What Is Adenocarcinoma?

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in the glands that line your organs. It can develop in several different parts of the body including your colon, stomach, esophagus, lungs, breasts, pancreas, or prostate. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Prognosis and survival rates depend on the stage, location, and type of adenocarcinoma.

The glands that line your organs secrete mucus and digestive juices. If the epithelial cells begin to mutate and grow out of control, tumors can develop. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of cancer that involves your organs. It is possible for this type of cancer to spread to other parts of the body, such as your brain, lymph nodes, liver, bone, or bone marrow.

Causes and Risk Factors

Adenocarcinomas develop when the epithelial cells begin to mutate and grow out of control. Currently, there is no known cause for adenocarcinoma, but there are risk factors that may increase your chances of developing it. Risk factors include:

• Use of tobacco products (smoking or vaping)
• Alcohol consumption
• Toxin exposure
• Family history

Types of Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinomas develop in the glands but are capable of spreading to other tissue or areas in the body. There are several different types of adenocarcinomas, including:

Lung Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer, accounting for 80% of lung cancers.

Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Colorectal adenocarcinoma develops in the intestinal gland cells, which line the inside of the colon and rectum. Adenocarcinoma makes up 95% of colon and rectal cancers.

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

This type of adenocarcinoma develops in the pancreas ducts. It is the most common type of pancreatic cancer.

Breast Adenocarcinoma

The most common form of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma, which is an adenocarcinoma.

Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Usually, if cancer develops in the prostate gland, it is an adenocarcinoma. This accounts for 99% of all prostate cancers.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus develops in the glandular cells of the esophagus. It is the most common type of esophageal cancer.

Gastric (Stomach) Adenocarcinoma

Over 90% of gastric (stomach) cancer cases are adenocarcinomas. The cancer can either be intestinal or diffuse adenocarcinoma.

Symptoms of Adenocarcinoma

There are various symptoms of adenocarcinoma, often depending on the type of adenocarcinoma. The area of the body the adenocarcinoma is found typically dictates the kind of symptoms you may experience.

Lung Adenocarcinoma

Often, the first symptom of lung adenocarcinoma is a chronic cough. Your cough can be comprised of saliva, mucus, and small amounts of blood. Additional symptoms may include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Weakness
• Exhaustion

Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

If the tumor has not grown large enough, you may not have any noticeable symptoms. Typically, adenocarcinoma of the colon causes bloody stools, but the amount may be too minimal to see. Other symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Usually, people who develop pancreatic adenocarcinoma do not have symptoms until the later stages. Initial symptoms tend to be stomach pain and weight loss. Additional symptoms may include:

• Back pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heartburn
• Stools that float
• Oily or pale stools
• Itchy skin
• Unintended weight loss

Breast Adenocarcinoma

This type of adenocarcinoma is usually found on a breast mammogram in the earlier stages before any symptoms have presented. In some cases, symptoms are experienced and may include:

• Changes in breast shape or size
• Dimpled, scaley, discolored, or uneven skin on the breast or nipple
• Bloody fluid leaking from the nipple

Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Typically, there are no symptoms in the early stages of this type of adenocarcinoma. In later stages, you may develop erectile dysfunction or urinate more than normal.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Symptoms may include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Coughing
• Indigestion
• Burning or pressure in the chest
• Hoarseness

Gastric (Stomach) Adenocarcinoma

Symptoms of gastric adenocarcinoma may include:

• Feeling satiated (full) after eating small quantities of food
• Difficulty swallowing
• Indigestion
• Nausea

Diagnosing Adenocarcinoma

Diagnosing adenocarcinoma typically begins with a physical examination. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and gather a thorough medical history. If adenocarcinoma is suspected, your doctor may recommend further testing, which may include:

• Blood tests. Blood tests can indicate the presence of cancer, due to a low red blood cell count or high levels of certain enzymes.
• Imaging tests. Imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI allow your healthcare provider to see images inside your body and determine whether there is cancer, where it is located, and the size of the tumor(s).
• Biopsy. This procedure takes a small sample of tissue from the affected organ and sends it to a laboratory to be assessed for cancer.

Stages of Adenocarcinoma

Staging is determined by the size of the tumor and how far the cancer has spread. There are four stages, with the higher number indicating the cancer is more advanced or has a greater level of severity and has spread farther throughout the body. The stages include:

• Stage I. This is the least advanced stage, and it indicates that the cancer has not spread beyond the cells where it first developed.
• Stage II. This stage indicates that the cancer has grown somewhat larger, but it has not spread beyond the organ it developed in.
• Stage III. This stage indicates that the cancer has grown bigger than in stage II and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other tissues.
• Stage IV. This stage indicates that the cancer has metastasized and spread to at least one other organ.

Additionally, there is also a stage 0, which indicates there is the presence of abnormal cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. It is important to treat the abnormal cells and stop any potential for it to develop into cancer. Staging allows doctors to determine how to best treat the cancer.

Treatment Options for Adenocarcinoma

Treatment is dependent on the type, size, and location of the tumor. It is also determined by whether the cancer has spread to other organs or tissue in the body. The three main types of treatment include:

Surgery

Surgery is typically the first option for treatment for adenocarcinoma. Surgery aims to remove the cancer and any surrounding tissue that has been affected.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses specific drugs to destroy cancer cells. Sometimes chemotherapy drugs are used to target specific cancer cells or may also be used more broadly throughout your entire body.

Radiation Therapy

Often, healthcare providers will use radiation therapy in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy uses imaging to target tumors while limiting any damage to healthy surrounding tissue.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy utilizes medication that helps to support the immune system, which in turn, helps to fight against the cancer. Typically, most immunotherapy drugs can only prolong life, and they do not fully cure cancer. Some people choose this option because there may be fewer side effects than other cancer treatment options. You and your care team will determine whether immunotherapy is a good option, based on the type of cancer, the stage, and your overall health.

Prognosis and Survival Rates for Adenocarcinoma

Survival rates for adenocarcinoma vary and depend on the type, location, and stage of the cancer. One of the greatest predictors of survival rate is how early your cancer is detected and treated. Often, people who exhibit no symptoms and their cancer is not diagnosed until much later tend to have lower survival rates or have a more difficult prognosis because the cancer is harder to treat. Your prognosis can be impacted by quality of care and other individual factors.

Preventing Adenocarcinoma

Although you cannot fully prevent adenocarcinoma from developing, you can lower your risk for it to develop. Some preventative measures include:

• Avoid tobacco products
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Increase physical activity or exercise
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a balanced diet
• Meeting with your healthcare provider regularly

Why Choose Baptist Health for Adenocarcinoma Care

Baptist Health provides comprehensive adenocarcinoma care with a multidisciplinary team that collaborates to develop personalized treatment plans. Our advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options help support patients at every stage of their journey. With a focus on compassionate, patient-centered care, we strive to offer support and resources tailored to individual needs.

FAQs about Adenocarcinoma Care

How Fast Does Adenocarcinoma Grow?

How quickly an adenocarcinoma grows depends on the location, how early it was detected, quality of care, and other individual factors.

Where Does Adenocarcinoma Spread First?

Adenocarcinomas tend to spread through the soft tissue where the cancer cells and tumors developed.

What Are the First Signs of Adenocarcinoma?

Many people will not show early signs of adenocarcinoma, and the first signs may depend on what type of adenocarcinoma. However, the most common first signs of adenocarcinoma may include:

• Chronic cough
• Coughing up saliva with mucus and small amounts of blood
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Small lump in breast