| The pancreas is a spongy, tube-shaped organ about | | | | stools. It is important to note that jaundice may be |
| 6 inches long. It is located in the back of the | | | | caused by a number of less dangerous conditions, |
| abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the | | | | such as anemia. |
| pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen. It is | | | | The symptoms of pancreatic cancer are generally |
| connected to the duodenum, the upper end of the | | | | vague and can easily be attributed to other less |
| small intestine. The narrow end of the pancreas, | | | | serious and more common conditions. This lack of |
| called the tail, extends to the left side of the body. | | | | specific symptoms explains the high number of |
| Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of | | | | people who have a more advanced stage of disease |
| cancers. It develops when cancerous cells form in the | | | | when pancreatic cancer is discovered. |
| tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies | | | | Treatment for Pancreatic cancer |
| horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. | | | | Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy |
| Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion | | | | cancer cells. You may receive radiation treatments |
| and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of | | | | before or after cancer surgery, often in combination |
| carbohydrates. | | | | with chemotherapy. Or, your doctor may recommend |
| Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the | | | | a combination of radiation and chemotherapy |
| pancreas. Each year about 33,000 individuals in the | | | | treatments when your cancer can't be treated |
| United States are diagnosed with this condition, and | | | | surgically. |
| more than 60,000 in Europe. Depending on the | | | | Surgery may be done to remove all or part of the |
| extent of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the | | | | pancreas. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a |
| prognosis is generally regarded as poor, with few | | | | portion of the stomach, duodenum, and other nearby |
| victims still alive five years after diagnosis, and | | | | tissues. This operation is called a Whipple procedure. |
| complete remission still extremely rare. | | | | In cases where the cancer in the pancreas cannot be |
| Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer | | | | removed, the surgeon may be able to create a |
| Loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss. | | | | bypass around the common bile duct or the |
| Unintended weight loss is a common sign of | | | | duodenum if either is blocked. |
| pancreatic cancer. Weight loss occurs in most types | | | | Endoscopic stent placement: A stent (flexible tube) is |
| of cancer because cancerous (malignant) cells deprive | | | | placed in the bile duct to drain the bile into the small |
| healthy cells of nutrients, and this is especially true in | | | | intestine or outside the body as needed. This is done |
| pancreatic cancer. | | | | when the tumor is blocking the bile duct and there is |
| As the cancer grows and spreads, pain often | | | | a build up of bile to prevent further build up. |
| develops in the upper abdomen and sometimes | | | | Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage |
| spreads to the back. The pain may become worse | | | | some normal cells. This can lead to side effects, |
| after the person eats or lies down. Cancer of the | | | | which depend on the type of drugs, the amount |
| pancreas can also cause nausea, loss of appetite, | | | | taken, and the length of treatment. Short-term side |
| weight loss, and weakness. | | | | effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of |
| Jaundice is caused by a buildup of bilirubin (a | | | | appetite, hair loss, and mouth sores. Because |
| substance produced in the liver) that causes a | | | | chemotherapy can damage the bone marrow, where |
| yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. | | | | new blood cells are made, blood cell counts might |
| Jaundice may also cause brown urine and clay-colored | | | | become low. |