|
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the United States in men and the 5th leading cause of cancer in women. It accounts for approximately 27,700 new cases and 25,000 deaths per year in the United States. Pancreatic cancer has no known cause. Cigarette smoking remains the most consistently observed risk factor for the development of the tumor, with the disease 2 to 3 times more likely in heavy smokers than in nonsmokers. Attempts to link pancreatic cancer with coffee drinking have generally not held up under close scrutiny.
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
The diagnosis is typically not made until the disease is past the point at which it can be cured. Even cancers of the pancreas that are incidentally discovered at the time of an abdominal operations for other purposes are not curable. The treatment is largely palliative (supportive). Occasionally, the cancer will involve the common bile duct (tube that connects gallbladder to the small intestine), causing obstructive jaundice (profound yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). In these cases, a stent (plastic hollow tube) can be placed between the common bile duct and an external reservoir bag. This artificial bypass, serves to allow the bile to leave the liver and not accumulate in the blood stream (jaundice).
In most cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are attempted for palliative purposes only. Life expectancy after the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is variable, but is almost always less than 5 years. Complete cure is very rare. Nutrition is an important aspect of cancer management.
|
