The pancreas is crucial for blood glucose management, but it also supports the digestive process. Digestion of food is made possible by the exocrine gland, which produces enzymes integral in the breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Exocrine pancreatic cancer occurs when exocrine cells begin to multiply out of control and cause a tumour to form. Of this type of pancreatic cancer, adenocarcinoma is incredibly common, which occurs when cancer develops in the lining of the pancreatic ducts.
The outlook for pancreatic cancer is often poor because the condition does not cause symptoms in the early stages. When pancreatic cancer becomes advanced, symptoms may include:
For people with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, such as those with a family history, screening may be recommended. You can also undergo genetic testing to look for any gene mutations that could increase your cancer risk.
While some people have a family history of the disease, others develop pancreatic cancer spontaneously. Accordingly, researchers have not determined a specific cause, but certain factors can increase one’s risk:
It should be noted that not everyone with these factors will develop pancreatic cancer, but it’s worth considering early screening if one or more risk factors apply to you.
Pancreatic cancer is typically diagnosed via blood tests, diagnostic imaging, tissue biopsies, and ultrasounds. If a diagnosis is confirmed, doctors will determine if and how far the cancer has spread. This is a process known as staging, and patients will be staged from 0 to 4 (with 4 indicating that the cancer has spread to other areas).
People with pancreatic cancer usually undergo one or more of the following treatments:
When doctors deem that further treatment will be mostly unhelpful, a patient may be recommended for palliative care. This type of therapy is focused on making people more comfortable by relieving pain and improving quality of life. Palliative care can also occur in conjunction with other treatments.