This specific form of cancer is due to a malignant mass of tissue that is abnormal located inside the pancreas. Current US estimates indicate that nearly forty-three thousand people will be affected by it and more than thirty-six thousand will die from it before the end of 2010. One main issue is that it is so difficult to diagnose because pancreatic cancer symptoms are often not present until the late stages.
The pancreas regulates the way that the body processes sugar and it plays a major role in the digestive system. It supplies vital digestive juices that are required to digest food. When it develops cells that mutate and continue to live past regular life expectancy they accumulate causing cancer in the form of a tumor.
Because there are different types of cells, different types of cancer are also possible. A specific type of cell is responsible for only digestive juices and the other is related to hormone production. Each of these cell types can be associated with a specific type of cancer.
Cells responsible for digestive juices line ducts inside the organ. These particular cells are most often connected with adenocarcinomas. This group of cells may also be called an exocrine tumor.
Hormone producing cells located here are responsible for the production of insulin. When these cells become involved it is known as a form of endocrine cancer. Fortunately, this type is extremely rare and only affects a very small percentage of the population; under one percent.
Cancer of the pancreas is also referred to as the silent killer due to the symptoms being hidden until the condition is actually quite serious. Symptoms that most individuals experience are upper abdomen pain that goes through to back, weight loss, no appetite, depression, blood clots and yellowing of skin and around the white part of eyes.
It is possible for some of these symptoms to be related to other conditions, but most are cause for seeking medical attention. Testing will likely begin to establish the proper diagnosis. If cancer is present, the physician will decide at what stage and start required treatment.
Stages are categorized in one through four; four being the most critical. Stage one indicates the presence of cancer within the pancreas. Stage two includes the presence within and its spread to organs and tissue nearby with the possibility of the lymph nodes included. Stage three means that cancer has spread to major blood vessels nearby and possibly the lymph nodes. Stage four acknowledges the spread of disease well beyond and to other organs.
Surgery will most likely be the course of treatment if cancer has remained only in the pancreas when the diagnosis is delivered. Unfortunately, if it has spread to other areas then this may not be an option and medication may be the only form of treatment. The patient will be provided with medications to keep them comfortable while dealing with the symptoms. There is no specific way to avoid pancreatic cancer, but there are ways to assist in the prevention including avoiding smoking, keeping weight under control and exercising.
There are certain individuals who are more likely to develop this form of cancer. Individuals over the age of sixty are much more susceptible as well as those who suffer from diabetes and have a family history. It is advised for this group to pay closer attention to pancreatic cancer symptoms.
The pancreas regulates the way that the body processes sugar and it plays a major role in the digestive system. It supplies vital digestive juices that are required to digest food. When it develops cells that mutate and continue to live past regular life expectancy they accumulate causing cancer in the form of a tumor.
Because there are different types of cells, different types of cancer are also possible. A specific type of cell is responsible for only digestive juices and the other is related to hormone production. Each of these cell types can be associated with a specific type of cancer.
Cells responsible for digestive juices line ducts inside the organ. These particular cells are most often connected with adenocarcinomas. This group of cells may also be called an exocrine tumor.
Hormone producing cells located here are responsible for the production of insulin. When these cells become involved it is known as a form of endocrine cancer. Fortunately, this type is extremely rare and only affects a very small percentage of the population; under one percent.
Cancer of the pancreas is also referred to as the silent killer due to the symptoms being hidden until the condition is actually quite serious. Symptoms that most individuals experience are upper abdomen pain that goes through to back, weight loss, no appetite, depression, blood clots and yellowing of skin and around the white part of eyes.
It is possible for some of these symptoms to be related to other conditions, but most are cause for seeking medical attention. Testing will likely begin to establish the proper diagnosis. If cancer is present, the physician will decide at what stage and start required treatment.
Stages are categorized in one through four; four being the most critical. Stage one indicates the presence of cancer within the pancreas. Stage two includes the presence within and its spread to organs and tissue nearby with the possibility of the lymph nodes included. Stage three means that cancer has spread to major blood vessels nearby and possibly the lymph nodes. Stage four acknowledges the spread of disease well beyond and to other organs.
Surgery will most likely be the course of treatment if cancer has remained only in the pancreas when the diagnosis is delivered. Unfortunately, if it has spread to other areas then this may not be an option and medication may be the only form of treatment. The patient will be provided with medications to keep them comfortable while dealing with the symptoms. There is no specific way to avoid pancreatic cancer, but there are ways to assist in the prevention including avoiding smoking, keeping weight under control and exercising.
There are certain individuals who are more likely to develop this form of cancer. Individuals over the age of sixty are much more susceptible as well as those who suffer from diabetes and have a family history. It is advised for this group to pay closer attention to pancreatic cancer symptoms.
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