The symptoms of pancreas cancer vary from person to person and may occur suddenly or gradually over time. They can also appear during routine daily activities, recent physical activity, or during current medications. During your initial appointment with your doctor, you should be prepared to share as much information as possible about your current condition. A physical examination may also be necessary to determine if you have pancreatic cancer. If you suspect you have the condition, your doctor may perform additional tests, including blood tests and urine testing.
The disease is most likely to spread to the lungs and to the pancreas, two organs that carry out endocrine and exocrine functions. These organs produce hormones like insulin and digestive enzymes. In 2012, approximately 44,000 Americans were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 37,000 died of it, making it the second-leading cause of death from cancer. The incidence of pancreatic cancer has been increasing in recent years, and it is projected to become the second-leading cause of cancer death by 2030. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, being overweight, and having a family history of the disease.
The rise of pancreatic cancer is largely attributable to the growing number of adults over 65 years old. The disease is notoriously resistant to standard chemotherapies. While some treatments target mutations in RAS genes, some actually exacerbate the malignancy. In addition, pancreatic tumor cells are often surrounded by stroma, a dense network of fibrous tissue containing immune system cells.
There are two major types of tumors that can affect the pancreas. The first is the intraductal mucinous neoplasm, or IPMN. This type of tumor develops in the main pancreatic duct. The branch duct type is less likely to develop into pancreas cancer. If you have an IPMN that is in the pancreatic duct, you should see a physician as soon as possible to make sure you are not suffering from cancer.
Surgery is a common option to treat pancreas cancer. Although it can cure the disease, surgery does not remove the cause of the tumor and cannot guarantee that you won’t develop it again. Instead, treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies may be used to treat the disease. These methods are not very effective, and are associated with significant side effects. Patients who have pancreatic cancer should consult with a specialist and be treated as early as possible.
