Essay On Pancreatic Cancer
What is pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive form of cancer that develops in the tissues of the pancreas. Located in the abdomen behind the lower part of the stomach, the pancreas aids in digestion.
It contains both exocrine glands (which produce enzymes that help the body digest food) and endocrine glands (which produce hormones, including insulin, that help control blood sugar levels in the body).
Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose and once it is found it has usual spread to other places in the body pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs. It is seldom detected in its early stages. But for people with pancreatic cysts or a family history of pancreatic cancer, some screening steps might help detect a problem early. One sign of pancreatic cancer is diabetes, especially when it occurs with weight loss, jaundice or pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don't occur until the disease is advanced. They may include:
• Pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to your back
• Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
• Depression
• New-onset diabetes
• Blood clots
Fatigue
Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your …show more content…
Doctors may use CT scans, ultrasound, MRI, or occasionally PET scan to diagnose pancreatic cancer. The doctors could also use an endoscopic ultrasound, which makes images of your pancreas. The EUS uses a tube that oasses through the esophagus and down into the stomach to gather the images. Also, a doctor may simply order a blood test from a patient. The doctor may be looking for tumour markers that may be shed by pancreatic cancer cells. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will determine the extent of the cancer by determining the stage. By determining the stage, the doctor can then determine the next step in determining the
It contains both exocrine glands (which produce enzymes that help the body digest food) and endocrine glands (which produce hormones, including insulin, that help control blood sugar levels in the body).
Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose and once it is found it has usual spread to other places in the body pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs. It is seldom detected in its early stages. But for people with pancreatic cysts or a family history of pancreatic cancer, some screening steps might help detect a problem early. One sign of pancreatic cancer is diabetes, especially when it occurs with weight loss, jaundice or pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don't occur until the disease is advanced. They may include:
• Pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to your back
• Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
• Depression
• New-onset diabetes
• Blood clots
Fatigue
Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your …show more content…
Doctors may use CT scans, ultrasound, MRI, or occasionally PET scan to diagnose pancreatic cancer. The doctors could also use an endoscopic ultrasound, which makes images of your pancreas. The EUS uses a tube that oasses through the esophagus and down into the stomach to gather the images. Also, a doctor may simply order a blood test from a patient. The doctor may be looking for tumour markers that may be shed by pancreatic cancer cells. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will determine the extent of the cancer by determining the stage. By determining the stage, the doctor can then determine the next step in determining the