Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. Pancreas
is a gland located behind the stomach. The pancreas job is to produce digestive juice (enzymes)
and hormones to regulate blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of your pancreas
an organ in your abdomen that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. There are
cells called exocrine pancreas cells which produces the enzymes. The majority of pancreatic
cancer start from the exocrine cells.

Some Symptoms include:

Jaundice

Pain in the upper abdomen and back

Depression/Fatigue

Sudden weight loss

Possible causes include:

Smoking

Inherited conditions

Diabetes

Chronic Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a disease where the pancreas becomes inflamed. It is when the enzymes are
activated before they are in the small intestine and starts to attack the pancreas. Chronic
Pancreatitis is a long lasting inflammation of the pancreas caused from heavy drinking or many
short pancreatitis.

Pancreatic cancer is deadly as it is diagnosed at a late stage because the symptoms are only
shown at the later stage. Only 10 to 15 percent are diagnosed when they could be considered for
surgery. Even after surgeries, 85% of the time it comes back and makes people suffer. What kills
most patients is of liver failure from the liver taken over by the spread tumor. Only about 20% of
people are alive after 1 year of diagnosis and only 7% of people are alive after 5 years of
diagnosis. It typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs. It is seldom detected in its early stages
and in an average of 1.3 years, it develops from stage 1(localized in the pancreas) to stage
4(metastatic disease). The tumor cells escape the treatment and they come back after the surgery
is finished, grow and affect the liver which kills the patients. Treatment may include surgery,
chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these. Antibody therapy is also an option
now. There is a drug called Tarceva which is a medicine that interfere with the growth of cancer
cells and slow their spread in the body. It is used so it blocks the growth signal which spreads to
other organs. It is usually given in combination with a chemotherapy called Gemcitabine.
Gemcitabine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in
the body. Gemcitabine is used to treat cancers of the pancreas, lung, ovary, and breast.

In 2016, over 53000 Americans were diagnosed of pancreatic cancer and 41780 people have
died. While overall cancer rate and death rate are declining, the rate and death rate for pancreatic
cancer are increasing by a significant amount. It is estimated that it would be the second leading
cause of cancer death in the United States around 2020.

This isnt based on the research, but my grandfather passed away from pancreatic cancer. He
suffered most from not being able to eat or drink, so he constantly suffered from hunger and
thirst. I remember he had his last meal months ago and he was just hanging on from the IV
getting nutrients he needed as he couldnt metabolize.

References:
Prognosis

http://pancreatic.org/pancreatic-cancer/about-the-pancreas/prognosis/

Tarceva: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

https://www.drugs.com/tarceva.html

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Pancreatic Cancer

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/questions-pancreatic-cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/digestive-diseases-pancreatic-cancer

What Is Pancreatitis?

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-pancreatitis#1

Why Is Pancreatic Cancer So Deadly?

Melinda Moyer - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-is-pancreatic-cancer-so-

deadly-steve-jobs/