Pancreas Cancer - Treatment & Symptom
The most important hormones of the pancreas are insulin and glucagon. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The pancreas is an organ in the upper abdomen located beneath the stomach and adjacent to the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Cancer of the pancreas is a genetic disease which means that it is caused by changes in DNA. Pancreas is located near the stomach and small intestine. Pancreatic cancer refers to several distinct cancers of the pancreas, a gland that has vital functions affecting how the body digests and uses food. These cancer cells then have the ability to spread to nearby lymph nodes and organs (such as the liver and lungs). When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic. Insulin lowers the blood sugar by causing the body's cells to uptake sugar from the bloodstream. It also allows the sugars to be stored and turned into fats.
Causes of Pancreas Cancer
The comman causes and risk factors of Pancreas Cancer include the following:
- Excess alcohol and tobacco smoking.
- Diabetes.
- Highfatty diet.
- Malesmore predominant.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Family history of pancreatic cancer.
- Occupational chemical exposures.
- Smokers develop pancreatic cancer more than twice as often as nonsmokers.
- Chronic pancreatitis- Inflammation of the pancreas, usually from excessive alcohol intake or gallstones.
- Advancing age is the strongest risk factor for pancreatic cancer, with the vast majority of cases occurring after the age of 60 years.
Symptoms of Pancreas Cancer
Some sign and symptoms related to Pancreas Cancer are as follows:
- Weight loss, anemia.
- Low grade fever.
- Nausea, weakness and fatigue.
- Loss of appetite and glucose intolerance.
- Pain abdomen-more in the upper abdomen. Pain may be steady, dull, boring often radiating through to the back.
- Jaundice in almost all cases. It is accompanied by itching.
- Enlarged tender liver.
- Enlarged gall bladder.
- Discomfort in the abdomen.
Treatment of Pancreas Cancer
Here is list of the methods for treating Pancreas Cancer:
- Surgery is the first choice for treating pancreatic cancer.
- Capecitabine is given orally and is converted by the body to a compound similar to 5-FU.
- Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-powered rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing.
- Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
- Gemcitabine (Gemzar): Gemcitabine is given intravenously once a week for 7 weeks (or until toxicity limits treatment), and then no treatment is given for 1 week.
- When pancreatic cancer affects insulin production, you may need insulin injections to help control your blood sugar levels.
|
