Pancreas lies in the abdomen between the lower border of the stomach and the upper border of the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. It produces digestive enzymes which pass into the duodenum by a duct to digest the food. Special type of cells of the pancreas, produce insulin which is absorbed into the blood and helps in keeping in balance the level of the blood sugar.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cancer of the pancreas occurs in older people of both the sexes.<\/p>\n
Cause(s)<\/p>\n
It is not known.<\/p>\n
Symptoms<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Pain in the upper abdomen, and also sometimes in the back.
\n\u00b7 Loss of weight.
\n\u00b7 Loss of appetite.
\n\u00b7 Jaundice in the later stages.
\n\u00b7 There may be no symptoms at all, till the cancer has spread into the adjoining tissues and then produce symptoms because of that.<\/p>\n
Diagnosis<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Routine: Blood: Hb, RBC, TLC, DLC may be normal. ESR is raised.
\n\u00b7 Special: Barium meal may show narrowing of the duodenum if the pancreas is enlarged and pressing upon it
\n\u00b7 Ultrasound examination may show the cancer mass in the region of the pancreas.
\n\u00b7 CT scan may show the cancer mass in the region of the pancreas.
\n\u00b7 Endoscopy, including ERCP allows direct vision of the pancreatic duct and the bile duct.<\/p>\n
Many a time, all the above tests, do not confirm the diagnosis, and opening the abdomen and seeing the organ and the area around and the biopsy examination establishes the diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Treatment<\/p>\n
Surgery: If the cancer is detected early and is small, confined to the pancreatic duct only, surgical removal is done.<\/p>\n
More often the cancer has spread into the adjoining areas and also obstructed the bile duct in the duodenum or the duodenum itself. Then surgery is performed only to remove the obstruction ,o as to remove jaundice.<\/p>\n
Radiation: It can only work to the extent that it may reduce the size of cancer and reduce the obstruction, if present.<\/p>\n
Chemotherapy: It has only limited role 5-Fluorouracil is the most frequently used drug either singly or along with Adriamycin and Mitomycin C. Most of the patients do not respond favourably; some do.<\/p>\n
Prognosis<\/p>\n
Cure is only rarely possible in pancreatic cancer because of the advanced stage when detected. Only relief of symptoms is obtained by even the combination of approaches.<\/p>\n
Early Detection<\/p>\n
Signs & Symptoms<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes going to the back.
\n\u00b7 Loss of appetite.
\n\u00b7 Loss of weight.<\/p>\n
Investigations<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Barium meal may show narrowing of the duodenum if the pancreas is enlarged and pressing against it.
\n\u00b7 Ultrasound and CT scan may show the cancer mass in the pancreatic area
\n\u00b7 Endoscopy including ERCP allows direct vision of the pancreatic and bile ducts, and may show up the cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"