What is adenocarcinoma?

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in mucus-secreting glands throughout the body. Treatment, prognosis and survival rates of adenocarcinoma depend on the location, size and stage of the tumor, as well as individual factors like the patient’s overall health.

Nguyen Thinh with his wife

Types of adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinomas begin in glands but can spread to other organs and tissues of the body. Glands secrete various fluids into tissues that line many organs of the body. Adenocarcinoma is most prevalent in the following cancer types:

Breast Cancer: Most breast cancers are adenocarcinomas. They start in the glands of the breast where milk is made.

Lung Cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80 percent of lung cancers, and adenocarcinoma is the most common type. Compared to other lung cancer types, lung adenocarcinoma grows slowly. Smokers have a high risk of getting lung adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic Cancer: Exocrine pancreatic cancer tumors are called adenocarcinomas, tumors start in the ducts of the pancreas, and about 85% of pancreatic cancers are caused by adenocarcinoma.

Colorectal Cancer: Cancer that develops in the intestinal gland cells that line the inside of the colon and/or rectum is an adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of colorectal cancer.

Esophagus Cancer: Adenocarcinoma usually starts in mucus glands that line in the lower part of the esophagus, it is the most common type of esophageal cancer.

Prostate cancer: Cancer that forms in the prostate gland is typically an adenocarcinoma, which makes up 99 percent of all prostate cancers.

Cervical Cancer: most are squamous cell cancer, but 10–15% of cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas.

Stomach Cancer: Over 90% of the cancers that occur in the stomach are gastric adenocarcinomas. This name implies that the cancer is located in the stomach (gastric), affects cells that would normally make up glands (adeno-) and has malignant potential (-carcinoma).

If you are diagnosed with any type of adenocarcinoma, consult online or contact us at 02-8-8221222 (Manila Office) to get a second opinion.

How is adenocarcinoma diagnosed?

People with adenocarcinoma may experience the symptoms of pain, bleeding, fatigue, cough and etc., symptoms varied from cancer types. Examinations are required if one wants to have an accurate diagnosis. When diagnosing adenocarcinoma, the following tests may be performed: biopsy, blood tests, imaging scans include CT, MRI,etc. Diagnostic tests vary according to the location of the tumor.

How is adenocarcinoma treated?

Cutting-edge Minimally Invasive Therapy for Adenocarcinoma

Interventional therapy: With a 1-2 millimeter incision, anti-cancer drugs are directly given to the tumor, causing fewer side effects and drug concentration is 2-8 times higher than systemic chemotherapy, killing cancer cells more accurately.

Green Chemotherapy: Improves from traditional chemotherapy, by winning reasonable profit and avoiding loss, which greatly improves the therapeutic effect and reduces side effects, being new chemical weapons to kill the tumor.

Gene Targeted therapy: Killing cancer cells from their roots, gene-targeted therapy is the most radical anticancer treatment. Compared with traditional therapies, gene-targeted therapy is more accurate, more effective and safer.

TCM & Western Medicine: Combination of traditional Chinese medicine and minimally invasive techniques cannot only kill the cancer cells effectively, but also reduce toxic side effects, lower the rate of cancer recurrence, and greatly improve survival rate

Biological Immunotherapy: Biological immunotherapy increases the number of immune cells to improve human immunity, so as to better fight against cancer cells.

To know cutting-edge minimally invasive therapies for adenocarcinoma

Traditional treatments for Adenocarcinoma

Surgery: surgery is one of the conventional treatments for adenocarcinoma. In some cases, surgical removal is a safer option. For example, patient with early stage breast cancer is suitable to take surgery. When the tumor is in a complicated location or has already metastasized to other organs and tissues, patient should resort to other treatments.

Chemotherapy: chemotherapy usually deliver anticancer drugs with a needle into a vein, it kills not only cancer cells but also normal cells. Patient is likely to suffer from side effects like vomiting, hair losing, fatigue, pain, etc.

Radiotherapy: Doctors use high-energy X-rays or other types of rays to kill cancer cells. Similarly to chemotherapy, radiotherapy not only kills healthy cells but also brings toxic side effects.

Treatment for adenocarcinoma varies from patient to patient. The Multidisciplinary Team(MDT) of St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou will tailor a treatment plan based on every patient’s overall health. If you want to know more about adenocarcinoma treatment, we are here to help you. Consult online or call at 02-8-8221222 (Manila Office) to make an appointment for expert consultation.

*Surgery, in addition to the appropriate chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are effective in treating early cancer, but certain patients in late stage of cancer may not be tolerate surgery well as they can be relatively weak. A combination of carefully planned minimally invasive therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can effectively reduce the side effects and discomfort of treatment and may help patient get better efficacy.