloodstream or lymph system to reach other organs, but they may also spread when they break off from the original tumor and enter the lungs, where they are more likely to grow in airways. This type of spreading is called metastasis.
The survival rates for adenocarcinoma vary widely, depending on the location of the cancer and how far it has spread. Doctors will consider the person’s overall health, age and treatment options when predicting survival rates. The quality of the treatment also influences survival rates.
Depending on where the tumor is located and its stage, several tests may be used to diagnose adenocarcinoma. These include a biopsy, which involves a healthcare professional taking a small sample of tissue.
The cancer cells are examined in a lab to determine where the cancer started. Doctors use this information to stage the cancer, which helps guide treatment.
Lung adenocarcinoma grows in cells that line certain organs, called glandular epithelial cells. These cells secrete fluids that help your body function. When these cells grow out of control, cancer forms. These tumors can spread to other parts of the body. Lung adenocarcinoma occurs most often in the lungs and the lining of the airways that enter them. It makes up about 40 percent of all non-small cell lung cancer. Adenocarcinomas of the lung tend to be more localized than other types of lung cancer and are less likely to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). They also grow more slowly.
Adenocarcinoma is a serious disease, but it is usually easier to diagnose than many other cancers because it commonly causes symptoms that are easy to recognize and report to your doctor. Symptoms vary according to the organ involved and can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, weight loss and difficulty breathing.
When doctors suspect adenocarcinoma, they order tests to find out the size of the tumor and how far it has spread in the lungs or other organs. These tests can include X-rays, blood work and CT scans. A biopsy is an important test to perform when suspected of having adenocarcinoma. During this procedure, a healthcare provider removes a small sample of tissue from the area of concern and sends it to a laboratory for evaluation. The pathologist (a healthcare professional who specializes in evaluating tissue samples) uses staining to evaluate the tissue for signs of cancer. Different stains are used to highlight and absorb certain chemicals in the tissue, which helps the pathologist determine if adenocarcinoma is present.
Because adenocarcinoma forms in glandular cells, people with this type of cancer may benefit from treatments that target these cells and stop them from growing or spreading. These treatments can include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
In breast cancer, adenocarcinoma often refers to a cancer that starts in glandular tissue. This type of tissue contains cells that secrete milk or mucus. Breast cancers that start in the cells lining the milk ducts (ductal carcinoma) or the glands in the center of the breast called lobules (lobular carcinoma) are adenocarcinomas. About 90% of all breast cancers are adenocarcinomas.
When cancer cells from glandular tissues spread to other parts of the body, it’s called metastatic adenocarcinoma. Most adenocarcinomas in the lungs, colon and breasts are metastatic adenocarcinomas. Other tumors that start in glandular tissue, but are not cancerous, are called adenomas. Examples include VIPoma, insulinoma and pheochromocytoma.
Symptoms vary depending on where the adenocarcinoma occurs. Some grow slowly and don’t cause any symptoms until they have grown larger and metastasized. Others grow faster and may be more likely to cause symptoms, especially if they grow in the lymph nodes. The doctor can diagnose adenocarcinoma by doing a biopsy, in which a small sample of tissue is removed and sent to the lab for testing.
The lab tests the tissue to find out if it’s cancerous and to help decide what treatment plan to use. Usually, a surgery is followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Surgical removal of the tumor is the main treatment for most types of adenocarcinoma. The surgeon might also use minimally invasive techniques to reduce the amount of time it takes to heal after surgery. If the tumor has spread, a doctor might use chemotherapy and/or radiation to prevent it from returning. These treatments can be given throughout the body or in a specific area where the adenocarcinoma is located.
Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in glandular cells. These are cells that line cavities and organs in the body. The most common adenocarcinoma forms in cells that line the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, and it’s also found in the breast and colon.
Adenocarcinomas can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Most commonly, they spread to the bones, lungs, liver, and lymph nodes. They can also spread to the brain. Adenocarcinomas that have spread to other areas of the body usually cause symptoms based on where they are located. For example, if a tumor is in the bone, it may cause aches and pains or a decreased ability to move. If it is in the intestine, a person may feel nauseated or lose weight. In the colon, it may lead to bleeding or a stool that is difficult to pass.
The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland below the bladder and in front of the rectum in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB). It secretes fluid that mixes with semen, which helps with sperm production. Most prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas.
To determine whether or not a mass is cancerous, healthcare providers take a sample of the tissue with a needle or with a biopsy tool. They then look at the tissue under a microscope to see if there are cancer cells and how much the cancer has grown. A biopsy also shows if the cancer started at that location or spread from somewhere else in the body. This information is used to develop a treatment plan for the patient. Doctors will also use this information to determine if the cancer is low- or high-grade. Low-grade adenocarcinomas grow more slowly and are less likely to spread. High-grade adenocarcinomas are more likely to spread and grow quickly.
Adenocarcinoma is a type of carcinoma, the most common form of cancer. Adenocarcinoma is derived from glandular tissue found in epithelial tissues that line the skin, glands and cavities of organs. These include the lungs, breasts, colon, pancreas and stomach.
Every cell in your body has a tightly regulated system that dictates when it should grow, divide and eventually die off. Cancer occurs when the cells lose this control and begin to grow and spread indiscriminately, harming healthy tissue. Adenocarcinoma forms when cells in glandular tissue develop a malignant (cancerous) transformation, growing out of control and forming tumors.
These tumors can metastasize to other areas of your body, including the bones, lungs, liver and lymph nodes. Adenocarcinomas that spread are often high grade, meaning the cells look different from normal under a microscope and tend to spread faster than low-grade adenocarcinomas.
The most common site of adenocarcinoma is in the colon. Adenocarcinoma can also form in the lining of the esophagus, pancreas, and bladder. Adenocarcinoma forms in the glandular tissue that lines these organs, and it can spread to nearby tissue, causing damage.
When adenocarcinoma spreads, it is typically via the bloodstream or the lymph system. Cancers that spread tend to follow a pattern, and the most common locations for metastatic adenocarcinomas are the bones, lungs and liver.
The treatment of adenocarcinoma depends on the primary site and the stage of the disease. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Multidisciplinary care is important, and it involves pathologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists along with radiologists, primary care physicians, nurses, and allied healthcare providers. A patient’s family history may also be helpful in determining the appropriate course of treatment.
Adenocarcinoma starts in glandular epithelial tissue that lines your internal organs. It can grow in the glands that make milk or digest food, such as your lungs, colon, stomach and pancreas. Sometimes adenocarcinoma spreads to other parts of the body, which is called metastasis. Cancer cells can spread through the bloodstream or lymph system. They may also lay dormant for a long time before they recur in a distant location.
Some types of adenocarcinoma are more likely to spread than others. Your chances of survival depend on which part of the body your adenocarcinoma grows in, its grade and whether it has spread.
For example, adenocarcinoma that begins in the lining of your bowel is easier to treat than one that forms in the tissues that cover your pancreas. In general, it’s harder to treat adenocarcinoma that grows in the lungs, breast and prostate because it is more difficult to remove surgically.
Your doctor will diagnose adenocarcinoma by taking a sample of the tumor to look at under a microscope. If the tumor hasn’t spread, your treatment will include surgery to remove it and chemotherapy to prevent it from coming back.
If you have a adenocarcinoma, it’s important to get regular screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies to detect it early. Your doctor will recommend the right tests for you, based on where your adenocarcinoma is located and what symptoms you have. Ask for a family member or friend to be with you at appointments and help you absorb all the information. They can also be a second set of ears and give you advice about where to find support. Having someone by your side can also help you take notes so you can remember all the information when you meet with your doctor.