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Clinical features of pancreatic cancer

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STAGES OF PANCREATIC CANCER

There are mostly four STAGES of PANCREATIC cancer Stage I pancreatic cancer includes tumors which have not spread into certain proscribed sensitive areas and which have no involved regional nodes or distal metastasis. Stage II pancreatic cancer includes tumors which have spread into the duodenum, bile duct, or “peripancreatic” tissues AND which have no involved regional nodes or distal metastasis. Stage III pancreatic cancer includes tumors which may have OR may not have spread into these aforementioned areas and which have involved regional nodes, but which show no evidence of distal metastasis. Stage IVA pancreatic cancer includes tumors which have spread into the stomach, spleen, large bowel OR the adjacent large vessels AND which have involved regional nodes, but show no evidence of distal metastasis. And Stage IVB pancreatic cancer includes pancreatic tumors of any kind with node status of any kind AND with evidence of distal metastasis. For doctors and patients STAGES

PREVENTION FROM PANCREATIC CANCER

You can reduce chance to growPANCREATIC cancer by the following tips. STOP SMOKING . If you smoke, try to stop. Talk to your doctor about strategies to help you stop, including support groups, medications and nicotine replacement therapy. If you don't smoke, don't start.It is best tips to prevent PANCREATIC cancer. MAINTAIN WEIGHT . If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain it. If you need to lose weight, aim for a slow, steady weight loss — 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week. Combine daily exercise with a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and whole grains with smaller portions to help you lose weight. Choose a healthy diet. A diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains may help reduce your risk of cancer. In some cases PANCREATIC cancer may be genetic. Consider meeting with a genetic counselor if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer. He or she can review your family health history with you and determine whether you might be

COMPLICATIONS OF PANCREATIC CANCER

As pancreatic cancer progresses, it can cause complications such as: Weight loss . Numerios factors may cause weight loss in people with pancreatic cancer. The cancer itself may cause weight loss. Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatments or a tumor pressing on your stomach may make it difficult to eat. Or your body may have difficulty processing nutrients from food because your pancreas isn't making enough digestive juices. Your doctor may recommend pancreatic enzyme supplements to aid in digestion. Try to maintain your weight by adding extra calories where you can and making mealtime as pleasant and relaxed as possible. Jaundice . Pancreatic cancer that blocks the liver's bile duct can cause jaundice. Signs include yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine, and pale-colored stools. Jaundice usually occurs without abdominal pain. Your doctor may recommend that a plastic or metal tube (stent) be placed inside the bile duct to hold it open. This is done with

CAUSES OF PANCREATIC CANCER

 The causes of Pancreatic Cancer remain unknown. It's not clear what causes pancreatic cancer in most cases. Doctors have identified factors, such as smoking, that increase your risk of developing the disease. Scientists don't know exactly what causes most pancreatic cancers, but they have found several risk factors that can make a person more likely to get this disease. Some of these risk factors affect the DNA of cells in the pancreas, which can result in abnormal cell growth and may cause tumors to form. Genetic factors 1- Approximately 10% of patients with pancreatic cancer have a family history of the disease.In some patients, pancreatic cancer develops as part of a well-defined cancer-predisposing syndrome for which germ-line genetic alterations are known. 2- The risk of pancreatic cancer is 57 times as high in families with four or more affected members as in families with no affected members. A subgroup of such high-risk kindred carry germ-line mutations of DN

SYMPTOMS OF PANCREATIC CANCER

Sign and Symptoms of pancreatic cancer Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don't occur until the disease is advanced. They may include: Pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to your back Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss Depression New-onset diabetes Blood clots Fatigue Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

FUNCTION OF PANCREAS

Your pancreas is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and looks something like a pear lying on its side.  It releases (secretes) hormones, including insulin , to help your body process sugar in the foods you eat. And it produces digestive juices to help your body digest food. The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel for the body's cells. The pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar. Exocrine Function: The pancreas contains exocrine glands that produce enzymes important to digestion. Most endocrine function of pancreas to produce specific enzymes. These enzymes include trypsin and chymotrypsin to digest proteins; amylase for the digestion of carbohydrates; and lipase to break down fats. When food enters the stomach, these pancreatic juices are released into a system of ducts that culminate in the main pancr