Pancreatic Cancer

There are many type of cancer. The most rare is Pancreatic Cancer, it makes up for only 2% of cancer reported cases. This form of cancer was rated the fourth deadliest cancer in the U.S. 42,470 people are diagnosed with this form of Cancer in the U.S each year. 35,240 people die from is every year.

This disease effects the pancreas, digestive system, blood sugar levels, and other parts of the body that it can eventually spread to.

The Panceas

The pancreas is located below the stomach and above the intestines. The pancreas produces digestive juices to reach the intestine that travel by ducts.

The normal function of the digestive system is to break down food and drink into smaller molecules of nutrients to be carried throughout the body through the blood stream.

The two main functions of the pancreas is to aid digestion, secrete stomach acid, and to control the salt and sugar levels in the body.

• Enzymes produced in the pancreas help in the digestion of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins.

• Once food is broken down into the small intestines, the food then enters the blood stream dropping off nutrient molecules where needed

• The pancreas secretes insulin, somatostatin, gastrin, and glucagon and is used in the regulation of sugar and salt in the bory
  

The Disease: PANCREACTIC CANCER

Pancreatic Cancer causes malignant neoplasms in the pancreas and can have many effects. This disease effects the digestive system and can cause pain in the upper abdominals, jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and changes in stool.

• Jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood stream. Pancreatic Cancer causes this because of the blockage of the bile duct.

• Since Pancreatic Cancer causes a blockage of the bile duct, food is not able to be fully digested, so it sits in the stomach then forcing the person to throw up.

• Pancreatic Cancer also effects blood glucose levels because the pancreas is unable to release insulin and other hormone that regulate blood sugar.

• Pancreatic Caner can also spread to other organs, most commonly further organs that pancreatic cancer has been found in is the liver and lungs.

Pancreatic Cancer is the most deadliest cancer because it shows no symptoms until the later stages and can srpead without knowing.

Treatments

There are three different treatments options for Pancreatic Cancer. Although there are treatments, this disease cannot be cured. The three treatments are chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

• Chemotherapy is a drug used to kill cancer cells. this form of treatment is used in all three stages of Pancreatic Cancer.

• The chemotherapy drug is commonly given through the vein or taken as a pill.

• Radiation is a form of x-ray, but the process is much longer, this kills the cancer cells.

• Radiation is given from a range from several weeks to several months, but only given to treat the first and second stages of Pancreatic Cancer.

• Surgery can be only used in the first stage of Pancreatic Cancer when the disease is less severe.

• Surgery removes the tumor and some of the surrounding organs and tissues that may be infected.
  

Conclusion

There is not much to prevent this disease, although living a healthy life style may put you at a lower risk of getting Pancreatic Cancer

• You should definitely stay away from red meats, and pork

• Also maintain a healthy weight, obesity increases your risk by 20%

• Smoking, definitely avoid this because studies have shown a link between Pancreatic Cancer and smoking

• Know the symptoms and Signs

• Do not avoid any possible symptom, if you do experience any symptom go to your doctor and have it checked out

References

Baumel, Hughes, and Bernard Deixonne, eds. Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer. New York: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 1986.

"Hereditary pancreatitis and the risk of pancreatic cancer. International Hereditary Pancreatitis Study Group." Oxford Journals. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 16 July 2009 http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/6/442.

Ko, Andrew H. "Pancreas(Pancreatic)Cancer." CancerSupportiveCare.com. CAncer Supportive Care Programs, 17 Feb. 2003. Web. 9 Aug. 2009. http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/pancreas.html.

Lowy, Andrew M., Steven D. Leach, and Philip A. Philip, eds. Pancreatic Cancer. New York: Springer Science+Business Media, 2008.

Mirtha, S. "What does the Pancreas do?" WiseGEEK. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-the-pancreas-do.htm.

"Pancreas Cancer." Eastern Biotach and Life Sciences. Ed. Eastern Biotech. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. http://www.easternbiotech.com/resource_pancreatic_cancer.php.

"Pancreatic Cancer." Wikipedia. 6 July 2009. 15 July 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_cancer.

Reznek, Rodney H., ed. Pncreatcic Cancer. New York: Cambridge UP, 2009.