Pancreatic Cancer
Medical Author:
Timothy Kuo, MD
Coauthor:
George Fisher, MD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Winston W Tan, MD
Medical Editor:
Mary L Windle, PharmD
Medical Editor:
Koyamangalath Krishnan, MD, FRCP
Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic CancerAuthor: John P. Cunha, DO
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall, according to the American Cancer Society. About 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas during 2011, and 37,000 will die from the disease. One of my first patients as an intern following my graduation from medical school was a 64-year-old man diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. He was admitted to the hospital suffering from weakness and dehydration and was unable to hold down solid foods or liquids. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about six months earlier. His doctors at the time recommended surgery to remove the malignant tumor in his pancreas. This surgery is known as a Whipple procedure (pancreatoduodenectomy); this is still the most common procedure for surgically treating pancreatic cancer. This is a radical surgical procedure which involves removing the malignant part of the pancreas and rerouting the stomach and the bile ducts from the liver to the small intestine. Recovery time for this procedure is several weeks, and there can be multiple complications. Because of the risks, the patient elected not to have the surgery. Top Searched Pancreatic Cancer Terms
symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, surgery, information, prevention
Pancreatic Cancer OverviewThe 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. The
pancreas is composed of glands that are responsible for a wide variety of tasks.
The glandular functions of the pancreas can be divided into the following 2
categories:
The pancreas can be divided into the following 4 anatomical sections:
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) is a type of pancreatic cancer that is beginning to be recognized more frequently. This pancreatic cancer has a better prognosis than other types of pancreatic cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia is usually diagnosed endoscopically (see Exams and Tests). The most common type of pancreatic cancer arises from the exocrine glands and is called adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The endocrine glands of the pancreas can give rise to a completely different type of cancer, referred to as pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma or islet cell tumor. This article only discusses issues related to the more common type of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is among the most aggressive of all cancers. By the time that pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, most people already have disease that has spread to distant sites in the body. Pancreatic cancer is also relatively resistant to medical treatment, and the only potentially curative treatment is surgery. In 2004, approximately 31,800 people in the United States were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and approximately 31,200 people died of this disease. These numbers reflect the challenge in treating pancreatic cancer and the relative lack of curative options.Viewer Comments & ReviewsPancreatic Cancer - Effective TreatmentsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What kinds of treatments have been effective for your pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic Cancer - SymptomsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What were the symptoms of your pancreatic cancer? |
In
October 2011, Apple founder Steve Jobs died at age 56 after a seven-year
battle with pancreatic cancer, and as a result, patients are asking me about this disease. Jobs announced he had pancreatic cancer in 2004, battled the disease for years, and resigned as CEO of Apple in August 2011. Actor Patrick Swayze died from pancreatic cancer in September 2009. While pancreatic cancer is not one of the most common forms of cancer, it can be considered one of the most deadly because it is aggressive, spreads rapidly and thus often not diagnosed until it is in later stages, and few treatment options exist.
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General Information About Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas.
The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
Anatomy of the pancreas. The pancreas has three areas: head, body, and tail. It is found in the abdomen near the stomach, intestines, and other organs.
The pancreas has two main jobs in the body:
- To produce juices that help digest (break down) food.
- To produce hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, that help control blood sugar levels. Both of these hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food.
The digestive juices are produced by ex...
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Pancreatic Cancer »
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among both men and women, comprising 6% of all cancer-related deaths.
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