The pancreas is a pear shaped gland stretching lengthwise across the abdomen between the spine and the stomach. The pancreas has two major functions. It releases hormones into the bloodstream, most notably insulin, and also produces enzymes, which break down fats and proteins to help digest food. Ducts carry the enzymes through the pancreas to the common bile duct, where they are emptied into the small intestine. The most common place for cancer to occur is in the ducts that transport enzymes to the small intestine. Cancer also arises in the skin or tissue of the pancreas, as well as in the cells that make hormones.
- Most patients are over the age of 50
- Men are more frequently diagnosed than women
- Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop pancreatic cancer
- Family history of pancreatic, colon or ovarian cancer, diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis
- African-Americans are more likely to get pancreatic cancer
- Exposure to some chemicals
- Diet high in fats
Pancreatic cancer, early on, particularly is difficult to detect and treat because it exhibits very few notable symptoms. Those who suffer from pancreatic cancer may experience of the following:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the upper abdomen and back
- Jaundice, a condition causing darkened urine or yellow eyes and skin
Dectection and Diagnosis
To determine if the patient has pancreatic cancer, a number of different procedures are performed.
A physical examination usually is the first step towards diagnosis. When a patient exhibits symptoms, the physician will feel the abdomen for changes in the area around the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder and for abnormal fluid swelling in the abdomen, called ascites. Blood, urine and stool samples may be checked for bilirubin, a buildup which can occur from the blockage of the common bile duct by a tumor. Tumor markers, proteins that appear in the blood at the time of cancer, can be helpful for diagnosis and follow-up.
A computerized tomography (CT) scan is a type of x-ray that can take very detailed pictures. The CT scan is used to detect tumors in the pancreas, lymph nodes, and liver, in addition to detecting a blocked bile duct. When having a CT scan the patient, lying down, is slowly slid through a ring, which takes pictures in sequence. A contrast dye is injected through an IV so internal structures can be seen more clearly on the resulting pictures. Together, the pictures create a thorough internal image of the body.
An ultrasound utilizes inaudible sound waves, which bounce off internal organs and create a picture of the internal body. Two kinds of ultrasound procedures are employed at the possibility of pancreatic cancer: external or internal. Externally an ultrasound device is placed on the abdomen, which is referred to as a transabdominal ultrasound. Internally, in an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) an endoscope, or a thin tube with an ultrasound device at the end, is inserted into the body via the mouth through to the small intestine. An ultrasound device is at the end of the tube.
In an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an endoscope, or thin tube, is passed through the body through the mouth. The physician can see through the tube as it is pushed towards the small intestine, where then a smaller tube, called a catheter, is inserted through the endoscope. The catheter releases harmless dye that outlines the structure of the ducts. An x-ray is taken showing whether the ducts are blocked or narrowed.
In a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), harmless dye is injected to the liver through the skin. An x-ray is taken showing if or where there are blockages in the bile ducts, which can indicate tumorous growth.
In a biopsy, a piece of tissue is extracted from the pancreas and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. The tissue can be removed with a needle, during an ERCP or an EUS, or during an operation on the abdomen.
PET scans are now used often to determine if the cancer can be removed surgically.
Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments are used for cancer of the pancreas. If the tumor is small enough, surgery can remove the tumorous growth. If the cancer is too widespread to remove it in its entirety, palliative surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can relieve the patient of symptoms. Talk to your doctor about the best possible treatment options for your specific case.
Whipple procedure: often used for tumors in the widest portion of the pancreas. The head of the pancreas, the bile duct, the gallbladder, a portion of the small intestine and the stomach are removed. Whipple procedures are commonly used when there is hope for a complete cure. In a distal pancreatectomy, the body and tail of the pancreas are removed by the surgeon. In a total pancreatectomy a portion of the small intestine, part of the stomach, the common bile duct, the spleen and some lymph nodes in addition to the entire pancreas are removed.
Surgery can also relieve blockages of the bile duct and duodenum without removing tumors. A bypass or stent, a plastic or metal tube, can keep pathways propped open.
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells with intense x-rays aimed only at the cancerous growth. Radiation can be emitted from outside the patient's body, or radioactive materials can be placed internally to the targeted area. Side effects from radiation therapy include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and problems with digestion.
Chemotherapy involves taking drugs which kill cells that are growing rapidly, thus noncancerous cells can be killed as well. Side effects vary by type of drug but in general, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, sores on the mouth and the lips and a lower resistance to infection are expected.