Cricoid (or cricoid) cancer is a malignant neoplasm in the stomach, which ranks second among all tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The first is gastric adenocarcinoma.
When the disease affects any part of the digestive organ, then the tumor grows, spreading through all its layers. This neoplasm is extremely malignant. Metastases quickly appear in other organs.
Description of disease
There is a special transformation of cancer cells in this disease, from which the name "ring-cell stomach cancer" comes from. Atypical cells that fill the glandular epithelium accumulate a substance such as mucin. This substance under normal conditions is able to protect cells from bacteria, but it may happen that there is too much mucin. As a result, the cell nucleus will be compressed, and it will move closer to the shell. When histology is performed, atypical cancer cells are found in the form of a ring.
Cricoid gastric cancer is a cancer that is characterized by endophyticgrowth. There is a spread of atypical cells inside, while the mucous, then the muscular and serous layers of the organ are captured.
The growth of the neoplasm is carried out not only in depth, but also in breadth, since the tumor has no clear boundaries. That is why it is extremely difficult to choose the optimal method of therapy.
Tumor cells quickly spread through the body through the lymphatic fluid. Almost half of patients diagnosed with ring cell carcinoma have tumor growth in all layers of the stomach. This type of cancer is treatable, but only if detected early, before metastases appear.
This type of cancer is most common in young women. Oncologists cannot explain this yet.
Main reasons
Ricoid cell carcinoma of the stomach occurs for the same reasons as other types of cancer. Here, a violation of the diet and junk food has a primary effect on the stomach. Risk factors include:
- special fondness for spicy, s alty, smoked, pickled and deep fried foods;
- eating irregular, dry food, cold or too hot food;
- excessive drinking.
All this constantly irritates the gastric mucosa, the structure of cells changes, their functions are disturbed. Because of this, cancerous cells form from normal cells.
In addition to nutrition, there are a number of other causes of cricoid stomach cancer:
- heredity -oncologists confirmed the fact of the development of this type of cancer in cases where relatives had oncology;
- detection of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric juice - in connection with this, there is a constant inflammation of the mucous layer of the stomach, which provokes a chronic disease, after which cancer is possible;
- the presence of unfavorable living conditions - if some chemical elements are present in the soil layer (and this happens in some regions of our country), then these carcinogenic substances accumulate in plants that a person eats;
- bad habits - not only alcohol, but also smoking can provoke cancer (tobacco tar decomposes, after which a large number of carcinogenic elements are formed, and they negatively affect all organs and systems of the body).
In addition, a person may develop a precancerous condition. This can be very dangerous.
Precancerous conditions include the presence of polyps in the stomach, dysplasia, atrophic gastritis. These pathologies must be cured, otherwise there is a risk of their transformation into cancer.
How does the disease manifest itself?
Often the disease does not manifest itself at all in the first two stages. That is why ring cell carcinoma of the stomach is found at the 3rd and 4th stages. Symptoms occur as the tumor grows in width and depth.
Main signs of this type of cancer:
- rapid satiety after eating, heaviness in the abdomen due to swelling;
- appearance of nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, constipation;
- burping air, frequentheartburn;
- constant fatigue, drowsiness;
- increased body temperature.
Digestion worsens, metabolism is disturbed. The body is deficient in vitamins and minerals. The hemoglobin level drops. There is hair loss and dryness, skin pallor, weakness. A person experiences constant aching pain in the stomach, which does not depend on food intake.
He has an aversion to meat and fish dishes. It is for this reason that there is a sharp weight loss. A tumor of the cardiac region causes dysphagia, that is, a feeling of a lump in the throat. If the small intestine is affected, peristalsis is also impaired. If the tumor is too large, then it threatens with complete obstruction, which requires emergency surgical intervention.
Sometimes the cancer breaks down, then it is fraught with stomach bleeding. There is also apathy, depression, sleep disturbance. Most often this happens already at the 3rd stage.
And how does stage 4 signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach manifest itself? Stage 4 is characterized by a complete lack of appetite, severe cachexia, and ascites. The patient often lies down. Metastases occur in other organs, so other symptoms join everything, because vital systems cease to function normally.
Stages
There are several stages of cricoid cancer:
- zero - the presence of cancer cells in the superficial layer of the stomach;
- first - the mucous membrane suffers;
- second - externallayer;
- third - the tumor spreads to all layers and neighboring organs (diaphragm, liver, kidneys, pancreas, peritoneum, spleen), lymph nodes are affected;
- fourth - foci were also found in distant organs.
Diagnosis
For treatment to be successful, it must be timely. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first ailments from the stomach (pain, dyspepsia, heaviness, heartburn). In addition, it is useful to undergo scheduled medical examinations and comprehensive examinations regularly.
To detect signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach, you need to:
- donate blood for analysis (including oncomarkers) - this is how inflammation in the body, low hemoglobin, malfunctions in the heart and liver are detected;
- perform gastroscopy and simultaneous biopsy (at the same time, a tube with a camera at the end is inserted into the stomach, all changes in the mucosa are clearly visible, then a small piece is specially plucked off for histology);
- conduct an ultrasound examination of the peritoneum - it allows you to identify inflammation and secondary foci of cancer;
- take an x-ray with a contrast agent to notice changes in the stomach;
- perform computed tomography, thanks to this, metastases are detected and the area of the malignant process in the body is determined.
Ricoid cell carcinoma of the stomach: treatment
Therapy for this type of cancer is surgicaloperations to remove the tumor itself, part of the stomach, lymph nodes. At a late stage of the disease, the secondary focus is also removed. Then chemotherapy is prescribed. It can be prescribed even before surgery, which can lead to a decrease in the area of the malignant process. This is important in the diagnosis of "ring-cell carcinoma of the stomach." Chemotherapy after surgery improves the prognosis. Microscopic foci of cancer are destroyed in this way very efficiently.
Also, palliative therapy with anticancer drugs is used to alleviate the patient's condition. So you can prolong his life.
Radiation therapy is rarely used. The area of malignant processes is too large for irradiation. With the help of special preparations, they reduce pain, improve the digestive process, protecting the heart and kidneys.
Here's how RCC is treated in hospitals.
Life forecast
This type of cancer has an aggressive course with a poor prognosis. And only early detection, as well as timely treatment, will allow survival for 5 years after surgery. The chances are 85%.
If the 3rd stage of the disease was detected, then the survival rate for 5 years is only 40%. At this time, metastases appear in other organs, which cannot be overcome by modern methods of treatment. This is dangerous for ring cell carcinoma of the stomach.
The prognosis after surgery in case of detection of the disease at the 4th stage is poor. Death often comes suddenly. But if supportive therapy is carried out,will be able to live a few more months with cricoid cancer of the stomach. It is possible to live 5 years after surgery, but the chance is 5-10%.
Dr. Wallock's advice
The world-famous Dr. Wallock suggests that the treatment of signet cell cancer of the stomach be carried out with the help of a diet. He recommends including beta-carotene, vitamin E and the trace element selenium in the diet. This will help, in his opinion, to reduce mortality from cancer. Fortifying food with nutrients can cure and prevent many other dangerous diseases.
Conclusion
Full and he althy nutrition is the key to a long life. It is also necessary to minimize all bad habits. This is especially true for people with a hereditary predisposition. If there are chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to treat them, as well as to be examined prophylactically (at least once a year). And don't rely entirely on alternative treatments for RCC.
