What is Pancreatic Cancer Treatment?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment?
Various treatment modalities like surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments used for the treatment of cancer in the pancreas is known as pancreatic cancer treatment.
Pancreatic cancer occurs within the cells of the pancreas, which is an endocrine organ (glands producing and releasing hormones into the bloodstream) located behind the lower part of the stomach.
The pancreas releases enzymes that help in digestion and produces hormones called glucagon and insulin that control blood sugar levels in the body.
It is difficult to detect pancreatic cancer early because its symptoms are not immediately visible.
Usually, pancreatic cancer spreads very rapidly. In some severe cases, there is a risk of death of the person. On accurate detection of pancreatic cancer, surgery is required to remove the cancerous cells. If a person sees signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, then diagnosis and treatment should be done immediately.
Pancreatic cancer is more commonly seen in men rather than women.
Let us tell you in detail about pancreatic cancer in today’s article.
- What are the types of Pancreatic Cancer?
- What are the causes of Pancreatic Cancer?
- What are the risk factors for Pancreatic Cancer?
- What are the symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
- How to diagnose Pancreatic Cancer?
- What are the various Pancreatic Cancer Treatments?
- What are the complications of Pancreatic Cancer Treatments?
- How to prevent Pancreatic Cancer?
- What is the cost of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in India?
What are the types of Pancreatic Cancer?
There are two types of pancreatic cancers, namely:
Exocrine Tumors:
- This type of pancreatic cancer develops in the cells that make up the exocrine glands (glands of external secretion) and ducts of the pancreas.
- The exocrine glands secrete certain enzymes that help in the breaking down of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and acids in the small intestine.
- The most common type of pancreatic cancer is exocrine pancreatic cancer. More than 93% of all pancreatic tumors are exocrine tumors.
- The most common type of exocrine pancreatic cancer is known as adenocarcinoma.
Neuroendocrine Tumors:
- Less than 7% of all pancreatic tumors are neuroendocrine tumors.
- Neuroendocrine Tumors affect the hormone-producing cells.
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What are the causes of Pancreatic Cancer?
- Pancreatic cancer occurs when mutated cells (a change in the DNA sequence of a cell) grow out of control, forming a tumor.
- While the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not known, some factors that could cause pancreatic cancer are:
- Inherited gene mutations
- Smoking
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What are the risk factors for Pancreatic Cancer?
Certain factors increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. These factors are:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Family history of a genetic syndrome
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Above 65 years of age
- Diabetes
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- More commonly seen in men
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What are the symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer do not appear until the disease has advanced. The symptoms include:
- Abdominal (stomach) pain that radiates to the back
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of weight
- Yellowing of the skin and white part of eyes (jaundice)
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- Light-colored stool
- Dark-colored urine
- Skin itching
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Blood clotting
- Feeling tired
- Nausea
- Vomiting
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How to diagnose Pancreatic Cancer?
- General examination: The doctor first does a general examination in which the patient is asked about the history of previous illness, symptoms, and smoking addiction.
- Physical examination: A physical examination is done by the doctor to detect a lump in the patient’s stomach. The patient is asked about swelling in the lymph nodes, yellow skin, and weight loss.
The doctor may advise some other tests to confirm the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. These tests include:
- Blood tests: A blood test is done to check for the presence of specific proteins called tumor markers that are shed by the pancreatic cancer cells.
- MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan: A strong magnet along with radio waves, and a computer are used in this scan to obtain clear images of the pancreas.
- Endoscopic Ultrasound: An ultrasound device is used to create clear images of the pancreas. This device is passed through a flexible, thin tube (endoscope) down the food pipe into the stomach to obtain the images.
- PET (Positron emission tomography) scan: It is an imaging test that uses radioactive substances to measure the changes in the body’s metabolic activities.
- CT (Computed Tomography) scan: It is an imaging test done using a computer and rotating x-ray machines to create cross-sectional images of the pancreas.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure of excision of a small tissue sample, which is later sent to the laboratory for examination.
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What are the various Pancreatic Cancer Treatments?
The treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the type of cancer and the patient’s health status. The treatment options for pancreatic cancer may include:
Chemotherapy:
- Chemotherapy is the use of medications that help in killing cancer cells.
- These drugs can be injected into the vein (intravenously) or taken orally.
- Chemotherapy can also be used in combination with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy combined with radiation helps to treat cancer that does not spread to other organs beyond the pancreas.
- In some cases, chemotherapy used in combination with radiation may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor, so that the tumor can easily be removed. Sometimes, this combination is used after the surgery to reduce the risk of recurrent pancreatic cancer.
- Chemotherapy can be used to control the development of cancer, relieve symptoms and live longer.
Radiotherapy:
- Radiotherapy uses radiations to reduce the size of the tumor and relieve pain.
- High energy electromagnetic waves are used in radiotherapy.
Surgery:
- Cancer can be completely removed with the help of surgery.
- Surgery is done in 15% to 20% of all cases.
- If the tumor has spread to the blood vessels, then it can affect other body parts. In this case, cancer surgery is not beneficial.
- The surgery to remove a part of or the entire pancreas is known as pancreatectomy.
- If the tumor is located in the head (the widest part of the pancreas which is located near the small intestine) of the pancreas a surgery known as the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is performed.
- Whipple procedure involves the removal of the duodenum (first portion of the small intestine), gallbladder, a portion of the bile duct, and the nearby lymph nodes.
Targeted therapy:
- This method uses drugs or other methods to target the cancer cells specifically and kill them.
- The drugs used in this therapy do not harm the healthy cells.
Palliative or supportive care:
- Medical care that helps in relieving pain and other symptoms of a serious disease is called palliative care.
- It is provided by a team of nurses, doctors, and other trained professionals.
- It aims at improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families.
- Supportive care is usually given along with other modes of treatment for cancer.
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What are the complications of Pancreatic Cancer Treatments?
There could be some complications associated with pancreatic cancer treatments. Some of the complications could include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Diarrhea
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- Constipation
- Infection
- Mouth ulcers or sores
- Neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning of the hands and legs)
- Pain
- Poor appetite
- Skin changes like redness, dryness, tenderness, and peeling of skin
- Inflammation around the nails area
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How to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer?
The following measures can be taken to prevent pancreatic cancer:
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Maintain body weight
- Avoid consumption of red meat and processed meat
- Eat a healthy diet including fresh fruits and vegetables
- Exercise regularly
What is the cost of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment in India?
The total cost of pancreatic cancer treatment in India can range from around INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for pancreatic cancer treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of pancreatic cancer treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient is kept in hospital for 5 days and in the hotel for 10 days for recovery. So, the total cost of pancreatic cancer treatment in India comes to be around INR 4,00,000 to INR 8,00,000.
We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer treatment through this article.
If you want more information and treatment for pancreatic cancer, you can contact the Surgical Oncologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
