Pancreatic cancer is a condition that occurs due to the changes or mutations that occur in the pancreatic cells, causing them to grow and multiply in an out-of-control manner and forming a mass of tissue.
The pancreas is a small gland, that is shaped like a hockey stick and located behind the stomach. The pancreas help in the digestion of food in the body. The pancreas makes glucagon and insulin, which are the hormones that help in controlling the blood sugar levels of the body. Several kinds of growths can occur in the pancreas, which could be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign) in nature.
Types:
The different types of pancreatic cancers may include:
Causes:
When the cells in the pancreas develop changes in their DNA, the cells start growing and multiplying uncontrollably. The accumulation of these cells leads to the formation of a pancreatic tumor. If left untreated, the pancreatic cancer cells spread to the nearby blood vessels and organs, and some distant parts of the body.
Risk factors:
Certain factors may increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer and may include:
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually do not occur till cancer has reached an advanced stage. The symptoms noticed may include:
The treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the location and stage of cancer, and the overall health status of the patient. The various treatment options include:
1. Surgery:
The cancerous part of the pancreas is removed surgically. The lymph nodes near the pancreas may also be removed. The procedure of removing the pancreas or a part of the pancreas is known as pancreatectomy.
If the tumor is located in the head of the pancreas, which is the widest part of the pancreas near the small intestine, the doctor may recommend a Whipple procedure. The Whipple procedure involves the surgical removal of the head of the pancreas, the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), the gallbladder (a small pouch present just under the liver), a part of the bile duct (small tubes which carry bile, which is a fluid made and released by the liver, outside the liver), and the nearby lymph nodes.
2. Radiation therapy:
High-powered energy beams like x-rays and protons are used in this procedure to kill cancer cells.
3. Chemotherapy:
Certain drugs are used in chemotherapy for killing cancer cells.
4. Immunotherapy:
Certain drugs boost the body’s immune or disease-fighting system to kill the cancer cells. This therapy is not very effective against pancreatic cancer.
5. Targeted therapy:
Some drugs are directed at certain proteins or genes that help in the growth of cancer. These drugs kill the cancer cells by attacking specific characteristics of the cancer cells.
The side effects of the various pancreatic cancer treatments include:
1. Surgery:
2. Radiation therapy:
3. Drug treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy):