Understanding Pancreatic Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Pancreatic cancer develops when abnormal cells in the pancreas become malignant. The pancreas, located behind the stomach, is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and insulin to regulate blood sugar. Most pancreatic cancers originate in the exocrine cells but can spread within the gland. The disease is more prevalent in men than women.

Potential Causes: While the exact cause remains unknown, several risk factors increase susceptibility, including genetic alterations, inflammation, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high-fat diet, excessive alcohol intake, diabetes, and liver issues like cirrhosis.

Symptoms often manifest in advanced stages and can be vague, complicating diagnosis. Common signs include upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), loss of appetite, nausea, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, depression, fatty stools, itching, blood clots, and enlargement of nearby organs. These indicators often appear late, making early detection challenging.

Diagnosis Methods: To confirm pancreatic cancer, physicians may utilize various tests based on symptoms, including MRI, CT scans, biopsies, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), angiography, PTC, laparoscopy, ERCP, and blood analyses.

Treatment Options: Management strategies depend on cancer stage. Surgical options include the Whipple procedure to remove the head of the pancreas, total pancreatectomy to eliminate the entire organ, or distal pancreatectomy for the tail segment, often combined with spleen removal. Additional treatments involve radiation therapy and chemotherapy to control or reduce tumor growth.