Carcinoma Demystified: A Guide to Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Pathways

Carcinomas are aberrant cells which proliferate uncontrollably, just like other forms of cancer. Although they can, they do not always spread to other body areas. Every cancer is not carcinoma, but every carcinoma is a cancer. Other cancers that are not carcinomas invade the body in different ways. For instance, they start in blood vessels and bones, immune system cells, the brain and the spinal cord.  

Carcinoma

Carcinoma is a kind of cancer that develops in the epithelial tissues. The cancers affecting the skin, breasts, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, head and neck are carcinomas. Many think of cancer in terms of where it develops, but this is just one way to distinguish one type of cancer from others. As carcinoma cells develop and multiply, they form solid masses known as tumours. Cancer cells from tumours can spread to other regions of the body. The following describes the spreading of carcinomas in the body:

• Carcinoma in situ: It is where the carcinoma or tumour does not spread to other organs and tissue and stays in its original cells.
• Invasive carcinoma: The carcinoma has spread to the surrounding tissues from the original one.
• Metastatic carcinoma: The carcinoma has spread to other parts of the body.  

Types of carcinomas

Carcinomas are classified into the following types:

• Adenocarcinoma: It develops in the glands that line the organs, known as glandular epithelial cells, which release fluids like mucus and digestive enzymes.  
• Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma develops in the basal cells located in the epidermis layer. The epidermis is the top layer where the basal cells line its bottom. These cells replace the cells in the outer layer.  
• Squamous cell carcinoma: It appears in the parts of the skin that receive the most sun exposure, such as the face, ears, neck, arms, and feet.  
• Ductal carcinoma: It develops in the breast milk ducts.  

Diagnosis  

The diagnostic test to detect carcinomas involves,

• Blood test: Blood cultures show cancerous cells and other tumours under microscopes. Blood is collected and tested in a lab to isolate the cancer-causing cells and tumours.  
• Imaging tests: Imaging tests like CT scans, MRI scans and chest X-rays are carried out to view the internal structure.
• Biopsy: biopsy is a method of diagnosis that takes samples of tissue or fluid and is studied under a microscope to look for cancer cells and determine what kind of cancer. It is also tested for genetic changes called mutations.
• Molecular tests: It is a kind of biopsy where a tissue sample is tested for gene mutations that special drugs can target as a part of treatment.  

Treatments

The treatments for carcinoma include,

• Chemotherapy: It uses drugs that kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells. These are given intravenously or orally.  
• Radiofrequency ablation: It involves using high-energy radio waves to facilitate the destruction of cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy: It is given to destroy only the cancerous cells without harming healthy cells in the process.  
• Immune therapy: It is mainly used to increase the strength of the immune system to fight against cancer. 

Conclusion  

To conclude, carcinomas are a kind of cancer seen in epithelial tissues. It leads to fatal and life-threatening symptoms, which are difficult to treat. The treatment could be palliative, curative or both, depending on the diagnosis. As you deal with life after receiving a cancer diagnosis, it can also provide you the confidence and comfort you need to lead life. However, instead of thinking about the treatments, it is better not to get the disease in the first place by adopting healthy lifestyle choices.