Pancreatic cancer occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of cancer cells that form a malignant tumor in the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, but new treatments are beginning to improve symptoms and the quality of life for people with pancreatic cancer.
The pancreas is an organ of the endocrine and digestive systems and is located in the upper left area of the abdomen. The pancreas produces hormones that affect the body's metabolism and help to regulate glucose and energy. The pancreas also secretes pancreatic juice, which helps to break down food during digestion.
Normally, cells in the pancreas that are old or damaged will stop dividing and die before they can become cancerous. These cells are usually replaced by healthy young cells. Pancreatic cancer occurs when old or damaged cells continue to divide and multiply uncontrollably. It is not known exactly why this occurs, but some cases of pancreatic cancer may be linked to inherited gene mutations. Untreated and/or advanced pancreatic cancer grows and spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body such as the liver, and becomes terminal.
People at risk for developing pancreatic cancer, also called pancreas cancer, include those who smoke or have chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, or use alcohol to excess.
Pancreatic cancer is most curable if caught in the earliest stages of the disease. However, there are generally no symptoms in early stages of pancreatic cancer, and some forms of pancreatic cancer produce no symptoms until it has metastasized or spread to other organs. If there are symptoms, they can be very vague and include nausea, weight loss, and loss of appetite. For additional symptoms, refer to symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Diagnosing pancreatic cancer and its stage of advancement begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms and risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Diagnosis also includes completing a physical examination.
Diagnostic testing includes an imaging test called an endoscopic ultrasound. An endoscopic ultrasound involves passing a probe through the mouth into the esophagus and using sound wave technology to create a picture of the pancreas. Another imaging test that may be performed is an abdominal CT. However, abdominal CT is less accurate that endoscopic ultrasound and may not pick up all early tumors due to pancreatic cancer.
Another endoscopic procedure called an ERCP may also be done to examine the ducts of the pancreas, liver and gallbladder. In this procedure, the physician inserts a flexible viewing tube through the mouth and down into the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Dye is used to illuminate any abnormalities that might indicate pancreatic cancer. During this procedure, a biopsy may also be taken. A biopsy involves taking a small sample of pancreatic tissue to examine under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
Various tests on blood, urine and the stool are also done to aid in diagnosis.
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be missed or delayed because there are generally no symptoms in early stages of the disease. Additionally, some symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, such as gallstones, indigestion, and gastritis. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer varies, depending on the stage of advancement of the disease and other factors. Treatment may include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of pancreatic cancer. ...more »
Pancreatic cancer: Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Pancreatic cancer is available below.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can vary among individuals. There are generally no symptoms at all until pancreatic cancer has developed into an advanced stage. When symptoms do appear, they can be vague and very similar to other diseases, disorders and conditions. These symptoms can include diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and itching (pruritis) of ...more symptoms »
The cancer cells of pancreatic cancer are very resistant to treatment. The best prognosis for a cure is diagnosing pancreatic cancer in its very earliest stage. There generally is no way to cure pancreatic cancer once it has metastasized.
Treatment plans for pancreatic cancer are individualized for each person's specific case. Treatment plans are based on a person's medical ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be delayed or missed because there are no symptoms until the disease has spread to other organs and generally become terminal. In addition, some symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be vague and similar to other diseases, conditions and disorders. These include gastroenteritis, gastritis, cirrhosis of the liver, gall stones, and ...more misdiagnosis »
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Prognosis for Pancreatic cancer: Depending on the extent of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor; less than 5 percent of those diagnosed are still alive five years after diagnosis.
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Visit our research pages for current research about Pancreatic cancer treatments.
The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Pancreatic cancer include:
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Pancreatic carcinoma is a carcinoma arising from the exocrine pancreas. The overwhelming majority of pancreatic carcinomas are adenocarcinomas. --2002 - (Source - Diseases Database)
Cancer of the pancreas - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
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