CONDITION
Pancreas Cancer
Introduction
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer. Unfortunately, there are very few treatments available for this disease, and survival rates are low. But that doesn’t mean you should give up hope—scientists continue to search for better ways to treat pancreatic cancer and improve outcomes for people with the disease.
What is Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland located behind and below the stomach, nestled in between the intestines and other organs of the digestive system. The pancreas has two main functions: it produces hormones that regulate blood sugar levels, and it secretes digestive enzymes that help break down food.
It’s connected to your digestive system through an organ called the duodenum—the first part of your small intestine—which carries food from your stomach after you eat it into your intestines for processing. The pancreas also connects to other organs such as its neighbor liver, bile ducts (tubes), gallbladder, kidneys, spleen and intestines via ducts (tiny tubes).
Pancreatic cancer rarely shows specific signs or symptoms in its early stages, meaning it is usually not found until it has spread to other organs.
It often goes undetected until a patient experiences jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) or pain due to blockage in the bile ducts. These symptoms occur when pancreatic cancer spreads to other areas of your body. This can sometimes lead to things like anemia and fatigue because your liver isn’t working properly anymore. But even if you don’t have these typical symptoms, it’s still important that you visit your doctor regularly for screenings so they can spot any problems early on before they get worse.
Risk Factors for Liver Cancer
If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer or other types of cancer (such as lung cancer), talk with your doctor about ways that you might be able to lower your own risk.
This might include
- quitting smoking
- eating healthily
- staying at a healthy weight
- exercising regularly
- limiting alcohol intake
- avoiding sun exposure too early in life or during teenage years when skin may still be sensitive
- wearing sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher on sun-exposed areas year-round regardless of season
- getting screened by having regular checkups with a healthcare provider especially if there is a family history of specific cancers such as leukemia/lymphoma syndrome which includes multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia among others
Other known risk factors for pancreatic cancer include old age, diabetes, obesity and a family history of pancreatic cancer.
It’s important to remember that risk factors are not the same as causes. Risk factors increase your chances of developing a disease or condition, but they don’t cause it directly. For example, smoking is one of the strongest known risk factors for lung cancer—it can nearly double your chance of getting it—but it doesn’t mean every smoker will develop lung cancer.
Some people have an increased risk for several conditions due to genetic factors (their genes). For example:
If you have family members who have had breast or ovarian cancers; you may want to talk with a doctor about being tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes because you could be at higher risk for these types of cancers as well
Two Types of Pancreatic Cancer
There are two main types of pancreatic cancer, related to the type of tissue in which the cancer begins.
- Ductal carcinoma: The most common form of pancreatic cancer, ductal carcinoma is found in the pancreas’ ducts (tubes that carry substances from one part of an organ to another). This type accounts for about 80% to 90% of all cases.
- Adenocarcinoma: This second type develops in glandular tissue within the pancreas. It accounts for 10% to 20% of all cases.
How to reduce risks
If you smoke, quitting is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of pancreatic cancer, as well as several other cancers and diseases.
Smoking is the most important avoidable risk factor for pancreatic cancer. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of pancreatic cancer, as well as several other cancers and diseases.
You can also take steps to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. If you don’t smoke but your partner does, ask him or her to stop smoking.
Treatments for Liver Cancer
Surgery is frequently used to remove tumours from the pancreas and surrounding areas, but it’s usually not recommended unless the tumour is small
Surgery is a very common treatment for pancreatic cancer. It can be used to remove tumors, lymph nodes, and surrounding tissue from the body. If you have surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days or weeks depending on what type of procedure is done and how well your body handles it.
Radiation therapy may be used before surgery or after surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is often a part of the treatment plan for people with pancreas cancer. It’s used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Radiation therapy may be used before surgery or after surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy can also be used to treat cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery if the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas affecting surrounding tissues or blood vessels
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It may be given before or after surgery or radiation therapy if there is a high chance that the cancer has spread beyond the pancreas.
There is no cure for pancreatic cancer, but scientists are working on better treatments for this disease
While there is no cure for pancreatic cancer, there are several promising treatments in development. If you have been diagnosed with this disease and are considering treatment, it’s important to know that your doctor will work with you to develop a plan based on your particular needs and goals.
Your doctor may discuss surgical removal of the pancreas as part of an attempt to stop the spread of cancer. However, because certain types of tumors cannot be removed without causing serious problems, surgery is not always a good option for people with advanced disease. In some cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy can slow down tumour growth or prevent it from returning after surgery or other treatment methods have been tried first.
Summary
Conclusion
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, but it can be treated effectively if detected early. The best way to avoid serious complications from pancreatic cancer is to get treatment as soon as possible. If you have any symptoms that could indicate this disease, see a doctor immediately so that they can diagnose and treat your condition before it spreads beyond the pancreas.
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