Pancreatic Cancer
Overview
What is Pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a type of gastrointestinal cancer that occurs with the uncontrollable division of abnormal cells. Exocrine and endocrine cells make up the pancreas, and in most cases, pancreatic malignancies originate from exocrine cells.
Symptoms
Pancreatic cancers commonly cause abdominal pain, lower back pain, jaundice and sudden weight loss. It is important to note that symptoms of pancreatic cancer usually do not appear until the later stages of the disease.
Causes
Although the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown, various risk factors that may increase one’s risk have been identified:
Age:Pancreatic cancer can happen at any age, but it is most common in those between the ages of 50 and 80. Around 63 % of pancreatic cancer patients are above the age of 70.
Smoking:Smoking is found to cause up to 1/3rd of all pancreatic cases. Tobacco consumption in any form is found to increase one’s pancreatic cancer risk.
Diagnosis
There are multiple tests that a doctor may recommend for the detection and conclusive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Following are the commonly recommended tests for pancreatic cancer diagnosis:
a. Physical Examination: Physical examination is recommended if a patient presents with pancreatic cancer symptoms.
b. Lab Tests: Blood tests are rarely recommended for pancreatic cancer detection.
c. Imaging tests: Imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scans create detailed images of the pancreas and nearby tissues
Treatment
Treatment for pancreatic cancer is planned upon considering multiple factors, namely the stage of the disease, the exact location, the overall condition of the patient and lastly, his/her preferences. Following are the treatment options that a doctor may recommend for pancreatic cancer management:
