Pancreatic cancer arises from the pancreas which is an organ situated behind the stomach and which functions in the excretion of enzymes and hormones especially for digestion. It has two types of cells, the exocrine cells and the endocrine cells. The exocrine cells release enzymes which help in the digestion of fats in combination with bile fluids. The endocrine cells secrete hormones such as glucagon and insulin, which are needed for sugar control in the body.
Pancreatic cancer is caused by different risk factors which can be modifiable and non-modifiable.
Modifiable Risk Factors:
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors:
Unclear Risk Factors:
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer in its early stages may go undetected. As the symptoms become more prominent, the cancer has usually spread out of the pancreas.
During examination, the doctor will take a detailed medical and lifestyle history, then perform a physical examination which will be focused around the abdomen. If, the doctor is suspicious of an abnormality, further tests may include the following:
The treatment for pancreatic cancer is a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical management. There are different methods of removing cancer through surgery. Some of them are mentioned below:
