What is Pancreatic Cancer?

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Pancreatic cancer occurs in the pancreas. In the U.S. in 2015, it’s estimated that about 48,960 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and about 40,560 people will die of pancreatic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3 percent of all cancer cases, and about 7 percent of cancer deaths.

The pancreas is an organ in the body located behind the stomach and in front of the spine. The pancreas gets energy from the food we consume, which it helps the body use and store. It has two main functions which includes making enzymes to help break down food, and making hormones, such as glucagon and insulin, to control blood sugar levels.

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer does not have the best prognosis. Even with an early diagnosis, pancreatic cancer is not easily treatable. This type of cancer spreads very quickly and is tough to detect early on, making it a leading cause of cancer death. In addition, the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer do not often arise until the disease is in an advanced stage when treatment options are limited.

There are two types of pancreatic cancer: Exocrine tumors and endocrine tumors. Exocrine tumors are the most common type and make up about 90 percent of pancreatic cancers. Endocrine tumors are much less common and make up about 2 to 5 percent of pancreatic cancers.

The cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown. However, there are risk factors that may increase a person’s risk for developing the disease:

  • Excess body weight or obesity.
  • Smoking. Research shows smoking increases your risk for developing pancreatic cancer.
  • Chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Long-term inflammation of the pancreas has been linked to pancreatic cancer.
  • Being African-American.
  • Age. Risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age.
  • Family history of pancreatic cancer.
  • Diabetes. May increase risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer don’t often occur until the disease is in an advanced stage. When they do appear, they may include:

  • Upper abdominal pain that is new, significant, and chronic (may be relieved by leaning forward)
  • Back pain
  • Jaundice (yellowing of your skin/eyes, dark urine)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained, significant weight loss
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Faint indigestion
  • New onset of diabetes
  • Fatigue
  • Blood clots

Deciding which treatment option is best can be a difficult decision. It’s important to discuss these options with your doctor to discuss the pros, cons, potential risks, and side effects of each option. Ultimately, the most important factors when deciding on a treatment plan include whether the cancer can be surgically removed and the state of your overall health. The most common options for treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, chemoradiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

Treatment options:

  • Surgery: removal of the tumor
    • If cancer has not spread beyond pancreas: Whipple procedure, total pancreatectomy, distal pancreatectomy
  • If cancer has spread beyond the pancreas, the following may be done to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life: Surgical biliary bypass, endoscopic stent placement, gastric bypass
    • Radiation therapy: uses radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
    • Chemotherapy: uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells by killing them.
    • Chemoradiation therapy: combines chemo and radiation therapy to increase effectiveness of both.
    • Targeted therapy: uses drugs or other substances to target and attack cancer cells without harming healthy cells.