The pancreas is an organ that plays an important role in digestion and enzyme production to help the body digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It also produces two crucial hormones, insulin, and glucagon.

Pancreatic cancer develops in the pancreatic tissues, and establishing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis may be difficult because of the organ’s location. Due to this, most pancreatic cancers are only detected in their later stages. 

Before diving into the details and exploring the treatment of pancreatic cancer, we should tell you that if you have any questions or concerns regarding the disease, feel free to reach out to Dr. Omar Rashid, who will strive to address all of your worries.

Types of Pancreatic Cancer

Before talking about pancreatic cancer diagnosis, you should know that there are two main types of the disease, based on the cells they originate from.

  • Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common cancer type. It starts in the exocrine cells, that are responsible for enzyme production.  
  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are much less common, and they start in those endocrine cells which are responsible for hormone production.

Leading Causes of Pancreatic Cancer

Midsection of Man Holding Cigarette While Sitting Against Gray Background

The main causes are unknown. As with every type of cancer, the disease occurs when the cells in the organ begin to grow abnormally, leading to tumor formation. However, experts don’t exactly know why these abnormalities happen.

Normal cells grow and die at moderate rates, but when abnormal cells form, they are able to take over the healthy cells.

Even though the main causes of pancreatic cancer are unclear, experts have identified a few factors that may increase the risks of getting it: 

  • Smoking
  • Heavy Drinking
  • Hereditary or chronic pancreatitis
  • Obesity
  • Dietary choices
  • Gender: men are more likely to develop the disease
  • Exposure to harmful chemicals
  • Age: people between  65 and 74 are the most likely to develop pancreatic cancer
  • Race: research shows that in the US, Black people have the highest pancreatic cancer rates. However, more investigation is needed to establish a clearer link
  • People with both types of diabetes have a higher risk of developing the condition
  • A family history of pancreatic cancer
  • Infections like the H. pylori infection and hepatitis B.

When researching the causes of pancreatic cancer, experts concluded that some genetic mutations and variations could also increase the chances of developing pancreatic cancer.

These are:  

  • Lynch syndrome
  • Hereditary ovarian and breast cancer syndrome
  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
  • Atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome

Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

Often, a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is established after several tests that are based on the patient’s symptoms and experiences.

Unfortunately, the disease mostly produces symptoms in its advanced stages, and even then, some of the most common signs can be very subtle, and they can include: 

  • Weight loss (unintentional)
  • Losing your appetite
  • Radiating abdominal pain
  • Pain in your lower back
  • Blood clot formation
  • Depression
  • Jaundice
  • Brown or dark urine
  • Itchy skin
  • Greasy, light-colored stools
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea

Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

A timely diagnosis can up the chances of a faster and better recovery. That being said, visiting your healthcare provider should be the first step if you are experiencing any of the signs mentioned above, especially if you have a family history of the disease or have any of the above-mentioned risk factors.

How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed? After reviewing your medical history and symptoms, your healthcare provider might order the following tests:

  • Endoscopic ultrasound
  • MRI or CT Scans
  • Pancreas tissue sample
  • Blood tests

Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

After establishing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, your doctor(s) will most likely perform further tests to see whether the malignancy has spread or not. These tests are necessary for determining the stage of the disease and outlining the best course of treatment.

There are five typical stages of pancreatic cancer:

  • Stage 0: The abnormal cells in the pancreas are in a precancer state, meaning they have yet to become cancerous.
  • Stage 1: The tumor has begun to form, but it’s only in the pancreas
  • Stage 2: The tumor has managed to affect the surrounding lymph nodes and/or abdominal tissues
  • Stage 3: The malignancy has spread to the major blood vessels
  • Stage 4: The tumor has metastasized to other organs as well, 

Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer

Treatment for the disease revolves around killing the malignant cells and preventing their spread. As such, the best course of action will be heavily dependent on the cancer stage.

Treatment for pancreatic cancer will typically be:

  • Surgery: This treatment usually involves removing the cancerous areas. This will get rid of the tumor but won’t eliminate the cells that have already spread. As such, it’s usually not recommended for advanced-stage cases.
  • Chemotherapy: Doctors administer anticancer drugs to eliminate the malignant cells.
  • Immunotherapy: Doctors use various ways to trigger a response from the immune system to target the malignant cells.
  • Targeted Therapy: The different antibodies and medications target the cancer cells only, often making it a better option than radiation and chemotherapy.
  • Radiation Therapy: This method uses high-energy beams (like X-rays) to eliminate malignant cells. 

In some instances, your doctor might determine that it would be best to combine several treatment options, like undergoing chemo before having surgery. 

Pancreatic Cancer Prevention

Because experts are still unsure what causes pancreatic cancer, there’s no best strategy for prevention either, unfortunately.

However, there are some things you can do to reduce your chances of developing the disease.

To reduce your risks of developing the malignancy, consider: 

  • Limiting alcohol intake. Heavy alcohol consumption may lead to pancreatitis, which may increase the chances of pancreatic cancer.
  • Quitting smoking.
  • Trying to keep your weight in check. If you are currently having bodyweight problems, consider asking a professional for weight-loss strategies as well as tips on how to maintain your ideal weight.
  • Cleaning up your diet. Processed meat, fried foods, sugar, and red meat can all increase the risk of developing pancreatic malignancies. You don’t need to necessarily eliminate all these foods from your diet. However, you should strive to limit them. Also, strive to eat more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein sources.

Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate and Life Expectancy

Abdominal Pain Patient Woman Having Medical Exam With Doctor on Illness From Stomach Cancer

In all honesty, talking about life expectancy and survival rate in the case of any malignancy can be a bit misleading when looking at the statistical data. Every individual’s case is different and highly dependent on their medical history and cancer stage.

As a matter of fact, life expectancy and survival rate depend on a myriad of factors that are different for every individual. Only your healthcare experts can give you a more precise estimate regarding these questions.

Pancreatic cancer is a difficult disease to treat, but thanks to the constant advancement in technology and medicine, the outlook for patients is better than it was five years ago.

If You Need Expert Help

If you think you might have pancreatic cancer or experiencing symptoms like the ones we listed above, your best course of action would be to reach out to an experienced healthcare professional as soon as you can. This is especially important if you are obese, drink, smoke, or have a family history of the disease. 

Remember, early detection is key, so if you have any concerns or questions, reach out to us freely.