You may want to consider joining a support group for those diagnosed with the disease. Sharing your fears and challenges with others can be a powerful source of strength and healing. You may be surprised to learn that you’re not alone. In addition to providing support, these groups can be an excellent source of information. The following are some resources to help you cope with your diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. It develops from the cells that produce pancreatic enzymes. Acinar cell carcinoma represents one to two percent of exocrine pancreatic cancer cases. While no specific symptoms are typically present, the disease can lead to abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss, and jaundice. When left untreated, this type of pancreatic cancer can advance to cancer.
Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer may experience pain in the abdomen, including back pain. The tumor may have spread to the nerves surrounding the pancreas, which causes a painful condition known as jaundice. Pain medications and/or chemotherapy may be used to relieve this pain. During treatment, patients may also undergo radiation and chemotherapy to slow tumor growth. The goal of these treatments is to treat the cancer while providing pain relief. Often, patients must undergo follow-up tests to monitor their progress.
The first step in pancreas cancer treatment is diagnosis. A specialist surgeon will examine you and perform specialised blood tests. In addition, computer tomography scanning is an important component of pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The detailed images from CT scans are invaluable in making a definitive diagnosis. Other tests used in diagnosis include magnetic resonance scanning and endoscopic ultrasound. A biopsy may be necessary to determine the cause of the cancer. Your physician will perform a range of tests based on your symptoms and the stage of the disease.
Once a tumor has spread to a distant area, surgical treatment for pancreas cancer depends on whether it’s resectable. A stage 0 pancreatic cancer may be removed during surgery, called a Whipple procedure. This procedure is typically performed on small, resectable tumors at a regional referral center. Postoperative treatment may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If the cancer has spread to other areas, surgery may not be necessary.
Despite the fact that a cancerous tumor develops in the pancreas, it’s possible for precancerous growths to grow to the size of a kidney or liver. However, if left untreated, these conditions may progress to cancer. In most cases, the most effective treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgical removal of the tumor. Other treatments may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
A median survival rate for pancreas cancer is 22 percent after diagnosis, which is considerably lower than that of other types of cancer. Surgical resection can cure the disease in 4 out of 10 cases, but only 2 out of 10 patients survive the procedure. Patients who undergo surgery are also at a greater risk for developing recurrences. On the other hand, patients who have a family history of breast cancer or have been diagnosed with breast cancer are slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than people without these risk factors.
