Pancreas Cancer

Understanding Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a silent and virulent cancer that is responsible for 6% of cancer deaths in the United States. Understanding the Pathophysiology Of Pancreatic Cancer depends first on understanding the function of the pancreas. The pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland organ, located behind the stomach and attached to the duodenum. It secretes enzymes into the small intestine that aid digestion by helping to break down carbohydrates, fats, acids, and proteins. The pancreas also secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon which regulate blood sugar, and somatostatin which regulates the other two. When a cancerous tumor develops, there are very often no signs or symptoms until the cancer reaches an advanced stage. Understanding this cancer requires learning about the signs and symptoms, the predisposing factors, and if it can be prevented. 

Some signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are abdominal pain, loss of appetite or nausea, deep vein thrombosis, depression, jaundice, and unexplained significant weight loss. However, the Pathophysiology Of Pancreatic Cancer is also deceptive because many of the symptoms can have multiple causes. A patient, especially if they are middle aged or older, often chalk up their symptoms to other factors and delay going to a doctor, or don't feel the need to see one at all. Even the patients that do see a doctor are often given multiple wrong diagnoses before the truth is finally uncovered.

There are many factors that contribute to a person being predisposed to pancreatic cancer. Being male, over 60, African American, a smoker, eating a diet high in red meat and low in fruits and vegetables, being obese, having a family history of pancreatic cancer, having diabetes, gingivitis or periodontal disease, and possibly alcohol consumption. The Pathophysiology Of Pancreatic Cancer usually causes abdominal pain that radiates into the back, followed by dramatic weight loss and jaundice, and then possibly depression. The pain will continue to get worse until the patient will finally seek a physician, or their treating physician will order a liver function test which will reveal bile duct obstruction consistent with pancreatic cancer. 

No cancer can be completely prevented, but cigarette smoking currently accounts for 20-30% of all pancreatic cancers. Avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and taking vitamin D may help. Unfortunately, within the Pathophysiology Of Pancreatic Cancer the long term prognosis for survival past 2 years is poor. In fact, the median survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 3 to six months after diagnosis. 

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