What Is Pancreatic Cancer?
The cancer beginning from tissues of our pancreas is called pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is an abdominal organ lying horizontally at the back of the lower portion of our stomach. Pancreas produces hormones needed for regulating sugar metabolism in our body and enzymes required for accomplishing the process of digestion. Majority of the cases of pancreatic cancer possess poor prognosis; this stands true even when the cancer gets diagnosed at an early stage. However, due to the tendency of the disease to spread rapidly detection of pancreatic cancer in early stages occur only in rare cases.
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer generally do not appear until the cancer reaches an advanced stage i.e. when surgical removal of the cancerous tissues is no more possible. Common signs of pancreatic cancer include:
- Pain in the upper abdomen, which might move towards the patient's back
- Decreased appetite
- Depression
- Weight loss
- Blood clots
- Jaundice, a condition marked by yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes
During an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer, if the cancer presses or invades the patient's small intestine or duodenum, it can end up blocking the path through which the digested foods flow from our stomach into the intestines. In such situations, the doctor might ask the patient to get a stent or tube placed within his small intestine for keeping it open. The interruption in this path can also be corrected by bypass surgery, which attaches the stomach to a part of the patient's intestine that has not been blocked by cancer cells.
Pancreatic cancer can be mainly of two types. This classification is done based on the kind of cells within the pancreas affected by the cancer. The doctor decides the treatment of pancreatic cancer after identifying the pancreatic cancer type one is suffering from. The two types of pancreatic cancer are:
- Adenocarcinoma or exocrine tumors: Cancers beginning from the pancreatic ducts is termed as exocrine tumors or adenocarcinoma. The cells forming the lining of these ducts are responsible for producing digestive juices or enzymes. Most pancreatic cancer cases are adenocarcinomas.
- Endocrine cancers: Endocrine cancers affect the pancreas only in rare cases. Patients with this pancreatic cancer types develop the cancer in the pancreas's hormone producing cells.
What causes this cancer type? The cause of pancreatic cancer is not known till date; however, there are certain risk factors of the disease; they are:
- Increase in age; incidence of pancreatic cancer is more common among people 60 years of age
- Being diabetic
- Being an African American
- Pancreatitis, a condition characterized by chronic inflammation in the pancreas
- Pancreatic cancer cases in the family
- Being obese or overweight
- Being a smoker
Resveratrol for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Resveratrol is known to have anti-aging benefits; due to this feature of this natural phenol, it is often referred to as the fountain of youth. However, other than being extremely useful in preventing skin aging and delaying other aging processes, Resveratrol is known for offering several health benefits. Resveratrol is a potent treatment for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancer types. Several studies conducted in different corners of the globe have revealed that antioxidants present in Resveratrol are particularly effective in treating breast cancer, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. In this article we’ll be discussing how Resveratrol helps in treating pancreatic cancer.
A group of scientists from Rochester has discovered Resveratrol’s ability of depolarizing [...]
Foods to Be Avoided by Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
The foods that a patient diagnosed with pancreatic cancer should not eat include the following:
Fatty foods: Foods containing high amount of protein and fats must be strictly avoided by patients with pancreatic cancer. Tolerating such food items becomes extremely difficult for these cancer patients. The foods to be avoided include fatty snacks such as dips, fried chicken, nachos, potato chips, bacon, beef etc.
Foods having strong odors: One of the common consequences of pancreatic cancer is nausea. Having extremely aromatic food items might trigger nausea. Some of the food items that should be eliminated from the diet plan of a person with pancreatic cancer to make sure that the food does not contain any strong flavor include: cheese, onions, scallions, fishes etc.
Toasts and bran [...]
PSA Test Result Interpretation in Low-risk Prostate Cancer – Changes Offer Limited Data in Watchful Waiting
During a study conducted on males having low-risk prostate cancer going through active surveillance, prostate-specific antigen or PSA test result interpretation like PSA doubled time and PSA velocity did not dependably recognize cancer advancement. The outcomes of this study were printed in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Early-stage prostate cancer therapy would entail surgical intervention, radiation therapy or no therapy till the time cancer has advanced – also known as watchful waiting or active surveillance.
During watchful waiting, close monitoring is mostly done in order to identify the extent to which prostate cancer has progressed. A digital rectal examination and a periodically done blood analysis along side repeat prostate biopsy procedures were part of monitoring. In an [...]
Which Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Is Best For Me?
Although there are several different treatment options for individuals with pancreatic cancer some of these may be unavailable or downright ineffective in the later stages of this disease. This is because treatment for this type of cancer varies depending on not only the stage of the disease but also the size of the tumor as well as the age and general health of the person being treated.
One such pancreatic cancer treatment that is not usually offered to individuals experiencing the later stages of pancreatic cancer is surgery.
The primary target of any type of cancer treatment is to remove the cancer. However in some cases such as that of advanced pancreatic cancer this may not be possible due to the advancement of the disease. When the cancer becomes so far advanced that surgery is [...]
Are There Specific Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms?
Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that affects the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland that is located behind the stomach, liver, spleen and other organs. It is about 6 inches in length and its shape resembles that of a pear lying sideways. It consists of three parts the head which is the large part, the body and the tail which is the smallest part. Because it is behind other organs it cannot be felt during a routine physical exam as other glands and organs can be.
Because pancreatic cancer is considered to be one of the rare types of cancer screening for this cancer is not used on everyone. It is suggested however that if you are at an increased risk for pancreatic cancer that you undergo this screening. These risk factors include a history of pancreatic cancer and certain genetic disorders.
Pancreatic [...]
What Are The Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?
The pancreas is a small gland located behind the stomach, liver, spleen and other organs and in front of the spine. Although it is considered rare cancer can develop in this gland that is about 6 inches in size and resembles the size of a sideways pear. The pancreas consists of three parts, the head, the body, and the smallest part the tail.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer vary from one person to another dependent upon which area of the pancreas is affected as well as the size of the tumor. For instance a tumor located at the head of the pancreas may create a blockage preventing bile from exiting thus resulting in a yellowing of the skin also known as jaundice.
In other cases such as when tumors may be located within the tail or body of the pancreas other symptoms may be more likely such [...]
Sutent, CLPTM1L and TERT Genetic Variants: Breakthroughs in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
A recent study has shown that 3 lately revealed genetic variants could be contributory to pancreatic cancer risk. Investigators stated that this is the most large-scaled study conducted for identifying potentially risk heritable factors for this mystifying disease.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with nearly two lakh newly evolved cases detected annually across the globe and virtually that many fatalities occurring due to this disease yearly. Figures reveal that below five percent of individuals detected with having pancreatic cancer survive for above 5 years following detection.
The risk aspects for pancreatic cancer comprise of being diabetic, obese, smoking and a family past of pancreatic cancer.
Though heritable factors appear to don a significant part [...]
Promising Novel ‘Smart Bomb’ Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer
The infinitesimal particles that could transport drugs and target cancerous growth could be the next major ray of hope in the treatment of those ailing from pancreatic cancer.
The novel research would be made public during the yearly convene of AAPS or American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, in November, in LA. The research shows how TPM or tumor-penetrating particles have been particularly intended to rupture through stubborn blockades and distribute drugs with greater efficacy as compared to the benchmark form of chemotherapy like those that are intravenously administered.
The initiator of the study, an AAPS fellow and a notable university professor from Ohio State University, Jessie L.S. Au, Pharm.D., Ph.D, explicates how the TPM are intended for treating cancer found in [...]
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
Frequently, pancreatic cancer is often associated with a host of more than one bothersome symptoms; one of the objectives of cancer therapies is resolving or assuaging the intensity of these symptoms. Inopportunely, cancer treatments could also be responsible for the symptoms surfacing. Regularly, pancreatic cancer sufferers undergo an array of symptoms that vary in intensity inclusive of pain, weariness, diminished appetite, feeling nauseous and queasiness. It is imperative that any kind of symptoms experienced need to be openly discussed with the doctors, so that an appropriate course of treatment could be charted out for managing the symptoms and if needed, medications could be issued for controlling the intensity of the symptoms.
Pain
Nagging pain in the abdomen and back are prevalent [...]
