How Deadly is Pancreatic Cancer? | Afrilatest.be

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is hidden behind your stomach and has two main functions: it helps break down food in your intestines and it regulates your blood sugar levels.

• The gland produces digestive enzymes that are released into the duodenum, where they help break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into a form that can be absorbed by your body.
• The pancreas also produces insulin and glucagon – two hormones that are crucial for blood sugar regulation. Insulin helps cells absorb glucose (sugar) from your blood for energy or storage, while glucagon is released when your blood sugar levels are too low.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer

The symptoms of the disease are not very specific. Possible symptoms include: pain in the upper part of the abdomen that radiates to the back, , weight loss, , digestive problems, decreased appetite and . When pancreatic cancer is finally discovered, the disease has often already spread to other parts of the body or the tumor has already spread into the surrounding tissue, which limits the chances of survival.

Also read: Pancreatic cancer: still difficult to recognize due to 'general' symptoms

Types of pancreatic cancer

The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma (90%). This form originates in the pancreatic lobules that produce digestive enzymes. The tumor develops in the glandular cells lining the pancreatic ducts and then spreads to adjacent tissues.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (5%) arises in endocrine cells, which mainly produce hormones such as insulin and glucagon. These tumors grow more slowly than adenocarcinomas.

Causes of pancreatic cancer

While researchers still don't know the exact causes of pancreatic cancer, studies have identified several risk factors:

• Smoking: Smoking nearly doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Overweight or obese: Overweight people are about 20% more likely to develop this disease than people of normal weight.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Long-term type 2 diabetes is linked to a higher risk of many types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer.
• Family history: A family history may indicate genetic mutations that confer an increased risk.

Also read: When are you overweight/obese?

Investigations for diagnosis

If you suspect pancreatic cancer, you should first visit your GP, who will suggest a blood test and possibly a stool test. If necessary, you will be referred to a specialist, who will usually first perform an ultrasound, in which the pancreas is visualised using sound waves. Possible additional tests include a CT scan, MRI scan, endoscopic echo, PET-CT scan and ERCP.

Treatment of pancreatic cancer

Only 1 in 5 patients is eligible for treatment to cure the cancer.

If the tumor is not too advanced, a surgeon will usually remove part or all of the pancreas. If necessary, patients will receive radiotherapy beforehand and/or to make the surgery possible. After the procedure, (more) chemotherapy is usually needed to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. You can live perfectly well without a pancreas, but you will then become a diabetic and will have to continue taking medication with pancreatic enzymes to digest certain foods.

Surgery can also be useful if the cancer has spread, but then normally not to cure the patient permanently, but to stop the tumor growth and alleviate symptoms. Chemotherapy can also be used to slow down the disease. Radiotherapy can help to combat pain, keep the tumor under local control or to stop blood loss. In recent years, a new generation of therapies has also been developed that combat cancer cells much more specifically.

Also read: Breakthrough in pancreatic cancer treatment: targeted immunotherapy via 'grain of rice'

Sources:
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