Pancreatic Cancer : Know Everything About It.

by Sakshi Patkar
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreas an organ in your abdomen that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Pancreas releases enzymes that help in digestion and hormones that help manage your blood sugar. Pancreas is a 6-inch long organ.
It contains glands that create pancreatic juices, hormones, and insulin.
Pancreatic cancer can spread in nearby area. it can’t be observed at an early stage but can be detected with some screening test. One sign of pancreatic cancer is diabetes, especially when it occurs with weight loss, jaundice or pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back.
Pancreatic cancer
Symptoms
•Pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to your back.
•Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
•Depression
•New-onset diabetes
•Blood clots
•Fatigue
•Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in your pancreas develop mutations in their DNA. These mutations cause cells to grow uncontrollably and to continue living after normal cells would die. These accumulating cells can form a tumor. Untreated pancreatic cancer spreads to nearby organs and blood vessels.
Cause
Pancreatic cancer begins in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. This type of cancer is called pancreatic adenocarcinoma or pancreatic exocrine cancer. cancer can form in the hormone-producing cells or the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas. These types of cancer are called islet cell tumors, pancreatic endocrine cancer.
Risk factors
•Chronic inflammation of the pancreas •Diabetes
•Genetic syndrome
•Lynch syndrome and familial atypical •mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome
•Family history of pancreatic cancer
•Smoking
•Obesity
•Older age, as most people are diagnosed after age 65
Complication
1-Weight loss
Weight loss
 Pancreatic cancer may cause weight loss. Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatments or a tumor pressing on your stomach may make it difficult to eat.
2-Jaundice
Jaundice
 Pancreatic cancer blocks the liver’s bile duct can cause jaundice. Signs include yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine, and pale-colored stools. Jaundice usually occurs without abdominal pain.
3- Pain
 The growing tumors can cause pain that can become severe. Pain medications can help you feel more comfortable. Radiation therapy might help stop tumor growth temporarily to give you some relief.
4-Bowel obstruction
Bowel obstruction
Pancreatic cancer In severe cases, one can inject alcohol into the nerves that control pain in your abdomen (celiac plexus block).
Prevention
• Avoid alcohol
•smoking
• maintain healthy diet
• maintain healthy weight