Cancer of the duodenum: the first symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, predictions

The subject of the article is cancer of the duodenum and the first symptoms of the disease. Below this topic will be considered in detail. We learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, as well as the predictions that experts give. All you need to know about this cancer, read in the article.

What is it about?

Cancer of the duodenum is a disease that occurs in men and women with the same frequency. It affects people more often after 55 years. Young people also slope to the pathologies of the 12-small intestine, but these cases are single.

Causes

To begin with, it is worth noting that the nature and causes of oncology for doctors are still a mystery. This means that doctors make certain assumptions, but it is impossible to say that it is the specific factor that causes oncology. Primary, that is, the main causes are not known even to science, but one can dwell in more detail on the secondary causes of cancer, that is, talk about risk factors. They can contribute to the occurrence of cancer of the duodenum.

Risk factors

It is believed that cancer can occur for a number of reasons. Cancer of the duodenum can be facilitated by the following reasons:

• The abuse of tobacco and alcohol, drug dependence;
• Pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus or stones in the genitourinary system;
• Too frequent consumption of food of animal origin;
• genetics.

Other environmental risk factors are the environmental situation of the environment, chemical effects and the impact of carcinogens. The appearance of a tumor can also contribute to the consumption of animal fats, because of this, the level of cholecystokinin increases, and this in turn can lead to hyperplasia of the upper integument of the organs of the digestive tract.

Recently, researchers discovered the fact that some components of coffee can also contribute to cancer. Therefore, for possible reasons, you should add excessive use of this drink.

Pathogenesis

The development of oncology is distinguished due to cancer of the papilla of the duodenum, as well as cancer of the bile duct. The tumor affects the gut not completely, but only a few patches. Most often this is the upper and lower horizontal parts, and the descending section. The clinical course of the disease depends largely on the location of the cancer.

Place of localization

Cancer of the descending section of the 12-small intestine is very common, in about 75% of cases. It develops from the epithelium of the common mucosa. The establishment of precise localization is always difficult, especially if the examination is carried out in the late stages. Cancer of the duodenum, the first symptoms of which may not immediately strike the eye, so it is dangerous, because the treatment is difficult in itself, but in the latter stages the person has few chances.

The upper horizontal part of the intestine is the site of cancer in only 12-15% of cases. Tumors in the lower horizontal part are also called infra-Papillary cancer. Its frequency is up to 10%.

Symptoms

How does duodenal cancer manifest itself? The first symptoms are very similar to those that people experience in stomach oncology. In order to detect the cancer in time, the oncologists deduced three groups of possible signs.

The first group falls under the phenomenon of intoxication. Characterized by pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, apathy and weight loss. There is also complete indifference to the world around us.

The second group concerns the phenomenon of obturation. It all begins when the tumor starts to press on other organs. At this time, bile hypertension begins, the size of the liver increases, the feces become colorless. There may be jaundice. Doctors note violations in the work of the cardiovascular system, renal and hepatic insufficiency may appear, as well as metabolic processes.

The phenomenon of compression happens in the last stages of the disease, when a person feels a strong pain from the fact that the tumor presses on the nerve endings of the pancreas.

A difficult organ from the medical point of view is the duodenum. Where it is and how it hurts, not all people know. There is a gut right under the stomach in the right part, above the navel. The pain with cancer can be different, much depends on the stage of the disease and the localization of the disease of the duodenum. Where is and how it hurts, you can find out from the doctor if there is a suspicion of oncology.

Identify the disease is not easy. Symptoms of duodenal cancer at an early stage can not be detected, since the disease is asymptomatic. But after a while a person starts to think about his health because he begins to suffer from regular abdominal pain. How does duodenal cancer develop over time? The main symptoms include severe abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, jaundice, fever, itching and loss of appetite.

Cancer in advanced stages

Cancer of the duodenum stage has 4. In the first three treatment can still help the patient, but at the last stage you can not always help, because not everything depends on the treatment. However, such cases have happened.

It is worth talking about the symptoms of cancer in later stages because at this moment it can provoke complications in the work of other organs. The most common manifestation of the disease common signs of intoxication. Also possible are such manifestations:

• temperature;
• Dryness of mucous membranes;
• Unwillingness to eat;
• Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea;
• Yellowing of the skin;
• General weakness of the body;
• psychological problems.

Even if a person ignores all the symptoms and does not want to see a doctor, it's mandatory to pay attention to such signs of the disease:

• Vomiting after eating, after which it still seems that the stomach is full;
• Blood in the feces;
• jaundice.

It should be noted that the signs of duodenal cancer in men are the same as in women.

Diagnostics

To cure the disease, it is very important to begin treatment on time, and for this you need to detect cancer. To date, the diagnosis is carried out by laboratory and instrumental methods. An analysis of cancer markers on stomach and duodenal cancer will help to identify cancer cells on time. It should be noted that oncomarkers are substances that contribute to the production of cancer cells. Diagnostics consists of three stages:

1. For the beginning the analysis of pathologies and anamnesis is carried out. The doctor examines the patient, conducts palpation of the abdomen. We take into account the clinical complaints of a person, such as vomiting, pain, loss of appetite.
2. At the second stage, a laboratory examination of the patient is carried out, consisting of a general blood test, urine and feces analysis, a biochemical blood test, and an oncomarker.
3. The third stage is an instrumental survey.

The last stage is the most important in the diagnosis of duodenal cancer. The first symptoms may be wrong or indicate another disease, but instrumental research allows you to make an accurate diagnosis. The doctor conducts esophagogastroduodenoscopy, in which the esophagus, stomach, bile duct and 12-colon are examined. During the analysis, tissues are taken for biochemical analysis.

After this, the doctor sends the patient to the chest X-ray and contrast radiography of the duodenum and stomach. Also, a doctor can prescribe an ultrasound, magnetic resonance and computed tomography. Together with this, the patient is examined by all specialists.

Treatment

Every year, more and more cancers of the duodenum. How many live with such a disease, it is impossible to answer, because everything depends not only on the stage at which treatment began, but also on the general health of the body, its ability to resist the disease.

Usually treatment is carried out according to the classical scheme. First, the tumor is removed surgically. It may require partial removal of the duodenum. Surgical intervention is recommended for people under 75 years, but only on the condition that there were no metastases.

After surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy is performed, which is necessary to fix the result. It is mandatory, as it ensures the destruction of pathological cells and their proliferation.

Radiation therapy is most often performed in the early stages of the disease, when it is possible to cure the patient without surgical intervention.

At the end or at the beginning of treatment, therapy may be required that aims to relieve the patient of the symptoms. Initially, it is needed to help a person undergo treatment, and in the end is the final measure.

Surgery

Surgical treatment can have 3 options. Removal of the part of the gut is necessary in all three cases. The first situation, the most severe, occurs when the tumor extends to the excretory duct and pre-dummy nipple. In this case, the doctor removes not only the part of the 12-small intestine, but also part of the duct and head of the pancreas. If the tumor is small, a circular resection is performed, which means removing only the affected area of the organ with possible restoration. The third option is also called circular resection, but resort to it when the intestine connects the end to the end, which is also possible.

Forecast

To predict the future of the patient the doctor can, in the event that he knows when the treatment began. Very important are the following factors: the age of a person, the presence of metastases and inflammatory processes in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The situation worsens if metastases are found in the stomach, lymphatic system and bile ducts. Possible complications can lead to malfunction of the genitourinary system. Sometimes there is stenosis of the 12-small intestine, regular bleeding. It is worth saying that the overall prognosis for patients is unfavorable, but not hopeless. The problem is that it is very difficult to detect cancer in the early stages, when treatment helps almost guaranteed.

To protect yourself from this terrible disease and the occurrence of cancer of any other organs, you should give up bad habits and revise your diet. No matter how simple the tips seem, but they do work. Proper nutrition and refusal from smoking and alcohol can protect a person from a number of diseases, and not only cancer.

We learned about what is cancer of the duodenum, as well as everything about its course and treatment. Unfortunately, no one can be guaranteed to protect themselves from oncology. We have already talked about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but no less important is the attentive attitude to yourself and the signals of your body. Sometimes it is better to go to the doctor once again and be checked.