Pancreatic cancer

What are the first signs of pancreatic cancer?

Cancer that begins in the organ lying behind the lower part of the stomach (pancreas).The pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of sugars. This type of cancer is often detected late, spreads rapidly and has a poor prognosis.There are no symptoms in the early stages. Later stages are associated with symptoms, but these can be non-specific, such as lack of appetite and weight loss.Treatment may include surgically removing the pancreas, radiation and chemotherapy.

Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

• Jaundice and related symptoms. Jaundice is yellowing of the eyes and skin. …
• Belly or back pain. Pain in the abdomen (belly) or back is common in pancreatic cancer. …
• Weight loss and poor appetite. …
• Nausea and vomiting. …
• Gallbladder or liver enlargement. …
• Blood clots. …
• Diabetes.

Pancreatic cancer treatment

Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of cancer. It has two goals: to kill cancerous cells and to prevent the spread of the disease.

Weight loss, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, and liver failure are among the most common complications during pancreatic cancer treatment.

Surgery

The decision to use surgery to treat pancreatic cancer comes down to two things: the location of the cancer and the stage of the cancer. Surgery can remove all or some portions of the pancreas.

This can eliminate the original tumor, but it will not remove cancer that has spread to other portions of the body. Surgery may not be suitable for people with advanced stage pancreatic cancer for that reason.

Radiation therapy

Other treatment options must be explored once the cancer spreads outside of the pancreas. Radiation therapy uses X-rays and other high-energy beams to kill the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

In some cases, your doctor might combine other treatments with chemotherapy, which uses cancer-killing drugs to help prevent future growth of cancer cells.

Targeted therapy

This type of cancer treatment uses drugs or other measures to specifically target cancer cells and work to destroy them. These drugs are designed not to harm healthy or normal cells.

Pancreatic cancer prognosis

The survival rates for pancreatic cancer have been improving in recent decades. Research and new treatments are expanding the average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

However, the disease is still considered difficult to cure. Because pancreatic cancer typically does not cause symptoms until the cancer is in advanced stages, the likelihood the cancer has spread, or metastasized, is high. That make it hard to treat or eliminate the cancer.

Combining alternative measures with traditional medical treatments may help to improve your quality of life. Yoga, meditation, and light exercise might promote a sense of well-being and make you feel better during treatment.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Early diagnosis significantly increases the chances of recovery. That’s why it’s best to visit your doctor if you’re experiencing any symptoms that won’t go away or recur regularly.

To make a diagnosis, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history. They may order one or more tests to check for pancreatic cancer, such as:

• CT or MRI scans to get a complete and detailed image of your pancreas
• an endoscopic ultrasound, in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached is inserted down into the stomach to obtain images of the pancreas
• biopsy, or tissue sample, of the pancreas
• blood tests to detect if tumor marker CA 19-9 is present, which can indicate pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer life expectancy

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer — unfortunately, many patients don’t receive a diagnosis until it has spread outside of the pancreas. The five-year survival rate for all stages of pancreatic cancer is 9 percent.

Following all of your doctor’s recommendations can help improve your chances of recovery and survival. You may also consider:

• pancreatic enzyme supplements to improve digestion
• pain medications
• regular follow-up care, even if the cancer is successfully removed

Is pancreatic cancer curable?

Pancreatic cancer is curable, if it’s caught early. Two types of surgery, Whipple procedure or a pancreatectomy, can remove a portion or all of the pancreas. This will eliminate the initial cancer tumor.

Unfortunately, the majority of pancreatic cancers are not found and diagnosed until the cancer is in an advanced stage and spread beyond the original site.

Surgery may not be suitable at late stages of pancreatic cancer. If the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, removing the tumor or pancreas will not cure you. Other treatments must be considered.

Pancreatic cancer risk factors

While the cause of this type of cancer is unknown, there are certain risk factors that may increase your chances of developing pancreatic cancer. You may be at an increased risk if you:

• smoke cigarettes — 30 percent of cancer cases are related to cigarette smoking
• are obese
• don’t exercise regularly
• eat diets high in fat content
• drink heavy amounts of alcohol
• have diabetes
• work with pesticides and chemicals
• have chronic inflammation of the pancreas
• have liver damage
• are African-American
• have a family history of pancreatic cancer or certain genetic disorders that have been linked to this type of cancer

Your DNA has a great influence on your health and the conditions you may develop. You can inherit genes that will increase your risk for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer surgery

If the tumor has remained confined to the pancreas, surgery may be recommended. Whether or not surgery is an option is based on the exact location of the cancer.

Tumors confined to the “head and neck” of the pancreas can be removed with a procedure called the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy).

In this procedure, the first part, or the “head” of the pancreas and about 20 percent of the “body,” or the second part, are removed. The bottom half of the bile duct and the first part of the intestine are also removed.

In a modified version of this surgery, a part of the stomach is also removed.