Symptoms and Treatment Methods of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a condition that affects the pancreas, an organ located in the abdominal region that helps with digestion. Symptoms may include nausea, bloating, fatigue, jaundice, and loss of appetite. Treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Due to the difficulty of detecting the disease in its early stages, it can lead to serious complications.

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer occurs when the cells in the pancreas undergo mutations and begin to grow uncontrollably. The pancreas is an important gland located between the spine and stomach in the abdomen. Its functions include producing hormones that regulate blood sugar and enzymes that aid in digestion. The condition usually starts in the pancreas ducts. Early detection of pancreatic tumors through imaging tests is difficult. As a result, many people are diagnosed only after the cancer has metastasized. Diagnosis is usually made through imaging tests and biopsy. Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, and positron emission tomography can provide information about the location, spread, and size of the cancer. A biopsy involves taking a small sample of pancreatic tissue and examining it under a microscope. Pancreatic cancer is usually an aggressive disease, and because it is often diagnosed in the later stages, treatment options may be limited. Common treatment methods used by doctors include surgical intervention, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.

What are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer?

In the early stages of pancreatic cancer, there are often no symptoms that can help in its detection. Symptoms usually appear when the tumor starts affecting other organs in the digestive system. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include:

• Yellowing of the skin
• Dark-colored urine
• Light-colored stools
• Upper abdominal pain
• Mid-back pain
• Itchy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Gas or bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Blood clots
• Weight loss
• New onset diabetes
• Fatigue, weakness

Additionally, individuals who have recently experienced painful conditions such as diabetes or pancreatitis may be suspected of having pancreatic cancer. Symptoms of neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, a different type of pancreatic cancer, may differ from traditional pancreatic cancer symptoms and could include diarrhea and anemia, along with jaundice and weight loss.

What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?

Researchers are still investigating the factors involved in the development of pancreatic cancer. However, doctors have identified certain factors that can increase the risk of this type of cancer. These include a family history of the disease. Common risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:

• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• Exposure to certain chemicals like pesticides and petrochemicals
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Hereditary chronic pancreatitis
• Older age

What are the Stages of Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer arises from changes in the DNA of cells. The DNA of a cell contains instructions on what the cell should do. In cancer cells, the DNA tells the cells to rapidly make many more cells. While healthy cells die after a certain time, cancer cells continue to live, leading to abnormal cell growth. The stages of pancreatic cancer are used to determine how much the cancer has spread and include the following:

• Stage I: At this stage, cancer is confined to a small part of the pancreas. The tumor is contained within the pancreas and has not spread to surrounding tissues. It is usually found in the head or tail of the pancreas.
• Stage II: This is a stage where cancer has grown further. The tumor may have spread to the tissues surrounding the pancreas but has not yet spread to major blood vessels or other organs.
• Stage III: In this stage, cancer has spread more extensively. The tumor has spread outside the pancreas and may have involved nearby lymph nodes or large blood vessels. However, cancer has not yet spread to distant organs (e.g., liver or lungs).
• Stage IV: This is the most advanced stage of cancer. Cancer has spread to other organs outside the pancreas (e.g., liver, lungs, peritoneum) or distant lymph nodes. Cancer is often aggressive, and treatment options may be limited.

How is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?

It is not an easy disease to diagnose in the early stages because it is difficult to feel the pancreas during routine physical exams and difficult to see on routine imaging tests. If pancreatic cancer is suspected, doctors may request a combination of pancreatic function tests, which may include:

• Imaging tests: These tests provide detailed information about the inside of the body. Doctors may use imaging tests like CT scans, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET), and endoscopic ultrasound.
• Blood tests: Pancreatic blood tests can be useful in detecting tumor markers. Tumor markers are substances that can indicate the presence of cancer. High levels of carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9, a protein released by pancreatic cancer cells, may indicate the presence of a tumor.
• Laparoscopy: Sometimes, doctors may use laparoscopy to determine the size of the cancerous tumor and whether it can be removed. During this procedure, small incisions are made in the abdominal area, and a long tube with a camera is inserted to examine the inside of the abdomen and detect abnormalities. A biopsy may also be taken during the procedure.
• Genetic testing: Genetic testing is used to look for hereditary DNA changes that increase cancer risk. Blood or saliva samples are collected for the test. The results of genetic tests can help determine treatment options and show whether family members are at a higher risk for pancreatic cancer.

How is Pancreatic Cancer Treated?

Treatment for pancreatic cancer is often a combination therapy and depends on many factors. Some treatment options include:

• Surgical intervention: Surgical intervention is frequently used in early-stage pancreatic cancer cases. One of the surgeries is known as the Whipple procedure or pancreaticoduodenectomy. In this procedure, the head of the pancreas, duodenum (small intestine), gallbladder, and sometimes nearby lymph nodes and part of the small intestine are removed. The goal is to remove the tumor and prevent it from spreading to other tissues and organs.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a drug treatment aimed at killing cancer cells or slowing their growth with medications. It is often used before or after surgery or in conjunction with radiation therapy.
• Radiotherapy: In radiotherapy, high-energy beams are used to target cancer cells. These high-energy beams aim to kill or control the growth of mutated cells.
• Targeted therapies: This innovative treatment method targets mutated cancer cells and causes less damage to other healthy tissues. The drugs used in this therapy target specific proteins.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the types of pancreatic cancer? There are two main types of pancreatic tumors. Adenocarcinoma accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic tumors. It originates from the outer cells of the pancreas. Neuroendocrine tumors make up a smaller portion of pancreatic tumors and originate from hormone-producing cells in the pancreas.
• How long does it take to notice pancreatic cancer? Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually absent. However, in some individuals, vague symptoms may develop up to a year before diagnosis. The first symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often back pain or abdominal pain, which may come and go and can worsen after meals or when lying down.

Pancreatic cancer carries a significant risk of complications. In some cases, surgery may be required. Individuals exhibiting symptoms of pancreatic cancer can make an appointment at a hospital's internal medicine clinic to begin treatment.