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With the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, your chance for long term survival is not very hopeful. Because the pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, pancreatic cancer often remains undetected until it has spread to other organs like the liver or lungs. Pancreatic cancer tends to spread very rapidly to other organs, even when the primary tumor is actually quite small.

The pancreas is six to eight inches long and has a slipper shaped appearance. It is located behind the stomach, within a loop formed by the small intestine. The pancreas has a wide end called the head, a narrow end called the tail and the middle section is known as the body. A healthy pancreas is important for the normal food digestion process, and also plays a role in metabolic processes.

Exocrine tissue makes up vast majority of the gland and its role is to secrete fluid into other organs of the digestive system. The exocrine tissue of the pancreas is composed of mostly acinar cells and ductal cells that produce pancreatic juices The juices contain enzymes that help break down proteins and fatty foods. The endocrine tissue secretes hormones ( insulin) that are circulated into the bloodstream. The exocrine pancreas is what forms an intricate system of tubular ducts that carry pancreatic juices to the small intestine. These juices are used in the digestive process.

The pancreatic tumors are either exocrine or endocrine. 95% of pancreatic cancers occur in tissue of exocrine pancreas. Ductal adenocarcinomas arise in the cells that line the ducts of the exocrine pancreas and are accountable for 80 to 90% of all tumors of the pancreas.

Two thirds of all pancreatic tumors occur in the head of the pancreas and tunor growth in this area leads to the obstruction of the nearby common bile duct that empties bile fluid into the small intestine. Because of the blockage of the bile duct , it may cause yellowing of the skin known as jaundice. Blockage may cause digestive problems since the fluid contains enzymes in the digestive process.

Some facts about pancreatic cancer:

* Even though it accounts for only 3% of all cancer, it is the 5th most frequent cause of cancer death

* usual age is 60 to 80 years

* Men are two times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women

* United States has one of highest pancreatic cancer rates

* African americans have the highest incidence of pancreatic cancer

The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not known. They are aware that there are several risk factors for this disease shown

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