February 10th, 2008 by Aaks
Surgeries: Surgery is the best option when the cancer has spread only in the localized area. If a tumor has developed in the pancreas then it can be easily operated and extracted. At this stage the cancerous cells can be removed. But this method cannot always work out effectively because the infection might have already spread to the other organs but because you are not experiences any pain or any other changes you may not realize it.
Radiotherapy:
It is a method of inserted radio waves into the body in order to destroy the cancerous cells. Or sometimes the radio waves are even fixed outside the body and this method is known as external radiotherapy. The cancerous cells are destroyed by the radio waves because the cancerous cells are more reactive to radio reactions. But there are severe adverse effects due to this method because sometimes the normal cells in the pancreas are also destroyed.
Chemotherapy: Under the method of chemotherapy, the whole body is treated. A specific organ is not treated under this therapy. It is a method where the chemical substances are passed to the body by directly injecting into the organ. These chemical agents pass through the blood stream and destroy only those chemicals that are cancerous. Like radiotherapy, even this treatment may lead to side-effects.
Some doctors even use the combination of the above treatments if suitable. Radiotherapy actually removes the cancerous cells into the localized areas. Before conducting radiotherapy usually a surgery is performed first because the large tumors can be removed only if surgery is done. The technique of radiotherapy is used only to free the organ from cancerous cells. The technique of chemotherapy stops the possibility of occurrence.
A person suffering from pancreatic cancer avails treatment based upon the infected area and the severity of the disease. When the cancer is prevailing in the pancreas alone, then he receives localized treatment. If the infection has spread across the nearby tissues, then he receives locally advanced treatment. He should avail more advanced treatments if the infection has spread to the most important organs of the body due to cancer such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgeries. Under radiotherapy, the radio waves are passed to the body to destroy the cancerous cells. Under chemotherapy the chemicals are passed into the body to destroy the cancerous cells by means of injection.
Most of the patients are usually allergic to treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Whether a person should avail the treatment of radiotherapy, chemotherapy or any other surgery, it all depends upon his medical records, severity of the disease, allergies and the type of disease. If the patient is diagnosed at an early stage he may survive for five years, but if he is diagnosed at an advanced stage then he can survive only up to one year.
As the disease is spreading widely all across the nations at a rapid rate efforts should be taken by the professionals, government and the individuals to reduce the rate of incidence. Among the common people a sense of awareness should be created so that they shall take the necessary steps to curb it.
Indeed many people in the world are suffering from this fatal disease. No doctors till today have been able to discover the exact cause of the disease. They say that there are several reasons for this cancer. Almost 97% of the people till today who have suffered from this disease have passed away. Hence they suggest that it is wiser to take preventive steps other than relying on curative methods due to the occurrence. Till today no reliable treatment has been discovered.
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February 10th, 2008 by Aaks
Many kinds of tests and diagnosis are conducted today to detect if the phase of cancer has already occurred in a person. Through the tests and diagnosis, the medical professionals can determine the organs which are affected by cancer. The various kinds of tests are:
Diagnosis and tests are conducted to determine the extent of infection, the organ that is infected by cancer, severity of the disease and the chances of survival. Through the tests and diagnosis staging is done. The stage of the cancer is determined. If the patient has already reached the third stage of cancer, then his chances of survival are almost nil.
1. Abdominal Ultrasound: Under this treatment, the radio waves are passed through the abdominal organs. This test is conducted just to determine the severity of the infection and the spread of the cancer to the other surrounding organs. If a person is suffering from any symptoms like jaundice, fever etc, they can be noticed. This test is carried in order to know the type of treatment that should be used. Tests like CT scan, MRI scan are also conducted to ensure that the pancreas is attacked by cancer. This test shows the spread of the disease into the whole abdominal cavity.
2. The Abdominal Computed Tomography: This test is conducted to know the exact picture of the pancreas. Because accurate state of the pancreas cannot be obtained in tests like ultrasound technique. But when this test is conducted even a small benign tumor can be noticed. Sometimes when a tumor or abnormality is noticed in the Ultrasound test, then advanced tests like the above is conducted to ensure. This test also presents the exact picture of the extent of development and the areas that are affected. The provision for treatment becomes easier.
3. Biopsy: It is a sample test when a tissue affected by cancer is removed and examined under microscope. There are different types of biopsies such as percutaneous biopsy, Endoscopic biopsies.
Under percutaneous biopsy, a needle is inserted near the affected organ and then with the help of CT image technique the exact area that is affected is determined. In this way, the sample is taken and the infected organ is determined and suitable treatment can be started.
4. Different blood tests. Blood tests determined whether the other organs are affected by the spread of cancer. Sometimes, a patient may for a check-up because the other parts like kidneys are not functioning normally. After the tests, he may be confirmed that due to the development of pancreatic cancer he is facing other problems. After conducting the blood tests such as chest x-rays should be conducted to know the severity of the disease.
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February 10th, 2008 by Aaks
There are several types of cancer. Different types of cancers affect different organs, tissues of the body. When a person has developed pancreatic cancer, his glandular tissues are affected. The pancreatic cancer is usually associated with adenocarcinoma because the glandular tissues are affected. The lymph nodes affect the other parts of the organ and it is known as lymphoma. The classification of pancreas is made on the basis of the area of the pancrea affected. Either the head or the tail part of the pancreas is affected. The two main heads of cancers are exocrine cancer and endocrine cancer.
Exocrine cancer: The part of the pancreas is affected by the cancerous cells. Almost 90 % of the people who suffer from pancreatic cancer usually suffer from exocrine cancer. The cancer starts from exocrine part and spreads up to the small intestine. They are also known as ductal adenocarcinomas and they are further classified into the following categories:
Cystic tumors: When cystic tumors develop into the pancreas they are filled with fluid. Usually, it is benign in nature and if it is neglected for a long time, then the benign tumor can turn into malign.
When cancerous cells develop in the connective tissue of the pancreas, then it is known as sarcoma. This is a very rare type of cancer that usually affects the little kids.
Endocrine Cancer: Cancer occurs in the hormone secreting tissue of the pancreas. Hence the level of hormone that is produced is abnormal and hence a tumor is developed. The types of tumors that are developed are:
It is known as lymphoma when the lymph nodes of the pancreas are affected. There are many types of endocrine cancers such as gastrinoms, insulinomas, stomatostatinomas, and glucagonomas. These tumors are named after the type of hormones that is produced into these tumors.
Adenocarcinoma is such a type of cancer that cannot show any sign of improvement. But the other types of pancreas cancer can be treated easily and they can show signs of improvement. The symptoms for adenocarcinoma are also strange.
Lymphoma is a rare form of cancer it occurs more severely because it has the tendency to metastaze. When the person is affected by this type of cancer the other organs of the body are affected easily to distant parts. There are many forms of lymphomas and the type of treatments also vary according to their nature:
When it is already developed severely the chances of survival are rare. The patient would be on the safer side if he is treated at an early stage.
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February 10th, 2008 by Aaks
As you are aware that pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed at a later stage and hence the rate of survival at this stage will be very less. There are some factors that can be noticed in a person when the disease has just occurred to him. In this case, it is better to be aware of the symptoms so that you can start the treatment as early as possible. The chances of your survival would be better. if somebody in your family has had this problem, then you can start check-ups and start the treatment as soon as possible.
Some of the symptoms that may be noticed in a person are abdomen pain, appetite loss, jaundice, diathermia, etc.There are many types of pancreatic cancer are:
Abdominal pain: Patients commonly face the symptom of abdominal pain. The reason for the acute pain is due to the growth of tumors into the stomach. These tumors are caused due to the multiplication of abnormal cells into the pancreas. When a person has become prone to cancer, normal cells do not develop in the pancreas. The nutrition is supplied to the tumorous tissues and it causes great discomfort to the organs that surround the pancreas. As the process of digestion is not smooth, the organs are greatly stressed.
Loss of appetite: When a person’s sugar level is very high, then it is difficult for him to get it back to normal. Hence the digestive enzymes that are secreted to do function normally. In this way a person may also experience loss of appetitite.
Diabetes: A person may suddenly discover that he has diabetes problem when he just attends a check-up in a clinic. He may also not understand why the level of sugar has so suddenly rose higher. This is all because insulin is not secreted into his pancreas and hence it is not controlling the level of sugar into the body.
Diarrhea: Due to the improper functioning of the digestive tract, he cannot retain any nutrition in his body and hence he suddenly experiences diarrhea. The enzymes that are to be secreted will not be produced adequately and hence it results in improper bowel movements. Steatorrhea is the common symptom developed by a person suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Jaundice: Sometimes a person may develop jaundice i.e. his skin color turns yellow. Jaundice can be the initial symptom to show the onset of cancer. If a person usually within the age group of 60 to 85 is suffering from jaundice must seek immediate treatment because he can easily develop pancreatic cancer if he neglects.
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February 10th, 2008 by Aaks
The medical experts although could not figure out the exact causes of cancer can only state some of the habits that can be altered. If a person has evil habits then the chances of the occurrences are very high. All this factors are determined after conducting a careful analysis and by over viewing the real life examples.
Some of the factors that can easily help developing this health hazard are smoking, diet, alcohol, diabetes, family history, age and gender. Some of the above factors are avoidable and some are unavoidable. Hence people can follow healthy dietary patterns and give up evil habits such as alcohol, smoking etc.
Smoking: As we all know that smokers are more easily prone to develop cancer. But pancreas is more easily affected by the habit of smoking because the cigar rates contain a chemical substance known as nitrosamines and they affect the pancreatic organ more easily. This study was presented by the World Health Organization. The chances of occurrence increases as the smokes increases his number of cigarettes. The chances depend upon the frequency of his smoking and the type of cigarette brand used.
Dietary pattern: Due to the improved standard of living, people are getting more addicted towards junk and mouthwatering items. They consume food containing high degree of fats and sugar which causes pancreatic cancer. People consuming high amount of non-vegetarian food also develop this disease. Some medical experts suggest that Vitamin C reduces the chances of the disease.
Alcohol: Some people just enjoy the sips of alcohol. Initially they will not experience any kind of health changes within them. But gradually the pancreatic cells within their body weaken and hence the organ will slowly develop cancerous cells within them. Hence a person develops chronic pancreatic cancer. At least 70 % of the alcoholic persons till today have been attacked by chronic pancreatic cancer only.
Diabetes: When a person develops diabetes, gradually he may develop diabetes mellitus. The level of sugar for diabetes mellitus is very high. Due to the excess level of sugar in the body the function of the pancreas shall not be normal. Gradually the patient may be attacked by cancerous cells in the pancreas and develop pancreatic cancer.
Family history: If the father in the family suffered from this cancer, then his children may easily develop cancer because the genes in the body are carried forward to the next generation. According to a recent survey conducted it was proved that the genes carry some portion of the genetic functioning of the pancreas also.
Gender: According to a recent study conducted it was proved that the women are more vulnerable to this disease when compared to men. It was found that the rate of incidence is 30 % more in females compared to men.
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February 10th, 2008 by Aaks
Pancreas is situated just below the abdominal cavity and adjacent to the small intestine. The main function of the pancreas is to secrete endocrine juice that helps in the metabolism process. It mainly secretes a hormone known as insulin. Insulin is responsible for converting sugary substances into glucose to release energy in the body. Hence pancreas is an important organ in the body that performs the digestive function. Pancreas is made up of glandular cells and if the cells in the pancreas multiply then it leads to pancreatic cancer. If an indivual develops pancreatic cancer, then he acutely faces problems like indigestion and pain. Hence no energy is released into the body. When a person is said to have developed pancreatic cancer, he develops it either in the endocrine or glandular part of the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer is fatal in nature. There are many kinds of pancreatic nature and almost all the types of cancers are vulnerable. Although they show different characteristics and affect different areas the rate of survival for all the types of cancers is very low. One common characteristic of the disease is that the digestive tract does not function normally and it leads to metastasis.
The doctors can cure the disease only if the development is in a milder form. But till today, only in rare cases a doctor was able to diagnose the development of cancer at an early stage and hence cure the patient completely. But usually doctor cannot diagnose the occurrence easily.
Pancreas is a vital organ because it performs two important functions. It secrets enzymes into the body that helps in the digestion of food particles. The part of the pancreas that secrets enzymes are known as exocrine pancreas. The glandular cells that release digestive enzymes in the body digest the food particles and carry the waste matter into the small intestine. If cancer occurs to the person then the digestive enzymes do not function smoothly and hence the digestion process is affected.
Another function which the pancreas performs is to secrete a hormone called insulin. This action is performed by the endocrine pancreas. The insulin regulates the sugar levels in the blood. The sugar present into the body is converted into energy. When the endocrine gland is affect it leads to abnormalities and adequate energy is not released into the body.
Pancreas is divided into two parts depending upon the function performed by them. One pancreas is the exocrine pancreas and the other type of pancreas is the endocrine pancreas. As the name indicates the exocrine pancreas is the outer layer of the pancreas and the endocrine pancreas is the inner layer of the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer usually leads to death. Only if the disease is diagnosed at the early stage, then the person suffering may survive. If a person has developed this disease, he may survive unto five years. The rate of survival is also only 4 % i.e. 1 person out of 30 persons may survive. Even in the most developed country like U.S, nearly 30000 deaths in a year are simply caused due to pancreatic cancer.
This disease is leading to many deaths because it is diagnosed at a very later stage. When a person is diagnosed, the cancerous part is already spread to the other organs of our body. At this stage even the most medical experts cannot find a suitable treatment. A person who attends a clinic frequently and conducts regular medical- check up may be diagnosed at an early stage and hence find curative treatment.
Till today, no medical professionals have been able to detect the symptoms that are developed due to the onset of the disease. Each patient develops different type of symptoms. Pancreatic cancer is caused due to several reasons and hence the symptoms also depend upon the root cause.
Grading of cells is done by the doctors in order to determine the extent of infected areas. If you are graded as 0 then the count of cells is normal. At this stage the disease can be cured easily.
According to recent survey conducted, the females develop this disease easily compared to men. The rate of incidence is very high among people who are between the ages of 60 to 85. People below the age of 25 years rarely develop. I.e. the rate of cause is hardly 1%.
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