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Pancreatic cancer is uncontrolled growth of cells of the pancreas. Spreading of cancer from the original site to other areas in the body is known as metastasis.
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Pancreatic carcinoma is cancer of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer; Cancer - pancreasPancreatic cancer is slightly more common in men than in women.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of pancreatic cancer.The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine.
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Pancreatic cancer is uncontrolled growth of cells of the pancreas. A higher than average number of pancreatic cancer cases occurring in the same family is known as familial pancreatic cancer.Most pancreatic cancer grows from cells from the exocrin...
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Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin changing and multiplying out of control. These cells can form lumps of tissue called tumors. Cancer that starts in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer.
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Detailed information on pancreatic cancer, including types of benign tumors in the pancreas, malignant pancreatic cancers, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on pancreatic cancer, including types of benign tumors in the pancreas, malignant pancreatic cancers, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment
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To help you understand what is happening when you have cancer, it helps to learn how your body works normally. Our bodies are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow and multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body does not need them.
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Finding out that you have pancreatic cancer can be overwhelming. Some people find that learning more about the disease and treatment options helps them deal with their emotions.
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Once cancer moves away from the pancreas, it often goes into the nearby bile ducts and lymph nodes in your abdomen. In some cases, it spreads to other nearby areas, such as the liver. Pancreatic cancer may also spread to distant parts of the body, such as the lungs.
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These are 2 types of stages used for cancer. The clinical stage helps your doctor decide on your first treatment, especially if surgery is a good choice for you. For pancreatic cancer, your physical exam and imaging tests determine your clinical stage.
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There are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you're in shock. You may not even want to believe what the doctor has told you. There are probably so many questions you want to ask but think you can't because you don't know where to start.
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Your doctor took a biopsy to determine that you had cancer. The doctor did this by taking a sample of cells or fluid from an area that looked suspicious in your pancreas. Your doctor needs to know the cancer's stage, which shows how much and where the cancer has spread, in order to suggest the best treatment for you. Your doctor may have learned the stage of your cancer during diagnostic tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scan or ultrasound. Your doctor may now ask for more tests.
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If you're having pancreatic-cancer-like symptoms, your doctor will want to know why. Your doctor is likely to ask you questions about the following things.
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Screening tests check for disease in people who don't have symptoms. There are no recommended screening tests for pancreatic cancer.
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Knowing the risk factors is a good first step toward preventing pancreatic cancer. Use your risk factors to plan a course of action. Also, let your doctor know if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer. And, know the symptoms of pancreatic cancer. If you notice any, see your doctor right away.
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There is no way to know for sure if you're going to get pancreatic cancer. And there is no known way to prevent it. Certain factors can make you more likely to get this type of cancer than another person. These are called risk factors. Some risk factors, such as age or family history, are out of your control. Other risk factors, such as smoking and diet, can be controlled. Here are the most common risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
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There are often no symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer. Any symptoms you might notice may seem minor at first. This is a list of symptoms for all stages of pancreatic cancer.
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Your doctor may suggest one or more of these treatments if you have pancreatic cancer. They are listed from the most to least common.
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Many of the tests can show whether there is a tumor in your pancreas or in the areas nearby. Based on these tests, your doctor will probably have a good idea whether you have pancreatic cancer. A biopsy can confirm for sure that you have cancer. It can also let your doctor know what kind of pancreatic cancer you have. The biopsy may be done as a separate procedure, during another test, or during surgery to remove the pancreas. A biopsy is usually done in one of these 3 ways.
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Researchers are continually finding new ways to treat pancreatic cancer. People diagnosed with this cancer now have more hope for survival than ever before.
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Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs also harm healthy cells. This can cause side effects. Right now, chemotherapy alone does not cure pancreatic cancer. But there are drugs that ease pain and other symptoms.
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Your doctor may suggest chemotherapy after another treatment. It may be used to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery or radiation. It may be a good choice if your cancer has spread away from your pancreas and other treatments aren't working. If you have it after surgery, it's called adjuvant chemotherapy. Ask your doctor about clinical trials that may help you.
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Surgery is usually done to remove cancer from the pancreas. The surgeon may remove part or all of your pancreas. He or she may remove other organs as well. The first goal of surgery is to remove the tumor. A second goal of surgery may be to ease symptoms.
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Surgery may be a good choice for you if the following statements are true. You are healthy enough to withstand general anesthesia and the surgery itself.
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Radiation treatment is also called radiotherapy. The goal is to use radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells. It is most often given after surgery. If you had surgery for early-stage pancreatic cancer (Stage I or II), radiation can help kill any cancer cells that remain in or near your pancreas. If your cancer has spread beyond your pancreas and the nearby areas, your doctor may use radiation to shrink the cancer and ease your symptoms.
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There are several types of surgery for pancreatic cancer. The type of surgery you need depends on the location of the tumor in the pancreas and whether all of the cancer can be removed. These are the main types listed from most to least common.
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These are some answers to frequently asked questions about pancreatic cancer. Q: What is the pancreas?
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Your hospital stay will depend on the type of surgery you had. Recovery after you leave the hospital may continue from 4 to 12 weeks. Here is an overview of how you may feel after surgery.
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You'll meet with your surgeon before surgery to talk about any concerns you may have.
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At first, the information you learn about treatment options may seem overwhelming. You may ease the stress by allowing yourself the time to gather as much information as possible about your disease and its treatment. That way, you can discuss the issues with your doctors, nurses, and loved ones.
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For this treatment, you'll talk with a doctor who specializes in both cancer and radiation, called a radiation oncologist. This doctor will talk with you about these details of your treatment.
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There are 2 ways to get radiation. You may get one or both of these types of radiation.
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How often you get chemotherapy treatments depends on the type of drugs you receive. The type of chemotherapy drug you get often depends on the size of your tumor and how fast it is spreading.
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Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose because there are few outward symptoms, and it does not show in traditional imaging tests. It is hoped that ongoing research may reveal a mutated gene or some other sort of genetic marker.
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Radiation therapy affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. The side effects of radiation depend on the amount and the type of radiation you get. Be sure to let your doctor know of any side effects you have.
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For this treatment, you'll talk with a doctor who specializes in both cancer and radiation, called a radiation oncologist. This doctor will tell you what type of radiation you need, at what dose, and for how long. During your visit, ask what you can expect to feel during and after the treatment.
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The side effects of chemotherapy are different for everyone. They depend on these things.
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The treatments to destroy cancer cells can harm healthy cells at the same time, and that means treatment can cause side effects.
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Cancer in the pancreas is hard to treat. The sooner the cancer is found, the better the chances of survival. Here are the survival rates for pancreatic cancer according to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts & Figures 2007.
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A prognosis is a statement about the prospect of surviving and recovering from a disease. It may sound hard to ask, "Can I survive this?” But it is a question most people have when they learn they have pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy answer.
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Treating your cancer to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters. Let your doctor and nurse know if you are experiencing any side effects or discomfort. Make sure you tell your doctor or nurse how these problems affect your day-to-day life. Your healthcare team is there to help you manage your symptoms as well as to treat your cancer.
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Stage is the word doctors use to communicate the size of a cancerous tumor and where and how far it has spread. The first place cancer is found in the body is called the primary site or primary tumor. When a cancer spreads, it's said to have metastasized.
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It's likely that you will have physical concerns since your cancer may cause symptoms and your treatment may cause side effects. In this section, you'll learn more about how to respond to some of the most common symptoms and side effects from treating pancreatic cancer.
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Dealing with your feelings is often easier as you learn more about your disease and get support from others. Doctors, nurses, and other members of your healthcare team can answer your questions. Talking with friends and family or others who have had cancer can help. Meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy may also help. Many cancer patients attend support groups where they share what they've learned about cancer and its treatments. Here are some ways you may find support.
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A biopsy confirms whether or not you have cancer. For a biopsy, your doctor takes out cells and tissue from the suspicious spots. This might be done during another procedure to view your pancreas. A specialized doctor called a pathologist looks at the removed cells under a microscope to check for cancer. It usually takes a few days to get the results of your biopsy. Generally, after the results come back, your doctor will know for sure if you have cancer. The biopsy usually also shows what type of pancreatic cancer it is.
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Some people use statistics to try to figure out their chances of getting cancer or of making a full recovery. It is important to remember that this data shows what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, you can't use this data to know or predict what will happen to you.
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Bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is a malignant tumor of the bile ducts within the liver(intrahepatic), or leading from the liver to the small intestine(extrahepatic). It is a rare tumor with poor outcome for most patients.Bile is a substa...
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Bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is a malignant tumor of the bile ducts within the liver(intrahepatic), or leading from the liver to the small intestine(extrahepatic). It is a rare tumor with poor outcome for most patients.Bile is a substa...
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Bile duct cancer is a rare type of cancer that starts in the bile duct. There are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you're in shock. You may not even want to believe what the doctor has told you. And there are probably so many questions you want to ask but think you can't because you don't know where to start.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of extrahepatic bile duct cancer.
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Detailed information on biliary cirrhosis and bile duct cancer, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on the most common disorders of the biliary system, including gallstones, cholangitis, cholecystitis, biliary cirrhosis, and biliary duct cancer
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Different types of treatments have different goals. Below are the usual treatments for bile duct cancer, with their goals. You may have one or more of these types of treatment.
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Screening tests check for disease in people who don't have symptoms. There are no standard screening tests used to find bile duct cancer. If you have risk factors for bile duct cancer, talk with your doctor for a thorough exam.
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There is really no way to know for sure if you are going to get bile duct cancer. Certain factors can make you more likely to get it than another person. These are called risk factors. However, just because you have one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get bile duct cancer. In fact, you can have all the risk factors and still not get bile duct cancer, or you can have no known risk factors and still get it.
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Doctors have little advice on how to prevent bile duct cancer. That is because most risk factors for bile duct cancer are outside your control. Bile duct cancer often develops in people with no known risk factors. Do what you can to avoid risk factors within your control, such as taking steps to quit smoking. If you have a bile duct disease such as sclerosing cholangitis, you should routinely follow up with your doctor.
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People with bile duct cancer may have any or all of these symptoms depending on the location and extent of the bile duct cancer.
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Researchers continually work to find new treatments for bile duct cancer. People with it now have more hope for survival than ever before.
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Because chemotherapy drugs also damage some normal cells, you may have side effects from chemotherapy. These depend on the type and amount of the drug you take, as well as the length of treatment. These are possible temporary side effects after chemotherapy. They're listed in order from the most to least common.
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Survival rates show the percentage of people with a certain type and stage of cancer who survive it for a certain period of time after they are diagnosed. A 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people who are alive 5 years after they are diagnosed. These are the people it includes.
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Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about bile duct cancer. Q: What is bile duct cancer?
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After surgery, you may be in an intensive care unit (ICU). There you can be watched closely by nursing staff. When you have recovered from the surgery, you'll be moved to a regular nursing unit to continue to recover. Care after surgery is called postoperative care. It focuses on monitoring how much you eat and drink and checking for the return of normal bowel function. These are some potential side effects or complications after surgery.
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Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. With bile duct cancer, chemotherapy may be used for these reasons.
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Surgery is commonly used to treat bile duct cancer. It is currently the only treatment that can sometimes cure bile duct cancer in people whose cancer has not spread. The type of surgery your doctor chooses depends on the exact location of the cancer and how far it has spread. Here are some surgical options for bile duct cancer.
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Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation can be used before surgery to shrink the size of a tumor. This may make surgery easier and more effective. It may also be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that were missed or could not be removed during surgery. If surgery is not possible, you may have radiation to help ease symptoms.
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You may be overwhelmed with the information that you receive from your doctor. It is important to take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about surgery for bile duct cancer.
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The treatments to destroy cancer cells may harm healthy cells at the same time. That is why treatments may cause side effects. These may affect each person differently. Some people have none, while others may have many. Some side effects may change over time, while others stay the same. Some may be temporary, while others may be permanent.
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Pathophysiology is the way a cancer tends to grow if it spreads from the area of the original tumor. Bile duct cancer tends to spread to the liver or along the common bile duct to nearby lymph nodes. Compared with other types of cancer, bile duct cancer appears less likely to spread to distant parts of the body. When it does spread to another part of the body, it is not considered a new cancer. It is called metastatic bile duct cancer.
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If you're having symptoms similar to those of bile duct cancer, your doctor will want to know why. You should undergo a complete medical evaluation. Your doctor is likely to ask you questions about your:
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You will likely have physical concerns since your cancer may cause symptoms and your treatment may cause side effects. The side effects depend on your treatment. In this section, you will learn more about how to respond to some of the most common side effects and symptoms from bile duct cancer.
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To help you understand what is happening when you have cancer, it helps to understand how your body works normally. Our bodies are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow and multiply when the body needs them, and die out when the body does not need them. Cancer is made up of abnormal cells that grow whether your body needs them or not.
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If the cancer is blocking your bile duct, your doctor may place a thin tube called a stent into the bile duct. It helps keep the duct open and drain bile that builds up in the area. This bypasses the blockage that causes symptoms such as pain, or yellow eyes and skin, called jaundice.
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You may be often overwhelmed with the information you receive from your doctor. It is important that you take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor and nurse about chemotherapy.
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Treating your cancer to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters. Let your doctor and nurse know if you are experiencing any side effects or discomfort. Make sure you tell your doctor or nurse how these problems affect your day-to-day life. Your healthcare team is there to help you manage your symptoms as well as to treat your cancer.
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Your doctor took a biopsy from your bile duct to confirm that you have cancer. Your doctor may request other tests to learn more about your specific type of cancer and to pinpoint its location. This helps decide on the treatment that is likely to be most effective and appropriate for you. Imaging tests help your doctor see what's happening inside you. These imaging tests help your doctor see the extent of the bile duct cancer. You may have one or more of these tests.
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Stage is the word doctors use to communicate the size of a cancerous tumor and where and how far it has spread. The first place cancer is found in the body is called the primary site or primary tumor. When a cancer spreads, it is said to have metastasized. There are 2 types of stages of cancer, clinical and pathological.
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You may be overwhelmed with the information that you receive from your doctor. It is important to take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about stent placement for bile duct cancer.
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Radiation affects both normal cells and cancer cells. This means it can cause side effects. What they are depends on what part of your body is treated and what type of radiation you receive. If you have internal radiation therapy, you will be less likely to have side effects. These are some common side effects of external radiation.
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The stent may be removed when you have surgery. Or it may be left in place and removed after surgery. If you had stent placement using a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC), you may temporarily have a bile collection bag secured to your abdomen. Your doctor and nurse will tell you about any other things you may need to watch out for.
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Doctors are studying other possible treatments for bile duct cancer in clinical trials. Here are 4 currently being studied.
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Dealing with your feelings is often easier as you learn more about your disease and get support from others. Doctors, nurses, and other members of your healthcare team can answer your questions. Talking with friends and family or others who have had cancer can help. Or meet with a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist, or member of the clergy. Many people with cancer attend support groups. There they share what they have learned about cancer and its treatments. Here are some options for finding support.
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You may be often overwhelmed with the information you receive from your doctor. It is important that you take the time to gather as much information as possible. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about radiation therapy.
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Some people use statistical reports to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer. Or they use them to try to figure out their chance of being cured. Statistics show what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, statistics cannot be used to know or predict what will happen to a particular person.
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Chronic pancreatitis is swelling(inflammation) of the pancreas that leads to scarring and loss of function. The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach that produces chemicals needed to digest food.
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If your pancreas suddenly becomes irritated or inflamed, you have acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is often very painful. Emergency medical treatment is usually needed.
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