Essay about Pancreatic Cancer - 1443 Words

Pancreatic Cancer Cancer of the pancreas is a genetic disease that is the fifth most common cause of death in both men and women. Pancreatic cancer affects approximately 28,000 Americans each year, or five out of 100,000 people (Mayo Clinic, 1998). According to physicians at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, pancreatic cancer is the challenge of the twenty-first century. So, where exactly is the pancreas located in our bodies, and what does it do? The pancreas is a gland found behind the stomach that is shaped somewhat like a fish. The pancreas is about six inches long and less than two inches wide, and it extends across the abdomen. The pancreas consists of two separate glands inside the same organ, the exocrine gland and the†¦show more content†¦According to Professor John Neoptolemos, There are approximately 7,000 new cases each year - but it is one of the most lethal cancers. The main reason for the low survival rate from pancreatic cancer is due to its difficulty in finding this cancer early. By the time a person has symptoms, the cancer has often reached a large size and spread to other organs. Because the pancreas is deep inside the body, the doctor cannot see or feel tumors during a routine physical exam. There are currently no blood tests or other tests that can easily find this cancer early in people without symptoms. Tests for certain genes in people with a family history of the disease can help tell if they are at higher risk for cancer. There are some new tests for finding pancreatic cancer early in people with a strong family history of the disease, but these tests are complicated and expensive. Some symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, a yellow color of the eyes and skin caused by a substance buildup in the liver, pain in the belly area or in the middle of the back, significant weight loss over a number of months, loss of appetite, digestive problems including nausea, vomiting, pain that tends to be worse after eating, a swollen gallbladder t hat is enlarged, blood clots that form in the veins or cause problems with fatty tissue under the skin, and diabetes. If the doctor has any reason to suspect pancreatic cancer, certain tests will be done to see if the disease is reallyShow MoreRelatedPancreatic Cancer : The Cancer1084 Words   |  5 PagesPancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer is the cancer of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ between the spine and the stomach, and is about 6 inches long. The pancreas is also made up of two major components named the exocrine and the endocrine. A person has to have a pancreas to survive and this cancer can cause a rapid decline in health and eventually death. To prevent this cancer, a person needs to stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and check up with your sugar. Stop Smoking The problemRead MoreEssay On Pancreatic Cancer750 Words   |  3 PagesSurgery: Localized Disease Approximately 20% of pancreatic cancer is found to be operable or resectable. The complete resection of the primary lesion is best treatment for patients with localized pancreatic cancer. However the risk of both local and distal recurrence is high in following resection. In early stage pancreatic cancer the complete resection are associated with considerable morbidity in 40–60% of patients and mortality in less than 3% of patients (Sohn et al., 2000; Winter et al., 2006)Read MoreCauses And Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer1573 Words   |  7 PagesPancreatic Cancer What exactly is the pancreas it is an organ that makes insulin and enzymes for digestion. The pancreas is located behind the lower part of the stomach and is about the size of a hand (National Institute of Health, n.d.). Pancreatic cancer is a disease that targets the Pancreas. Can start out as pancreatitis, which can be acute inflammation of the pancreas or the hereditary and even the deadliest chronic pancreatitis. The chronic form can devastate and debilitate the patient thisRead MorePancreatic Cancer2232 Words   |  9 Pagesexocrine function consists of the secretion of digestive enzymes into the duodenum through ducts. The enzymes digest starches and fats. The endocrine functions are a cluster of cells called the islets of Langerhans and only make up 2% of the pancreatic tissue. The islets of Langerhans is made up of three cells, alpha, beta, and delta. There function is to secrete hormones and paracrine products. The most important hormones secreted are insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. 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They are comprised of tall mucin-producing columnar cells, that have the capability of transforming into pancreatic cancer if left untreated. Their ability to develop into pancreatic cancer is one of the main reasons behind their significance. IPMNs commonly exhibit cell atypia, papillary propagationRead MoreThe Truth About Pancreatic Cancer Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages1.1 Pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease that is ranked fourth among cancer-related deaths in Norway. 31 Yearly 600-650 new cases are detected, corresponding to 7 per 100 000 inhabitant. The survival rate five years after diagnosis is very low, at only 5 %. 19 Approximately 90 % of patients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer survive less than one year, with a median survival of 5-6 months. The high mortality rate is connected to late diagnosis, early metastasis andRead MorePancreatic Cancer : A Form Of Cancer1273 Words   |  6 PagesPancreatic Cancer is a form of cancer in which malignant cancer cells invade the pancreas, a gland that produces digestive fluid and hormones that regulate blood sugar. There are two types of pancreatic cancer: exocrine and endocrine cancer. The malignant cells can infiltrate either the exocrine pancreatic cells, responsible for digestive fluid, or the endocrine pancreatic cells, responsible for regulatory hormones. If the pancreas’ ex ocrine cells are affected metabolic functions are slowed or stoppedRead MoreIntroduction Of Cancer And Pancreatic Cancer2209 Words   |  9 PagesI. Introduction of Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer The human body is composed of trillions of living cells. Normal body cells develop, split to make new cells, and perish in a systematized manner. During the course of a human’s primary years, they are still developing and normal cells divide more rapidly. When a child grows into an adult, majority of cells divide for the sole purpose of replacing exhausted, impaired, or dying cells. Cancer originates in cells that are part of the body that starts toRead MoreCauses And Treatments Of Pancreatic Cancer832 Words   |  4 PagesHailey Luckie English 1301 Mrs.Bacon 23 October 2015 Pancreatic Cancer Cancer is a number one cause of death in both men and women around the world. Pancreatic cancer holds a survival rate of just 6% of people surviving within five years after being diagnosed, and there is still no definite cure to the deadly diagnosis. A majority of pancreatic cancer patients fight a long, tiring battle that they usually cannot defeat. Although, this cancer may be very deadly there are many early diagnosis procedures