Destruction of the focus of oncology means the death of tumor cells that collapse and release toxins. The collapse of the tumor itself is a frequent phenomenon observed in many patients suffering from cancer. This process further worsens the patient's condition, poisons the body with dangerous metabolic products, ultimately leading to death.
Background
The whole complexity of the situation when a tumor decays, first of all, is that such a process is often caused by ongoing treatment, which is just aimed at destroying tumor cells. That is why this process is a natural consequence of cancer treatment. It may occur spontaneously due to therapeutic intervention.
Spontaneous destruction, as a rule, is characteristic of neoplasms that are impressive in size, since with large dimensions some cells die. Tumors of a malignant nature,localized in the intestine or gastric mucosa, can be damaged mechanically. They can be damaged by enzymes and hydrochloric acid.
Sudden Decay Syndrome
The death of tumor cells causes the formation of a syndrome of rapid tumor decay, which is accompanied by serious intoxication. Because of this, uric acid s alts are released, and she herself directly. In addition, there is a release of phosphates and potassium. All these components penetrate the bloodstream, through which they enter various areas of the body, where they damage organs and create an alkaline imbalance. Acidity forms in the blood mass, which has a detrimental effect on kidney function.
Chemotherapy as a source of destruction
When too much uric acid circulates in the blood mass, sooner or later it will lead to blockage of the lumens of the kidney tubules. The consequence of this process is usually the development of kidney failure.
This complication mainly affects patients who, even before the appearance of the tumor, had disturbances in the activity of the organ. Due to the release of phosphate from dead cancer cells, the concentration of calcium in the blood serum decreases. This phenomenon causes convulsions and increases drowsiness. Among other things, excess potassium is constantly coming from the oncocenter, which leads to arrhythmia, which, in turn, can lead to death.
In addition to the described metabolites, tumor cells can produce enzymes and otheraggressive products. That is why tumor decay is often complicated by an infectious lesion, inflammation, damage to a large vessel, which causes profuse bleeding. These complications make treatment difficult. In addition, there is a deterioration in the patient's condition as a whole. If there is no timely medical care, the listed violations threaten with severe blood loss.
Symptoms
The following symptoms of tumor decay are observed:
- fever appears;
- vomiting and nausea;
- pain discomfort, which is localized in the abdomen;
- rapid loss of initial body weight, which can cause oncological cachexia;
- discoloration of the skin (they turn pale, an icteric tint may appear);
- abnormal liver activity.
It must be remembered that different diseases may have their own symptoms, which will depend on the type of cancer and the location of the cancer.
Types of cancer and characteristic symptoms
For different types of cancer, in addition to the general signs described above, other symptoms are also characteristic, which are observed at a certain localization of the neoplasm.
For example, with the collapse of a breast tumor, there are often grounds for attributing the pathology to the fourth stage. With massive cell necrosis, involvement of the skin in the process and its infection, large and long-term non-healing ulcers are formed, which in most cases do not allow the oncologist to start treating the tumor as quickly as possible, since the lattermay further exacerbate the decay. Along with detoxification and antibiotic therapy, the patient's tumor continues to progress and grow, often leaving no room for surgical treatment.
The issue of therapy for decomposing breast tumors is very acute, especially given the large number of late patient visits and advanced forms of the disease. By the way, many are interested in what is the prognosis for the decay of the tumor. More on that below.
Gastric tumors can disintegrate at large sizes, in this case, the possibility of perforation of the wall of this organ and further release of its contents into the peritoneal cavity increases - peritonitis. This pathology is accompanied by infection of the peritoneum with digestive products, significant inflammation and can be fatal if the patient is not provided with emergency care. Another manifestation of tumor decay in the stomach can be severe bleeding, manifested by vomiting with blood like "coffee grounds", tachycardia, weakness, low blood pressure, etc.
The collapse of intestinal malignant tumors threatens with vascular damage to the intestinal wall and bleeding, in the rectum not only severe infection, suppuration and inflammation can appear, but also fistulous passages are formed in other organs of the small pelvis (womb in patients, bladder).
The collapse of a lung tumor is dangerous due to the penetration of air into the pleural cavity (pneumothorax), severe bleeding, the usual symptoms of shortness of breath, cough andpains are complicated by the discharge of a huge amount of putrefactive sputum.
Uterine tumors can disintegrate when the neoplasm is large. If cancer cells are destroyed, then infiltration and pronounced inflammation of the surrounding tissues occur, fistulas appear in the rectum and bladder, through which the neoplastic process will spread to these organs.
Cancerous decay with such localization is characterized by fever, severe intoxication, the spread of the inflammatory process in the small pelvis.
Symptoms of the onset of tumor decay in oncology are always an alarming signal that cannot be ignored, and therefore any deterioration in a person's well-being should be a reason to get rid of such a dangerous condition. It is very important to monitor the condition of patients who are undergoing anticancer therapy.
Diagnosis
Diagnosed based on clinical signs, instrumental findings and laboratory tests. The first warning symptom is most often a decrease in urine output.
To diagnose the decay of the tumor (hard to see in the photo), you need to determine the level of uric acid, creatinine, calcium and phosphate in the blood serum. The state of the liver is assessed based on the results of liver tests. If necessary, the patient is prescribed ultrasound of the kidneys, CT and ECG.
Treatment
Treatment of tumor decay syndrome shouldcarried out only under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital. It includes:
- Antiemetics, laxatives, sorbents. If they are ineffective, enemas are given, which not only remove feces, but also reduce intoxication with metabolic products.
- Infusion treatment to correct the balance of acids and alkalis - the introduction to the patient of calcium, aluminum hydroxide, glucose solution and insulin, aluminum, if phosphates in the blood serum increase, sodium bicarbonate.
- Acidosis in neoplastic decay is perhaps only one reasonable use of soda in cancer, but such treatment can only be carried out by a doctor and under strict supervision of the acid-base state of the blood.
- When symptoms of acute kidney failure appear, hemodialysis is performed.
- Antiarrhythmic treatment for abnormal heart rhythms.
- Anemia is treated with iron supplements.
- Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs that, in addition to relieving pain syndrome, reduce fever.
- Adequate drinking regimen and a complete diet.
- Before chemotherapy for preventive purposes, complications require abundant drinking, rehydration treatment for a day or two.
Now let's find out, when the tumor collapses, how long does the patient have to live?
Forecast
If treatment is started on time, the prognosis for tumor decay syndrome is most often favorable. When are they correctedmetabolic disturbances, restoration of kidney activity is noted. If therapy is absent or started late, there may be a fatal outcome due to acute kidney failure, complications caused by tumor decay (internal bleeding, serious infectious complications, peritonitis due to perforation of the walls of a hollow organ) or cardiac arrest.
How long to live with the collapse of the tumor in case of cancer of the 4th degree? Unfortunately, at best, you can live for several months with the right therapy.
Prevention
To prevent the appearance of the disintegration of the tumor syndrome, you need to drink plenty of fluids 1-2 days before the start of the use of chemotherapy drugs, regular monitoring of the level of uric acid, creatinine, calcium and phosphates in the blood serum. In the first week of therapy, tests are done daily. If laboratory or clinical symptoms of neoplasm decay syndrome appear, laboratory tests are done several times a day.
