Pancreatic Cancer

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Pancreatic Cancer
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What is Pancreatic Cancer?

• The pancreas is a gland that is located in the
  abdomen below stomach. It helps in the process of
  digestion by secreting pancreatic juice and also
  helps in regulating blood glucose levels.
  Pancreatic cancer refers to cancer affecting the
  pancreas, the cancer in pancreas could be benign
  (does not spread) or malignant (spreading) in
  nature.
• Pancreatic cancer does not cause much signs and
  symptoms when you do get symptoms, they are
  often vague or you may not notice them. This
  makes it hard to diagnose cancer at an early
  stage. However, once you have been diagnosed with
  the problem, your doctor will assess your current
  health situation and will learn more about your
  previous illness as well. After a thorough
  examination and evaluation, your doctor will
  choose between surgery, radiation or chemotherapy
  or a combination of one or more to help you
  recover fast.

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Before the Procedure

• To diagnose pancreatic cancer, certain diagnostic
  tests will be done to find the stage and cause of
  it. Moreover, your doctor may ask about your
  medical history to know more about your symptoms
  and other possible risk factors. Since pancreatic
  cancer does not cause much signs and symptoms at
  early stage, later stages cause symptoms like
  weight loss, loss of appetite, belly or back
  pain, liver enlargement, etc. The recommended
  tests are abdominal ultrasound, Endoscopic
  ultrasound, MRI, biopsy, PET scan, blood tests,
  etc.

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How it is performed?
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How It Is Performed?

• If youve been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,
  then different treatment options will be
  discussed with you depending on the type
  and stage of the cancer and other factors,
  treatment options for people with pancreatic
  cancer can include 
• Surgery Surgery is done to remove the affected
  part of the pancreas. If a cancer has not
  metastasized (spread), it is possible to
  completely cure a patient by surgically removing
  the cancer from the body. Different surgical
  procedures are  
• Whipple procedure (most common in cancers of the
  head of the pancreas) The pancreas head and
  sometimes the entire organ is removed along with
  a portion of the stomach, lymph nodes, and other
  tissue. The procedure is complex and risky with
  complications such as infections, bleeding, and
  stomach problems.

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Contd..

• Distal pancreatectomy The tail of pancreas is
  removed, and sometimes part of the main organ
  along with the spleen. This procedure is usually
  used to treat islet cell or neuroendocrine
  tumours
• Total pancreatectomy The entire pancreas is
  removed. Although you can live without a
  pancreas, but you will be diabetic for life long
  as your body no longer produces insulin
• Radiation Radiation treatment, also known as
  radiotherapy, destroys cancerous cells by
  focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells.
  This causes damage to the molecules that make up
  the cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be used as a
  standalone treatment to shrink a tumour or
  destroy cancer cells, and it is also used in
  combination with other cancer treatments.
  Radiation treatments for pancreatic cancer are
  usually given 5 days a week for 5 to 6 weeks.

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Contd..

• Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is generally used to
  treat cancer that has spread or metastasized.
  Chemotherapy uses specially designed drugs which
  are delivered into the body through various
  means, the drug has the potential to identify the
  cancerous cells and to isolate the non-cancerous
  cells, and this is made possible because the
  medicines travel throughout the body. Treatment
  occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal
  between doses. This is also done after the
  surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence of
  pancreatic cancer.

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Recovery

• Pancreatic cancer has some common side effects
  like hair loss, nausea, fatigue, etc. The patient
  may become weak and feel pain in the treated
  area, which will heal and recover with time.
  After the treatment you will have your follow-up
  appointments. Where the doctor will see how you
  are recovering. During these visits, your doctors
  will try to learn more about any discomforts that
  you might be facing. It is paramount to follow
  the instructions of your doctor and stick to the
  advised diet and regime.

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Potential Risks
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment is an invasive
procedure, so there are chances of wound
infections, excessive bleeding or other
complications in the treatment area.
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