What is Adenocarcinoma ?
This term refers to tumors, or abnormal cells, originating from tissues that normally secrete something or produce something. In the case of colon cancer or appendix cancers, or in the case of PMP, the cells are originally found in the lining of the intestines and their old job was to produce slippery slimy mucin to help passage of food and stool down the pipe!
Although commonly associated with lung cancer, adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in cells lining glandular types of internal organs, such as the lungs, breasts, colon, prostate, stomach, pancreas, and cervix. Another type of adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, accounts for only 10-15% of all adenocarcinomas and is particular to aggressive carcinomas that are comprised of at least sixty percent mucus.
The term “adenocarcinoma” is used to describe a malignant tumor which grows in the glandular epithelial cells which line most internal organs. Adenocarcinomas tend to function somewhat like glands, producing distinct secretions of their own. If such a tumor is discovered, it requires prompt treatment, as otherwise it will spread and eventually kill the patient. The leading cancer of the colon is adenocarcinoma, and it is also extremely common in the lungs. A number of organs and body parts can be assaulted by an adenocarcinoma, including the cervix, pancreas, prostate, stomach, thyroid, and breast. These cancers are usually very easy to spot in a visual inspection of the affected organ, as they tend to be a markedly different color. Doctors may choose to biopsy anyway, to confirm that the cancer is an adenocarcinoma, as different tumors may require different treatment approaches. The first step in treating adenocarcinoma is getting the tumor out, so that it cannot continue to grow. Gen
