Pancreatic cancer is the leading cause of deaths related to cancer. It is a deadly disease that spreads silently. The location of the pancreas is behind the stomach and in front of the spine. Hormones and digestive juices are produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. Having a detailed knowledge of pancreatic cancer will give you an insight into the signs and risks of the disease.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms

There is no early detection method for pancreatic cancer. Patients can get surgery done and control the disease for a long time if the cancer is identified early. But generally, surgery is not an option if the cancer is detected late. As pancreatic cancer grows, it tends to be painless. By the time the symptoms present itself, cancer becomes advanced. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include –

• Jaundice
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain in the middle or upper abdomen and back
• Blood clots

Risk factors of pancreatic cancer

Anything that increases the risk of developing a disease is a risk factor. The following are the risk factors due to which you might develop pancreatic cancer :

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Long-standing diabetes
• Inflammation of the pancreas
• Hereditary pancreatitis
• Lack of exercise

Diagnosis – Pancreatic cancer

Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer usually happens when a person comes to the doctor after experiencing the symptoms for months. After performing a health exam and examining your health history, the doctor may ask you to get several tests done in order to determine the extent of the condition and the cause of the problem. The following tests are recommended –

• MRI
• CT Scan
• Biopsy
• Laparoscopy
• Endoscopic Ultrasound
• Positron Emission Tomography

Pancreatic Cancer treatment –

The treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the basis of how far it has spread and its stage. After imaging studies, an individual’s physical state and surgical findings, doctors determine if the treatment needs to be performed. Gastrointestinal cancer treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. To treat cancer, the surgeon may perform gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Stages of pancreatic cancer –

The stage of cancer determines the extent of the spread of cancer. Treatment is done depending on the stage of cancer. Following are the stages of pancreatic cancer :

• Stage 0 – In this stage, cancer has not spread outside the pancreas or to distant sites.
• Stage 1 – The cancer is limited to the pancreas and is no larger than 0.8 inch in stage IA or is larger than 2 cm but not more than 4 cm in stage IB.
• Stage 2 – In this stage, the cancer is bigger than 4 cm and is either confined to the pancreas or cancer has outgrown the pancreas in the local spread.
• Stage 3 – The tumour has spread widely and it may have expanded to the nerves or nearby blood vessels but has not spread to distant sites.
• Stage 4 – Cancer has spread to distant sites such as lungs, bones and liver.

Prevention of pancreatic cancer –

You can take preventive measures to cure cancer.

• Stop smoking – The survival rate of an individual improves if they quit smoking after a cancer diagnosis. You can reap huge benefits to your mental and physical health by quitting smoking.
• Maintain a healthy diet – A diet that includes fruits, vegetables and grains will help you to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Maintain a healthy weight – Work to control your weight if you are obese. Doing exercise daily will help you lose weight.

The risk of pancreatic cancer increases as an individual grows older. Pancreatic cancer patients are generally older than 55 years. However, whether you are a caregiver or a patient, you must have a good knowledge when it comes to cancer.