About a Cure for Pancreas Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most challenging of the malignant diseases. It is the fourth leading cause of death from cancer. Those with pancreatic cancer are typically older, and both men and women seem to be at equal risk. The research is ongoing for a cure to this disease and some progress is being made.
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
The pancreas is an oblong gland that sits atop the stomach and plays an integral part in digestion. This is the organ that produces insulin, a vital hormone needed to sustain us and help to provide nutrients to us from the food we eat. Due to its location deep in the body, detecting cancers or other abnormalities with palpation is virtually impossible. When the pancreas develops cancer, typically it is in the form of a malignant mass or tumor.
Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer
There is some evidence that genetics may be a component in pancreatic cancer, however, that is not the only risk. There was a sharp increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer in the last half of the 20th century as the popularity of smoking increased. It is believed that the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke and smokeless tobacco cause gene mutations. These mutations accumulate in the body over time and they allow cancer cells to form and spread. Other risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Synthetic chemicals such as pesticides and dyes
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder problems
- High cholesterol
Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer
While there is no true cure for pancreatic cancer, progress is being made in the field every day. The prognosis for a patient with pancreatic cancer depends on the stage that the cancer is discovered. Like most other carcinomas or cancers, pancreatic cancer is staged. The lower the stage number the more likely a successful outcome can be achieved.
Treatments for this cancer include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Removal of the pancreas