The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach and performing two main functions: the production of digestive enzymes and the production of hormones involved in the metabolism. The pancreas consists of four parts: the head, neck, body and tail. Predominantly, the cancer develops in the head of the pancreas.
Signs of pancreatic cancer
As with other cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, signs of pancreatic cancer are often not expressed. As a rule, this disease lasts for a long time asymptomatically and begins to appear only in the late stages, when the tumor spread to surrounding tissues and lymph nodes.
The main symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- a sharp pain localized in the epigastric region and right hypochondrium radiating into the back;
- progressive weight loss;
- frequent vomiting;
- a constant thirst;
- diarrhea;
- general weakness;
- increased body temperature;
- mechanical jaundice (with defeat of the head of the pancreas) - yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, sclera;
- skin itching, etc.
Causes of pancreatic cancer
The exact causes of pancreatic cancer are unknown, but a number of factors contribute to its development. These include:
- smoking;
- alcohol abuse;
- food ration, rich in fatty and spicy food;
- diabetes;
- cirrhosis of the liver ;
- operations on the stomach;
- the presence of cholesterol stones in the gallbladder.
The following diseases are considered precancerous:
- adenoma of the pancreas;
- chronic pancreatitis (especially calcifying);
- cyst of the pancreas.
The risk of developing the disease increases with age.
Stages of the disease:
- Stage 1 of pancreatic cancer - a small tumor, limited to the tissues of the organ.
- 2 stage of pancreatic cancer - the tumor is spread to the surrounding organs - duodenum, bile duct, and also to the lymph nodes.
- Stage 3 pancreatic cancer - the tumor is common on the stomach, spleen, large intestine, large vessels and nerves.
- Stage 4 of pancreatic cancer - the tumor gave metastases to the liver and lungs.
Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
Visualization of the incidence of tumors and metastases is possible with the help of ultrasound and computed tomography with bolus contrast enhancement. Also for diagnosis, use X-ray examination of the stomach and duodenum with barium sulfate, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, laparotomy with biopsy.
In addition, in 2012, a cancer tester was invented that allows you to identify pancreatic cancer in the early stages by examining blood or urine. The accuracy of the result of this test is more than 90%.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer
The main methods of treatment of the disease:
- Surgical method - in the absence of metastases, removal of tumor tissue is performed (as a rule, all of the gland and parts of surrounding organs are removed).
- Chemotherapy - the use of drugs that can stop the growth of cancer cells (appointed in conjunction with the operation).
- Radiation therapy is the treatment with ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells.
- Virotherapy - the use of special preparations containing viruses, to mobilize the natural defenses of the body's immune system against malignant cells.
- Symptomatic therapy - anesthesia, the use of pancreatic enzymes, etc.
In pancreatic cancer, a diet is prescribed that involves frequent fractional meals, which is cooked with gentle thermal methods. The following products are excluded from the diet:
- alcoholic and carbonated drinks;
- coffee, cocoa;
- fresh bakery;
- sweets;
- canned food;
- by-products;
- products that cause fermentation.
Pancreatic cancer - prognosis
The prognosis for this disease is conditionally unfavorable, which is associated with its late detection. Five-year survival after surgery does not exceed 10%.