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Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, because the symptoms of this disease are usually not noticeable until the cancer has spread. According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatic cancer spreads very rapidly and thus has a poor prognosis when compared to other forms of cancer. As with any cancer, the long-term outlook... more »
Pancreatic cancer is a disease that affects the tissue of the pancreas, which is the fish-shaped organ that sits in back of the lower portion of the stomach that is responsible for the manufacture and secretion of enzymes and hormones important to digestion. According to American Cancer Society statistics in 2008, some 37,680 people... more »
Pancreatic cancer is a form of cancer that is difficult to diagnose early. The symptoms of this disease are usually not readily apparent until the cancer is advanced. As a result, pancreatic cancer killed 34,290 Americans in 2008, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). A number of treatment options are available for... more »
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 38,000 people are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer and 34,000 of those diagnosed will die. It is the fourth leading cause of deaths from cancer, and the prognosis for those diagnosed is rarely in their favor. As with any cancer, the sooner a person is diagnosed, the... more »
Pancreatic cancer is the result of the malignant growth of cancer cells in the abdominal digestive and hormone-producing gland known as the pancreas. The pancreatic diagnosis process is notoriously difficult, since this cancer is typically asymptomatic until it reaches its more advanced stages. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to... more »
Cancer is a disease that affects many different areas of the body and causes rogue cells to grow...
The various forms of skin cancer are caused most often by direct exposure to the UV rays of the...
Pancreatic cancer is a dangerous form of cancer that forms in the pancreas. Because pancreatic cancer usually does not present any obvious... more »
Pancreatic cancer is often not diagnosed until the disease has advanced and prognosis for survival may be poor. The causes of pancreatic cancer... more »
Pancreatic cancer is considered to be one of the most serious and deadliest forms of cancer. Treatment is typically aggressive and may involve... more »
Pancreatic cancer develops when cancerous cell growth afflicts the hormone-producing, pear-shaped organ known as the pancreas, which is located... more »
The pancreas is an organ in the human body that produces fluids and hormones, such as insulin. Pancreatic cancer occurs when a malignant tumor... more »
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| MedlinePlus 000236
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Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. Each year in the United States, about 42,470 individuals are diagnosed with this condition and 35,240 die from the disease. The prognosis is relatively poor but has improved; the three-year survival rate is now about thirty percent (according to the Washington University School of Medicine), but less than 5 percent of those diagnosed are still alive five years after diagnosis. Complete remission is still rather rare.Ghaneh>
About 95% of exocrine pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas (). The remaining 5% include adenosquamous carcinomas, signet ring cell carcinomas, hepatoid carcinomas, colloid carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, and undifferentiated carcinomas with osteoclast-like giant cells.ACS> Exocrine pancreatic cancers are far more common than endocrine pancreatic cancers (also known as islet cell carcinomas), which make up about 1% of total cases.
Signs and symptoms
Presentation
Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a "silent killer" because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms,NCI/> and the later symptoms are usually non-specific and varied.NCI/> Therefore, pancreatic cancer is often not diagnosed until it is advanced.NCI/> Common symptoms include:
* Pain in the upper abdomen that typically radiates to the backNCI/> (seen in carcinoma of the body or tail of the pancreas)
* Loss of appetite and/or nausea and vomitingNCI/>
* Significant weight loss
* Painless jaundice (yellow skin/eyes, dark urine)NCI/> when a cancer of the head of the pancreas (about 60% of cases) obstructs the common bile duct as it runs through the pancreas. This may also cause pale-colored stool and steatorrhea.
* Trousseau sign, in which blood clots form spontaneously in the por read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic+cancer
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