Description A cancer in the pan...
Description
A cancer in the pancreas. The pancreas is the organ in the abdomen that produces insulin and digestive juices. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death from cancer in the US and greater than 50% of all patients with this cancer die from the cancer. The most dangerous pancreatic cancer is called "adenocarcinoma". Endocrine tumors are another kind of pancreatic cancer and these are not as dangerous.
Symptoms
Weight loss, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), nausea and vomiting, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, back pain, clay-colored stools, paleness.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Pancreatic cancer is usually found with a CT scan of the abdomen. After a tumor is seen in the pancreas, biopsy is needed to make the diagnosis. This can be done by "endoscopy" (use of a cord-shaped camera instrument that is put down the throat). This procedure is adapted to reach the pancreas and is named ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography). Surgery may be needed if biopsy cannot be done by ERCP.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Lipase, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), Ultrasound, X-ray
Other Specific Tests: ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), Pancreatic biopsy
Specialists:
General Surgery, Cancer Care (oncology), Surgical Oncology
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Pancreatic cancer is usually found with a CT scan of the abdomen. After a tumor is seen in the pancreas, biopsy is needed to make the diagnosis. This can be done by "endoscopy" (use of a cord-shaped camera instrument that is put down the throat). This procedure is adapted to reach the pancreas and is named ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography). Surgery may be needed if biopsy cannot be done by ERCP.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Lipase, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), Ultrasound, X-ray
Other Specific Tests: ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), Pancreatic biopsy
Specialists:
General Surgery, Cancer Care (oncology), Surgical Oncology
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of pancreatic cancer, the size of the tumor and the health of the patient. Only about 20% of pancreatic tumors can be removed by surgery. Surgery on the digestive tract that removes the cancer, the duodenum, and gall bladder is commonly called a "Whipple procedure". This is a common surgery for pancreatic cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be recommended. A stent (a coil to prop open a duct to allow drainage) may be helpful to allow bile drainage.