 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pancreatic Cancer Overview As the name implies pancreatic cancer is a cancer of the pancreas. The pancreas consists of two cell types of interest to pancreatic cancer: 1. exocrine pancreas cells that produce the enzymes lipase, amylase, and trypsin that aid in digestion 95% of pancreatic cancers originate from exocrine pancreas cells 2. endocrine pancreas cells that produce the hormones insulin and glucagon to moderate blood sugar levels. Though the exact causes of pancreatic cancer are unknown, smoking, long standing diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, and other hereditary conditions have been identified as risk factors. Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms Due to the functions of the pancreas, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often attributed to other ailments such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and pancreatitis. The most common symptom is jaundice in addition to weight loss, glucose intolerance, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort. Pancreatic Cancer Treatment The typical treatment for pancreatic cancer is a surgical removal called
Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy. This procedure involves partial removal
of the stomach, complete removal of the gallbladder, a bile duct, head
of the pancreas, portions of the small intestine, and regional lymph
nodes. In some instances, the entire pancreas must be removed. When
the entire cancer cannot be removed, the surgery is coupled with chemotherapy
and/or radiation therapy for prevention and/or management of symptoms Recomended reading: The
Official Patient's Sourcebook on Pancreatic Cancer: A Revised and Updated
Directory for the Internet Age |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education
and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it
also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health
professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information
covering virtually all topics related to pancreatic cancer (also Cancer
pancreas; Pancreatic cancer), from the essentials to the most advanced
areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official.
This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic,
government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various
agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information
available to date on pancreatic cancer. Given patients' increasing sophistication
in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based
resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance
is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results
as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic
versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet
sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser
to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type
cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to
the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible
via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon
terms. |
|
