Introduction
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland about six inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland about six inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. It produces several important hormones, including insulin and glucagon, as well as digestive enzymes that aid in food digestion.
In most cases, pancreatic cancer develops from precancerous lesions called adenocarcinomas. These lesions begin as non-cancerous cell growths but can become malignant if they grow and spread to other parts of your body. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma accounts for more than 90 percent of new cases each year; this type usually develops slowly over time and may have no symptoms until it spreads to other organs or becomes advanced enough that it begins causing problems with digestion or hormone production
Who is at risk of developing pancreatic cancer?
You are at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer if:
- You are over the age of 50. About 80% of all cases occur in people older than 50, and this number increases with age.
- You have a family history of pancreatic cancer (first degree relative). If someone in your immediate family had pancreatic cancer, then there is a slightly higher chance that you will develop it as well. However, there is no specific gene or mutation that causes this disease, so the risk is still low for most people.
- You smoke or used to smoke regularly. Smoking has been linked to an increased risk for pancreatic cancer as well as several other cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
- You have chronic pancreatitis (inflammation) that does not respond well to treatments like surgery or medication (also known as refractory chronic pancreatitis). Chronic inflammation can cause scarring which may increase your chances of developing cancer over time if left untreated because it makes your immune system less effective at fighting off infections like HIV/AIDS which cause tumors to grow rapidly without treatment due their ability to evade detection by white blood cells called Natural Killer Cells; however this isn’t common since most infections’ symptoms appear much sooner than they would be able to grow large enough before showing signs themselves.”
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
- Indigestion, bloating and pain
- Weight loss
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Pain in the abdomen or back that may come on suddenly
- Nausea and vomiting, especially early in the day, without known cause or after eating only small amounts of food for several days to weeks; this is often accompanied by anorexia (loss of appetite) or nocturnal (“nighttime”) nausea
- Loss of appetite; lack of hunger; weakness
- Bowel changes such as diarrhea (loose or watery stools), constipation (hard stools) with abdominal cramps *or* alternating periods between constipation and diarrhea; abdominal distention *or* swelling from fluid buildup around the liver due to cirrhosis 8 Fatigue (tiredness) that doesn’t get better with sleep
How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
To diagnose pancreatic cancer, your doctor will first ask you about your symptoms and medical history. This might include questions about blood in the stool or urine, jaundice, weight loss, and pain in the upper abdomen.
Next, a physical exam may be done to check for lumps or masses in the abdomen. Blood tests may also be done to check for signs of cancer. For example:
- Liver enzymes are substances released into your blood when there’s damage to liver cells. High levels of these enzymes can indicate that cancer has spread from where it started (the pancreas) to other parts of the body—like the liver or lungs—and is causing damage there as well.* When there is too much sugar in your body (hyperglycemia), it can cause organ failure.* Calcium levels are also measured because high calcium levels can affect how well organs work as well as increase risk for heart attack/stroke.* C-peptide test is used if someone has had surgery on their pancreas; this test measures how much insulin is being released by beta cells after eating something sweet like candy
How is pancreatic cancer treated?
When it comes to treatment, there are a number of different options that can help you and your doctor determine the best course of action.
In some cases, surgery will be recommended to remove the tumor. Surgery may also be used if chemotherapy is not effective or has caused too many side effects. Radiation therapy may also be given following a surgical procedure in order to lower the chance of cancer returning.
Chemotherapy (chemo) uses powerful drugs that kill fast-growing cells in order to shrink tumors and keep them from coming back after surgery. There are many types of chemo drugs—some work on certain parts of cancer cells; others work on all cells as they travel through your body; still others affect how much oxygen they use while they grow and reproduce more cancer cells (known as “mitosis”).
Statistics on pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. In 2018, there will be an estimated 46,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer and about 43,000 deaths from the disease.
The most common signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
- Weight loss for no apparent reason
- Pain in your upper abdomen that spreads to your back or chest
- Nausea and vomiting (which may lead to weight loss)
- Jaundice (yellowing of your skin)
How can I prevent pancreatic cancer?
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.
- Don’t drink alcohol.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Get regular exercise, such as walking at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
- Get screened for cancer with appropriate tests, such as a colonoscopy, mammogram, PAP smear (for women), and fecal occult blood test (FOBT).
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland about six inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
A pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen that produces digestive enzymes and hormones.
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland about six inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
Pancreatic cancer causes symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of skin), weight loss or gain, anemia (low red blood cell count), malnutrition, fatigue, abdominal pain or bloating, nausea/vomiting, changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation), dark urine and pale stools; back pain; swollen lymph nodes; respiratory problems such as coughing up blood
Conclusion
If you are concerned about your risk of developing pancreatic cancer or want to learn more about the symptoms and treatment options, speak with your doctor. The earlier pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, the better chance there is for it to be successfully treated.