Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of pancreas a large organ that lies behind the lower part of the stomach. Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, even in early diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Upper abdominal pain that may radiate to your back
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Depression
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer:
- Age>:The risk of this cancer goes up with age.
- Gender: Men have higher tendency for pancreatic cancer than women.
- Race:African Americans are more likely to have this cancer than are whites.
- Smoking: The risk of getting cancer of the pancreas is 2 to 3 times higher in smokers.
- Diet: There may be a link between pancreatic cancer and high-fat diets that include a lot of red meat, pork, and processed meat.
- Obesity and lack of exercise: Very overweight people are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
- Chronic pancreatitis: This is a long-term inflammation of the pancreas. It is linked with a slightly higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Cirrhosis of the liver: People with cirrhosis seem to have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Work exposure: Heavy exposure at work to pesticides, dyes, and chemicals may increase the risk of getting cancer of the pancreas.
Test and Diagnosis:
- Ultrasound
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Biopsy
Treatment:
Surgery:Surgery isthe best option to remove tumor from head or tail of pancreas.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. You may receive radiation treatments before or after cancer surgery, often in combination with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can also be combined with radiation therapy. Chemo radiation is typically used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pancreas,