Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is a gland located in the abdominal region that performs two main functions for the body: produces digestive juices and the hormone insulin which regulates the blood sugar levels. The part which produces the digestive juices is exocrine and the insulin-producing part is the endocrine portion. Pancreatic cancer, which is an uncontrolled growth of the pancreas cells, often starts in the exocrine portion and is known as the pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The one which develops in the endocrine portion is known as neuroendocrine cancer or islet cell tumours.
Risk factors
Though not clearly established, the following factors are believed to up the risk of pancreatic cancer.
- Smoking
- Family history
- Prolonged uncontrolled diabetes
- Pancreatic conditions like inherited pancreatitis
- Chronic inflammation of the pancreas
Symptoms
A pancreatic condition is of insidious onset, and the exact period of onset cannot be determined. The symptoms also are nonspecific abdominal symptoms, which do not pinpoint the pancreas per se.
- Jaundice, which includes yellowing of the skin and whites of the white. This is because the growth of the pancreas puts pressure on the liver and bile ducts, and so hampers bile flow.
- Weight loss, which was unintended. This is due to a bloated feeling plus inability to digest the foods.
- Severe pain, which can be difficult and may even require regular injections to control.
- Fluctuating sugar levels, which is unexplained.The onset of diabetes, which is associated with weight loss and jaundice
- Inability to lose or maintain weight loss using dietary or medical measures
- Increased tendency for blood clots.
- Loss of appetite.
- Bowel obstruction due to invasion of pancreatic tumor
The two major types of surgery include potentially curative surgery and palliative surgery.
- Curative Surgery: Curative surgery is typically preferred to treat cancer that is located in the head of the pancreas since sometimes it can be found early enough to be removed, but the downside is that the method is used only if the entire cancerous growth can be removed.
- Palliative Surgery:Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is the most common form of surgery adopted to treat cancer located in the exocrine pancreas or pancreatic NETs. The Whipple procedure involves the removal of the head of the pancreas and sometimes even the body as well. The nearby structures including the gallbladder, bile duct, small intestine, lymph nodes and sometimes parts of the stomach may be removed too. Then, they are re-attached to the small intestine to allow the bile and digestive enzymes to pass through the small intestine and finally, the small intestine pieces are re-attached to allow the food to travel through the digestive tract.
