Find out about the pancreas and its functions, as well as the reasons why pancreatic cancer is such a deadly disease.

The pancreas is a tapered organ located below the liver and behind the stomach. It is about 15 cm long and stretches across the back of the abdomen. The head is on the right side while the narrow end (the tail) extends to the left side of the body.

Functions of the Pancreas:

The pancreas is a compound gland with dual functions:

a. Exocrine: It secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes; and

b. Endocrine: It produces important hormones such as insulin (causes glucose in the blood to be stored in liver and muscle cells as glycogen), glucagon (causes the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose) and somatostatin (affects neurotransmission and cell growth).

Pancreatic Cancer and Its Cause:

This refers to the growth of a malignant tumor(s) in the tissues of the pancreas. The exact cause is still unknown, although medical research has shown cigarette smoking to be a major risk factor: Smokers are two to three times more likely to be affected compared to non-smokers.

Those who belong to the following categories are also at a higher risk:

* Has a family history of the disease (two or more relatives)

* Over the age of 50

* Has long-standing diabetes

* Suffers from chronic pancreatitis.

Metastatic pancreatic cancer is the stage when the cancer cells have spread to other organs in the body. This can spread via the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes, or via the bloodstream to the liver, lungs or bone.

Symptoms and Diagnosis:

Pancreatic cancer is a ‘silent’ disease: There is no symptom at the early stage, nor is there a reliable screening test for early detection.

As the tumor grows, pain is often felt in the upper abdomen and sometimes, the back. The pain is exacerbated after meals or when lying down. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and general fatigue.

If the common bile duct were blocked by the tumor, symptoms of jaundice appear: The skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow and the color of urine darkens.

Various tests can be used for diagnosis, but a biopsy is the only way to confirm whether cancer cells are present.

Treatment:

The exact treatment to be prescribed depends on several factors, such as the type and size of the tumor, and the patient’s age and general health.

Options include surgery (removal of part or the entire pancreas), radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A combination of methods may also be used.

Survival Rate:

According to the John Hopkins Hospital, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States, affecting about 30,000 people annually.

If diagnosed early (and not spread to the lymph nodes), it is treatable with surgery, with a five-year survival rate of as high as 40%. However, the mortality rate for late diagnosis is very high, with a survival rate of less than 5%. For these cases, palliative treatment can be used to improve the quality of the patient’s life by controlling the symptoms.

Famous Cases:

1. Dr. Randy Pausch, 47, professor from Carnegie Mellon University. Diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in September 2006, he is a spokesperson for PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).

2. Patrick Swayze, 55, Hollywood actor. He announced his diagnosis in March 2008. His doctor stated that the cancer is localized, and that the actor has responded well to chemotherapy.

Moving Forward:

It is imperative that research funds be invested to develop an effective screening test for early detection of pancreatic cancer.