Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells that begins in the pancreas tissues. Pancreatic Cancer often spreads rapidly.
The symptoms of pancreatic cancer depend on which part of the pancreas cancer arises from. Tumours in the head of the pancreas produce symptoms earlier (jaundice and vomiting/bleeding) Tumours arising from the body or rear end of the pancreas usually do not produce symptoms until the tumour has grown to a very large size. Although, the patient may experience non-specific symptoms - tiredness or loss of appetite and weight.
Other symptoms include
- Abdominal pain which is also felt in your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes due to jaundice
- Dark-colored urine and light-colored stool
- Itchy skin
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
- 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.
- Biopsy
- Endoscopic Ultrasound
- Jaundice
- Itching
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Recurrent vomiting
- Black stools
- Anaemia
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Pancreatic Endocrine Cancer
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), or islet cell tumors, are a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas. The islet cells are the special type of cells in the pancreas which are responsible for the production of hormones such as insulin. There are different types of pancreatic NETs depending upon the type of cells which 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 is called glucagonoma.
Symptoms depend on the type of cells affected by the caner. 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 increased heart rate. On the other hand, too much glucagon caused by a tumour might lead to diarrhea, skin rashes and high blood sugar.
- Blood Tests
- Abdominal CT scan
- Endoscopic Ultrasound
- MRI
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- PET (positron emission tomography)
- Angiogram
- Laparotomy
- Biopsy
- Bone Scan
Treatment will depend on the type of NET the patient is facing and the stage at which the diagnosis is made.
- Medication
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted Therapy
- Surgery
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