The pancreas plays an important role in a person's daily functions, especially when it comes to digesting foods. Therefore, pancreatic cancer can provide a significant negative impact in a person's nutrition. Pancreatic cancer, however, can be difficult to diagnose due to its location behind the stomach, making it hard for patients to feel symptoms early on. However, by understand specific aspects of the pancreas and pancreatic cancer, people may be able to see warning signs a little earlier.
Pancreas Function
The pancreas produces special chemicals for the body's use, particularly digestive enzymes and insulin. Digestive enzymes help break down food so that the stomach can better metabolize it, while insulin helps the body convert sugar into usable energy (glycogen). The pancreas also produces levels that help regulate stomach acid when it passes material to the small intestine.
Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can involve the inability to keep food in the stomach and result in loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and persistent nausea. There may also be significant pain in the upper abdomen leading to the back. Jaundice, or the yellowing of the skin around the eyes, could also be a sign.
Risk Factors
There are some associated risk factors with pancreatic cancer, although no direct causes have been discovered. Men tend to be diagnosed slightly more than women. Patients with a history of pancreas-related illnesses such as chronic pancreatitis or cirrhosis are also more susceptible. Smokers are diagnosed twice as often as nonsmokers. There may also be genetic mutations that increase risk of development.
Statistics
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest morbidity rates compared to other cancers. It is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 35,000 deaths annually in the late 2000s. Only 20 percent of those diagnosed live beyond a year after diagnosis; only 4 percent of patients live beyond five years.
Treatment Options
Treatment options are confined to the stage of diagnosis. Oftentimes, pancreatic cancer isn't diagnosed until it has become malignant or in late stages. Many treatments are designed to prolong the life of the patient and do not necessarily put the cancer into remission. Surgery is typically used only to remove any cancer tumors blocking the bile duct. However, surgery often involves removing the pancreas and parts of the stomach, making the patient require significant aid for their digestive system afterwards. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both used to reduce tumor sizes.
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