Pancreatic cancer

Facts

Most of the time, “pancreatic cancer” means pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma — cancer that begins in the small tubes (ducts) inside the pancreas. A different type of cancer called a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) can also affect the pancreas.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers comprehensive treatment for pancreatic cancer and NETs from a team of experts who specialize in gastrointestinal cancers. This page is about pancreatic cancer. To learn more about NETs, visit our dedicated NET section.

Gastrointestinal Refers to the stomach and intestines. Also called GI. Adenocarcinoma Cancer that forms in the glandular tissue that lines certain internal organs and makes and releases substances in the body, such as mucus, digestive juices or other fluids.

Cancer that forms in the glandular tissue that lines certain internal organs and makes and releases substances in the body, such as mucus, digestive juices or other fluids. Most cancers of the breast, pancreas, lung, prostate, colon, esophagus and stomach are adenocarcinomas.

What is pancreatic cancer?

When cells begin to grow abnormally they can turn into cancer. Cancer cells do not respond to regular cell growth, division and death signals like they are supposed to. They also don’t organize normally. Instead they grow into a tumor, which may break through nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.

Understanding your pancreas

Your pancreas is in your abdomen, behind your stomach. It is surrounded by your small intestine, liver and spleen.

Most of your pancreas consists of exocrine cells. These cells produce and secrete enzymes that aid in the breakdown of foods.

Lipase breaks down fats.
Protease breaks down proteins.
Amylase breaks down carbohydrates.

A small portion of your pancreas consists of endocrine cells. These cells produce and secrete hormones, including:

Gastrin, which triggers release of acid in your stomach
Insulin, which helps lower the level of sugar in your blood

Spleen An organ that is part of the lymphatic system. The spleen makes lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells and destroys old blood cells. It is on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach.

Types of cancer in the pancreas

It is important to know whether a pancreatic tumor started in the exocrine cells or endocrine cells because there are different treatment strategies and prognoses for each type of tumor.

Exocrine pancreatic cancer

The term “pancreatic cancer” is often used to refer to cancer that started in the exocrine cells of the pancreas.

Most pancreatic cancers are exocrine cancers that begin in the ducts that carry pancreas juices and enzymes to the common bile duct, which empties into the first section of the small intestine (duodenum). The most common is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at later stages, when the cancer has grown around major blood vessels or spread to other organs. Even then, there is a lot we can do to help control your symptoms and extend your life.

Symptom A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea and pain.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Tumors that start in the endocrine cells of the pancreas are called pancreatic NETs. They are also known as neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas or islet cell tumors, and they are different from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This page is about pancreatic cancer. To learn more about NETs, visit our dedicated NET section.

Adenocarcinoma Cancer that forms in the glandular tissue that lines certain internal organs and makes and releases substances in the body, such as mucus, digestive juices or other fluids.

Symptoms

Most cancers in the pancreas, do not cause symptoms until they become large or spread to other parts of the body.

Exocrine pancreatic cancer is often advanced by the time it is found.

One of the most pronounced symptoms is pain in the upper abdomen and back.
At times the cancer may cause the gallbladder to swell.
Because 80 percent of pancreatic cancers occur in the head of the pancreas, where they can block the bile duct, they may cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes and darkened urine).
When cancer interferes with food processing, it can cause weight loss, pale and greasy stools, and vomiting and nausea after eating.

Diagnosing

If you have signs or symptoms that could be from cancer in your pancreas, your doctor will start by asking about your medical history and family history and doing a physical exam.

If your doctor suspects you have exocrine pancreatic cancer, you may have one or more imaging studies, such as:

Computed tomography (CT) scan — to look for any abnormal growth on your pancreas and cancer anywhere else in your body.
Upper endoscopic ultrasound (upper EUS) — threading a flexible tube (endoscope) with an ultrasound probe through your mouth into your stomach to look at your tumor, determine whether it can be removed surgically and take cells for a biopsy (looking at them under a microscope to see if they are cancer).
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — to get a picture of your pancreas ducts if your major blood vessels are compressed or invaded by cancer and to look at your liver for signs that cancer has spread there.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) — threading an endoscope through your mouth into your small intestine to look at your pancreas, inject dye that helps the area show up better on an X-ray or use a fine needle or brush to take cells for a biopsy. ERCP can also be used to place a stent to help relieve jaundice.

Traditionally, patients with pancreatic cancer have needed exploratory surgery to determine whether their pancreas should be removed. Now doctors often opt for the less invasive imaging procedures described above.

Tests for CA 19-9, a molecule released into the blood by some pancreatic tumor cells, can be useful in tracking the progression of the disease, but it is only 80 percent accurate in diagnosing pancreatic cancer.

Biopsy The removal of a sample of tissue or fluid that is examined to see whether cancer is present. This may be done with a large needle or through surgical removal of tissue or fluids. Computed tomography A procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are used to create three-dimensional (3-D) views of tissues and organs. A procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create three-dimensional (3-D) views of tissues and organs. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the tissues and organs show up more clearly. This scan may be used to help diagnose disease, plan treatment or find out how well treatment is working. Imaging In medicine, a process that makes pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging uses methods such as X-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) and radio waves. Magnetic resonance imaging A procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. A procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures can show the difference between normal and diseased tissue. MRI makes better images of organs and soft tissue than other scanning techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) or X-ray. MRI is especially useful for imaging the brain, the spine, the soft tissue of joints and the inside of bones. Progression In medicine, the course of a disease, such as cancer, as it becomes worse or spreads in the body. Sign In medicine, a sign is something found during a physical exam or from a laboratory test that shows that a person may have a condition or disease. In medicine, a sign is something found during a physical exam or from a laboratory test that shows that a person may have a condition or disease. Some examples of signs are fever, swelling, skin rash, high blood pressure and high blood glucose. Symptom A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea and pain. Ultrasound A procedure that uses high-energy sound waves to look at tissues and organs inside the body. The sound waves make echoes that form pictures of the tissues and organs on a computer screen. A procedure that uses high-energy sound waves to look at tissues and organs inside the body. The sound waves make echoes that form pictures of the tissues and organs on a computer screen (sonogram). Ultrasound may be used to help diagnose diseases, such as cancer. It may also be used during pregnancy to check the fetus (unborn baby) and during medical procedures, such as biopsies. Also called ultrasonography.

What causes pancreatic cancer?

Very little is known about the exact cause of pancreatic cancer. Many studies have drawn links between the disease and various types of behaviors and genetic groups.

Fred Hutch’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program offers a personalized approach to risk assessment, screening and prevention for people at high risk for pancreatic cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers.

Learn More About Fred Hutch's Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program

Risk factors

These factors may affect your risk for pancreatic cancer:

Smoking — Adenocarcinomas are two to three times more common in heavy smokers than in nonsmokers.
Age — Though pancreatic cancers are sometimes found in young people, most are found in people over 60.
Sex — Men are more often diagnosed than women.
Ethnicity —African-Americans, Ashkenazi Jews and Native Hawaiians have the highest rates of pancreatic cancer. Asians and Hispanics have the lowest rates.
Diet — A diet high in meats and fats has been linked to increased risk.
Environment — Pancreatic cancer is more common in people with prolonged exposure to pesticides, dyes, petrochemicals and other carcinogens.
Family history — People with a parent or sibling who has had pancreatic cancer are three times more likely to also be diagnosed. A family history of colon cancer or ovarian cancer also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Gastrointestinal Refers to the stomach and intestines. Also called GI. Screening Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Because screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Because screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease. Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (for breast cancer), colonoscopy (for colon cancer) and Pap and HPV tests (for cervical cancer). Screening can also include a genetic test to check for a person’s risk of developing an inherited disease.

How common is pancreatic cancer?

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 55,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (either exocrine or endocrine) each year.

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