Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and pancreatic cancer is a disease that we definitely need to be aware of, because it often strikes without notice. The likelihood of recovery from pancreatic cancer is quite lowthe disease often goes undetected in its early stages because patients dont exhibit symptoms at first. The fact that pancreatic cancer often isnt diagnosed until the later stages where signs and symptoms begin to show contributes to the mortality rate, making pancreatic cancer one of the leading causes of death due to cancer.

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer that patients experience in the later stages include upper abdominal and back pain, jaundice (skin and the whites of the eyes begin to turn yellow), loss of appetite and weight, and depression, which all result from pancreatic dysfunction. The pancreas is an important organ because it secretes hormones like insulin that help process sugar and digest food. When the pancreas begins to experience abnormal cell growth, it stops doing its job correctly

There are 2 types of pancreatic cancer, and pancreatic cancer treatment will vary depending on which is diagnosed in patients and which stage of cancer they are in. One type involves tumors in the ducts of the pancreas that help produce digestive juices, and the other involves tumors in the cells that produce hormones. The first type is more common and the second is quite rare. Pancreatic cancer treatment options include surgery, radiationtherapy, chemotherapy, and drug therapy, which can all be applied at different locations in the pancreas, and sometimes in combination with each other.

Research is currently being conducted to devise other methods of pancreatic cancer treatment, and patients can participate in clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of novel approaches. Experimental treatments include new drugs that inhibit blood vessel growth in cancer, gene therapy, and vaccines. Patients might benefit from treatments that are potentially more effective, but they also run a risk by being the first ones to try out methods that havent been tried beforethe treatment could end up having no effect or even worsening their condition.

In addition to pancreatic cancer treatment, pancreatic cancer prevention is important as well. Currently there is no known way to prevent pancreatic cancer, but refraining from smoking, maintaining healthy weight, exercising and eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of developing this disease. Being healthy is generally for the best because it also significantly lowers risks for several other diseases.