Carcinoma: Types, Symptoms & Ayurvedic Treatment Guide

1. Adenocarcinoma

What is Adenocarcinoma?

It is a type of carcinoma that affects the glands that line the organs. Adenocarcinoma starts in the glandular cells which are known as adenomatous cells. The glandular cells, when healthy, produce the mucous, digestive juices, or fluids to keep the tissue moist.

When the cells of these tissues grow uncontrollably it results in tumors. Some of these tumors remain non-cancerous i.e., benign, which is known as adenoma when these tumors of the glandular cells become cancerous, they are known as adenocarcinoma.

Approximately all prostate cancers are adenocarcinoma, 96 % of colorectal cancer, 40 % of non-small lung cancer, 95 % of pancreatic cancer and most of the breast cancer are adenocarcinoma. The main cause of adenocarcinoma is smoking, previous radiation therapy, exposure to toxins, etc.

Sites Affected by Adenocarcinoma

Sites that are commonly affected by the adeno carcinoma are as follows:

• Prostrate
• Breast
• Pancreas
• Lung
• Stomach
• Colon
• Rectum
• Esophagus 

Common Symptoms of Adenocarcinoma

The symptoms of adenocarcinoma depend on the part which is involved. So here we will discuss a few symptoms that are involved in adenocarcinoma according to the site involved.

Common Symptoms of Breast Adenocarcinoma

Mostly the breast cancer symptoms start after the early diagnosis made by the mammogram. But here we mention some early symptoms of Breast adenocarcinoma that can be treated as a warning sign.

• Red or flaky skin of the breast.
• Swelling in the breast.
• Fluid with blood coming from the nipple.
• Uneven skin of the breast.
• Dimpled skin of the breast.
• Change in size and shape of the breast.

These can be the warning signs of breast adenocarcinoma. So, it is better to consult your health provider and take further tests before reaching any conclusion.

Common Symptoms of Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Early symptoms are hardly seen in the case of prostate cancer but in the advanced stages the symptoms may be seen. Here are a few symptoms that can be seen in the advanced stages of prostate cancer:

• A frequent urge to go to the pee (micturition)
• Blood in the pee (micturition)
• Erectile dysfunction

Common Symptoms of Colon/Colo-Rectal Adenocarcinoma

If the tumor of the colon and rectum has not grown enough, it is hard to see any symptoms. In a few cases, blood in the feces (poop) can be seen but sometimes the amount is so small that it can be hardly seen. The other symptoms that should be taken into account are as follows:

• Diarrhea 
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Gas/bloating

Common Symptoms of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are hardly seen until the late stages. The first symptom or warning sign that can be seen in pancreatic cancer is weight loss and stomach pain. Other symptoms that can be seen in the pancreatic adenocarcinoma are as follows:

• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Back pain
• Floating of the poop (feces)
• Feeling bloated

Common Symptoms of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

The symptoms that can be seen in esophageal adenocarcinoma are as follows:

• Burning sensation in the chest
• Pain in the chest
• Pressure in the chest
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Heartburn
• Indigestion 

Common Symptoms of Lung Adenocarcinoma

In lung adenocarcinoma, the first early symptom that can be seen is a chronic cough. In cough or saliva, there may be a small amount of blood mixed in it. The other symptoms that can be seen are as follows: 

• Chest pain
• Wheezing sound
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Difficulty in breathing 
• Hoarseness

Common Symptoms of Stomach Adenocarcinoma

The symptoms that can be seen in adenocarcinoma are as follows:

• Bloating
• Nausea
• Difficulty in swallowing 
• Feeling full after eating a small amount of food that is early satiety
• Stomach pain 
• Indigestion