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The abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas is known as pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an organ located behind and below the stomach. It produces hormones, such as insulin, and juices that digest food. Its hormones control how the body stores and uses the food we eat. Most of pancreatic cancers affect the area of the pancreas that produces the juices for breaking down food.
The risk for pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most cases occur in people between ages 65 and 79. Smoking increases the risk. Diseases like chronic pancreatitis, alcoholism, diabetes, or cirrhosis, may also increase the risk. In countries where the diet is high in fat, pancreatic cancer rates are high. It is difficult to make a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer because the signs do not occur rapidly. They come on slowly, and, when they do, the signs may indicate some other disease. The signs are like those of many other less serious and more common illnesses. SEEK MEDICAL EVALUATION IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT: - nausea
- loss of appetite
- weight loss, without trying
- pain in the upper abdomen or
- yellowing of the skin, called jaundice
Various tests need to be done, including blood tests, CT scans, MRI studies, and others, to determine the exact location of the tumour or growth. A surgical biopsy is used to make a diagnosis of the disease. TREATMENT DEPENDS ON HOW ADVANCED THE DISEASE IS: - Surgery removes the pancreas. If the cancer has spread and cannot be removed, surgery can be used to relieve symptoms (palliative surgery).
- Chemotherapy uses anticancer medications to kill the cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy uses x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours.
- Biological therapy uses methods to get your body to fight the cancer.
Unfortunately, the diagnosis may come so late that none of these can be used. Often, the most important part of dealing with pancreatic cancer is managing pain. Article #6481 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
