How serious is pancreas cancer? can anyone tell me anything about it?

Question

please, if you know anything answer.

Answer 1

Not to scare you but any cancer can be serious.

Answer 2

Pancreas is an organ that produces various hormones or chemicals your body needs and therefore there are many different types of cells that make up this organ. Depending on the type of cells that is growing abnormally and causing the "cancer", it may differ in degrees of seriousness. But in general, pancreatic cancer should be thought of as being serious.

If the cancer is an adenocarcinoma, then the only curative treatment is a surgical removal of the cancer. Otherwise, it portends a poor prognosis. Other types of pancreatic cancer usually are considered more favorable, although can still vary in degrees of seriousness depending on the aggressiveness of growth, the extent of spread, and the type of pathology.

Answer 3

Its considered a very serious form of cancer with a low survival rate.
Check out the American Cancer Society and don't lose hope!

Answer 4

It's serious. My grandpa had it, and he only survived 3 months after the diagnosis. And he was really healthy. He just lived on morphine until he passed, it was very sad. The morphine will make the person, not himself, so be patient, it's like they are small children again. Bless your heart if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

Answer 5

Very serious.

(also called cancer of the pancreas) is a malignant tumour within the pancreatic gland. Each year about 32,180 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with this condition, and more than 60,000 in Europe. Depending on the extent of the tumour at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor, with few victims still alive 5 years after diagnosis, and complete remission still extremely rare.

About 95 percent of pancreatic tumors are adenocarcinomas (M8140/3). The remaining 5 percent, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (such as insulinomas, M8150/1, M8150/3) have a completely different diagnostic and therapeutic profile, and generally a more favorable prognosis.
Contents
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* 1 Signs and symptoms
o 1.1 Presentation
o 1.2 Predisposing factors
* 2 Diagnosis
* 3 Treatment
* 4 Prognosis
* 5 Prevention
* 6 Awareness
* 7 External links

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Signs and symptoms
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Presentation

Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is difficult because the symptoms are so non-specific and varied. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, significant weight loss and painless jaundice. All of these symptoms can be blamed on other causes. Therefore, diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often late-stage in its development.

Jaundice occurs when the tumour grows and pressure obstructs the common bile duct, which runs partially through the head of the pancreas. Tumours of the head of the pancreas (approximately 60% of cases) will more easily give rise to such symptoms.
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Predisposing factors

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include [1]:

* Age
* Male gender
* African ethnicity
* Smoking
* Diets high in meat
* Obesity
* Diabetes
* Chronic pancreatitis has been linked, but is not known to be causal.
* Occupational exposure to certain pesticides, dyes, and chemicals related to gasoline
* Family history
* Helicobacter pylori infection

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Diagnosis

Courvoisier's law defines the presence of jaundice and a painlessly distended gallbladder as strongly indicative of pancreatic cancer, and may be used to distinguish pancreatic cancer from gallstones.

Pancreatic cancer is usually discovered during the course of the evaluation of aforementioned symptoms. Liver function tests may show a combination of results indicative of bile duct obstruction (raised bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase levels). Ca 19.9 (carbohydrate antigen 19.9) is a tumor marker that is frequently elevated in pancreatic cancer.

Imaging studies, such as ultrasound or abdominal CT may be used to identify tumors. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is another procedure that can help visualize the tumor and obtain tissue to establish the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment of pancreatic cancer depends on the stage of the cancer [2] Recent advances have made resection (surgical removal) of tumors that were previously unresectable due to blood vessel involvement possible. The Whipple procedure is the most common surgical treatment for cancers involving the head of the pancreas.
Stage Description App. % of cases Treatment options Median survival
Local/resectable Disease is confined to the pancreas and is clearly separated from surrounding blood vessels 15 Surgery; postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiation may also be offered 17 months
Locally advanced / unresectable Disease encases or compresses surrounding blood vessels, or has directly extended into adjacent structures 40 Chemotherapy (most commonly gemcitabine-based) and/or radiation. In very rare instances, cancers that respond well to initial treatment may subsequently be surgically resected. 8-9 months
Metastatic Evidence of extrapancreatic spread to distant organs (liver, lungs, etc.) 45 Chemotherapy (most commonly gemcitabine-based); investigational trials 4-6 months

For number of years, treatment of pancreatic cancer was limited to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone. Then gemcitabine was introduced. Gemcitabine had no survival advantage in pancreatic cancer compared to 5-FU, but the drug was FDA approved for pancreatic cancer based on better improvement in symptoms compared to 5-FU.

Targeted therapy using several new drugs[3] is showing significant improvements in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. New drugs for the treatment of pancreatic cancer include: erlotinib, cetuximab, bevacizumab, tipifarnib. These drugs hold promise for the future treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Prognosis

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer typically have a poor prognosis because the cancer usually causes no symptoms early on, leading to metastatic disease at time of diagnosis. Median survival from diagnosis is around 3 to 6 months; 5-year survival is much less than 5% [4]. With 32,180 new diagnoses in the United States every year, and 31,800 deaths, mortality approaches 99%, giving pancreatic cancer the #1 fatality rate of all cancers and the #4 cancer killer in the United States amongst both men and women. [5]

Pancreatic cancer occasionally may result in diabetes. The insulin production is hampered and it has been suggested that the cancer can also prompt the onset of diabetes and vice versa. [6]
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Prevention

Prevention of pancreatic cancer consists of avoiding risk factors when possible [7]. Cigarette smoking is considered to be the most significant and avoidable risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising may be helpful. Additionally, increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while decreasing red meat intake is recommended.

Answer 6

yes it is very serious.i lost my mom oct 2003 she was diagnosed july 2003.nothing controlled the pain she had just turned 63. started out bad pain in stomach area, nausa and vomiting then came jaundise and coma i took care of her at home until she went into coma she lived one week in hospital. my prayers go out to you or anyone that is going through any of this.god bless

Answer 7

Pancreatic cancer is very, very, serious.

I'm assuming this isn't the only site you're looking for information on, but, in the event it is, please look on sites that will give you reliable information. Cancer organization sites may have information, as well as medical sites.

Answer 8

All cancers are serious and life-threatening. They can spread.

Answer 9

All cancer is serious - it depends on what stage her cancer is in!@

Answer 10

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