What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells that begins in the tissues of the pancreas. It often spreads rapidly.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer depend on which part of the pancreas the cancer arises from. Tumors in the head of the pancreas produce symptoms earlier (such as jaundice, vomiting, or bleeding). Tumors in the body or tail of the pancreas may not show symptoms until they become quite large. Patients may also experience general symptoms like tiredness, loss of appetite, or weight loss.
Other symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain, which is also felt in your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Dark-coloured urine and light-coloured stool
- Itchy skin
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
Treatment options
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
Periampullary Cancer
The Ampulla of Vater is a conical structure that is found at the conjunction of the bile duct and the pancreatic duct, where the small intestine begins. When a cancer forms near this part of the body, it is known as Periampullary cancer.
Signs and symptoms of periampullary cancer
- Jaundice
- Itching
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Recurrent vomiting
- Black stools
- Anaemia
Diagnosis
- Biopsy
- Endoscopic ultrasound
Treatment
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Pancreatic Endocrine Cancer
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), or islet cell tumours, are a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas. The islet cells are a special type of cell in the pancreas which are responsible for the production of hormones such as insulin. There are different types of pancreatic NETs depending on the type of cells that are affected by cancer. For example, pancreatic NETs that form in the cells that make insulin are called Insulinoma, and NETs that form in the cells that make glucagon are called glucagonoma.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type of cells affected by the cancer. When the tumours continue to produce hormones that are released into the bloodstream, it is called a functional NET, and the symptoms depend upon the type of hormone being made. Too much insulin might lead to low blood sugar and an increased heart rate. On the other hand, too much glucagon caused by a tumour might lead to diarrhoea, skin rashes, and high blood sugar.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the NET.
- Medication
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Surgery
Diagnosis
- Blood tests
- Abdominal CT scan
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- MRI
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- PET (positron emission tomography)
- Angiogram
- Laparotomy
- Biopsy
- Bone scan
