Many cancers in humans display characteristic symptoms that can make early diagnosis possible. Pancreatic cancer symptoms are commonly not apparent until the disease is well established and because of this, the prognosis and survival rates are poor.

WHAT IS PANCREATIC CANCER?

The pancreas is about six inches in length a spongy, glandular organ situated behind the stomach. It is responsible for making enzymes that help in food digestion [pancreatic juices] and certain hormones, including insulin that regulates blood sugar. In cancer of the pancreas, malignant cells develop in the tissues: the commonest type is adenocarcinoma which is an extremely aggressive form of the disease.

SYMPTOMS

These are vague and often attributed to other conditions, commonly experienced. For this reason, often treatment is not sought in good time and the disease is in an advanced form when the doctor is consulted.

A typical presentation of pancreatic cancer is an older patient, more commonly male, a smoker and overweight. There will be a history of feeling somewhat unwell for several weeks, pain in the upper abdomen with some vomiting and weight loss. To summarize:

* Pain in abdominal region and/or the back

* Weight loss on account of

[a] appetite loss

[b] diarrhea or light, fatty bowel movements

* Jaundice

* Diabetes [rare]

CAUSES OF PANCREATIC CANCER

There are certain risk factors for the disease:

*Advanced age: pancreatic cancer is more common in the over sixties age group.

* Males are more commonly diagnosed with the disease

* Smokers are prone to many diseases including pancreatic cancer.

* Inflammation of the pancreas, or chronic pancreatitis, can lead to cancer.

Pancreatitis usually results from excessive alcohol, or gallstones.

* Family history where close family members have suffered from pancreatic cancer.

* Diabetes

TESTS

The doctor will not be able to diagnose pancreatic cancer from a physical examination and will refer the patient for an ultrasound scan. This test would reveal gallstones as well as a pancreatic tumor, if one is present. If such a tumor is seen then a CT scan is required in addition. This can reveal small tumors and also, crucially, whether or not they have spread beyond the pancreas; this information is vitally important to a surgeon prior to an operation to remove tumors.

TREATMENT

This is dependent on the stage of development of the cancer. If the tumor is small and confined to the pancreas, surgery is a possibility; however, if it has spread to the liver or the stomach then surgery may not be helpful.

If surgery is performed chemotherapy, possibly with radiation, will follow to reduce the likelihood of a return of the cancer. In cases where surgery is not considered appropriate, then the aim will be to discourage the cancer from further growth or to slow its growth as much as possible.

Combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy [chemoradiation] may be used on cancer that has spread from the pancreas to nearby organs. Advanced pancreatic cancer may be treated with chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, as a palliative approach to prolong life.

There is, as yet, no screening available for pancreatic cancer but awareness of a genetic predisposition could be important. Other factors such as age, diet and smoking habits also contribute to the possibility of developing pancreatic cancer; as with all cancers, early diagnosis is essential for positive treatment.

Source: Mayoclinic.com

Learn more about this author, Anne Penny.
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