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Written by Dr Paul Klenerman, consultant physician
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What is cancer of the pancreatic gland?
The pancreas is an oblong-shaped organ located deep in the
middle of the upper stomach region. Cancer of the pancreas is the result of
malignant cell changes, usually in the head of the gland.
Over the last 20 years the number of new cases of pancreatic
cancer has remained steady. The incidence in the UK is estimated at 9 cases per
100,000.
The disease is more common in the elderly, and men are more
prone to it than women. It is the fifth most common cause of cancer mortality
in the UK.
What causes pancreatic cancer?
The precise cause is not known, but
smoking and diets
rich in red meat and
cholesterol are
suspected.
Other theories suggest that exposure to petroleum products and
certain other chemicals may also cause the disease.
What are the symptoms of cancer of the pancreas?
Because the initial symptoms are very faint, cancer of the
pancreas is detected usually only at a late stage.
The first symptoms include loss of appetite, a loathing of food
and weight loss, though these symptoms may be caused by other factors. Other
symptoms that may appear include
fatigue,
jaundice, vomiting
and
diarrhoea. Abdominal
pain may also be present.
A deep, piercing pain in the top part of the stomach, radiating
to the back, may stem from the pancreas, though such pain is often due to much
more benign conditions.
Finally, some individuals develop
diabetes as a first
symptom.
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis is usually made with an
ultrasound
examination or by a CT scan. Special
biopsy techniques are also used; an
ERCP may also be
performed.
Prognosis
The five-year survival rate is only about 2 per cent. Most
patients do not survive the first year after the diagnosis.
An operation can be performed if the tumour is detected at a
very early stage, but even this technique has a five-year survival rate of only
about 10 to 20 per cent.
Palliative care, therefore, plays a very important role in this
type of cancer.
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Last updated 01.05.2005
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