Pancreas Cancer Facts

The pancreas is an organ found in the abdomen, behind the stomach, and surrounded by the small intestine, liver, and spleen. It produces enzymes and hormones.

Most of the pancreas consists of the exocrine gland. This gland produces enzymes that aid in the breakdown of proteins and fats in foods. A small portion of the pancreas consists of endocrine cells. These cells produce insulin, a hormone that helps balance sugar levels in the blood.  

When these cells begin to grow abnormally they can turn into tumors. Both the exocrine and endocrine cells can form tumors.. The most common pancreas cancers (adenocarcinoma) arise from the cells lining the ducts which run through the pancreas.

While it is a serious disease, pancreatic cancer is relatively rare. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 40,000 people in the United States (less than one-tenth of a percent of the population) will be diagnosed with a form of pancreatic cancer. However, pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in men and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women. 

Pancreatic cancers are very difficult to detect and are often found in advanced forms. Very little is known about the cause of pancreatic cancer, but it tends to be more prevalent in smokers. The majority of cases are found in people over the age of 60. 

Most pancreatic cancers do not produce symptoms until the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, therefore it is not found until the cancer has spread, making treatment difficult. Most pancreatic cancers (tumors) may grow large enough to cause abdominal pain and/or blockage of the bile ducts resulting in yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). 

Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Risk Factors

Here is some information about the symptoms of pancreas cancer, how it's diagnosed, and what the risk factors for it may be.

Types

It is important to know in which portion of the pancreas the tumor has formed. There are different treatment strategies and prognoses for each type.