Pancreatic cancer
Alternative Names
Pancreas cancerWhat is Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most usual causes of cancer death in the world. It forms in the tissues of your pancreas (horizontal organ of the abdomen behind the lower part of your stomach). This type of cancer develops rapidly and has a bad prognosis and it is very aggressive. This disease is not common.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of this disease may include:
- upper abdominal pain that may radiate to your back
- yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- depression
- blood clots
Possible complications
Pancreatic cancer in progress can cause the following comlications:
- jaundice (including yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine, and pale-colored stools)
- pain
- bowel obstruction
- weight loss
What causes
Pancreatic cancer appears when cells in your pancreas develop genetic mutations. They begin to grow very quickly. This disease can be triggered by the following factors:
- older age
- smoking
- certain blood groups (A, A/B and B)
- chronic pancreatitis (long-term inflammation of the pancreas)
- as part of a family cancer syndrome
Prevention
It is recommended to protect yourself from such a disease and take the following precautions:
- quit smoking (or do not start)
- control you weight
- exercise most days of the week
- follow a healthy diet
Treatment
The treatment plan should be determined by your doctor because many factors influences treating. These factors are age, general health and personal preferences. The goal of the treatment is to remove the tumour and other cancerous cells in your body. At present time, pancreatic cancer is very difficult to treat.
