Cancer of the caecum

The caecum is the organ that is the initial section of the large intestine and located in the ileum cavity on the right, from which the appendix extends the appendix. The cecum takes part in the digestive processes, and its main function is the absorption of the liquid constituent of the intestinal contents. It is this organ that often becomes the site of the localization of cancerous tumors (occurs in 20% of cases of intestinal cancer).

Cancer of the cecum is a malignant tumor that forms from the tissues of the mucous membrane of this organ. As a rule, such neoplasms are characterized by slow growth and moderate aggressiveness, a relatively late appearance of distant metastases. Therefore, patients who started treatment on time have a good chance of recovering (a prognosis of cecal cancer is favorable with adequate timely treatment).

Causes of cecal cancer

The factors predisposing to the development of the disease are:

• malnutrition;
• bad habits;
• lack of mobility;
• some pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• genetic predisposition.

Symptoms and signs of cecal cancer

As a rule, the disease proceeds against the background of other pathologies of the digestive system and has the following manifestations:

• pain of different intensity in the abdomen on the right, more often with a noisy character;
• the appearance of blood from the anus at defecation;
• general weakness;
• dizziness;
• pallor of the skin;
• disorders of the functioning of the gastrointestinal system;
• lack of appetite;
• exhaustion.

Stages of cancer of the cecum

There are five stages of the disease, in which the degree of organ damage is as follows:

1. The tumor is small, affects the superficial layers of the intestinal wall.
2. The tumor extends to the deeper layers of the intestinal wall, but without going beyond it.
3. The tumor affects the outer wall of the intestine.
4. Cancer cells go to neighboring tissues and organs, lymph nodes are affected.
5. Tumor is large, with distant metastases.

How to treat cancer of the cecum?

The main way of treating pathology is surgical. Chemo- and radiotherapy is also used (as additional methods and when surgery is not possible). After the operation, patients need a long recovery period, in which special attention is paid to their mental state, as well as to the diet.